Keith Haring | Tony Shafrazi

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the artist's death, Tony Shafrazi presents Keith Haring 20th Anniversary.  Haring, the innovative street artist known for his energetic lines, vivid colors, and bold, iconic images depicting among other subjects "birth, death, love, sex and war," passed away from AIDS-related complications on February 16th, 1990 at the staggeringly young age of 31.  This show celebrates the life and work of a pioneering and giving artist.

Born and raised in Pennsylvania on May 4, 1958, Haring moved to New York City in 1978 and studied at the School of Visual Arts.  It was at SVA that Haring became an active member of an alternative art scene that brought art to the public via the streets, subways, and night clubs.  Haring started off using blank ad spaces in subway stations to make chalk drawings featuring his signature "rapid rhythmic lines, sometimes creating as many as forty" a day.  His first solo NYC show was in 1981 at the Westbeth Painters Space.  In 1982 he had a well-received solo show at Shafrazi's former gallery space at 163 Mercer Street in Soho.  Throughout the 80's, Haring created numerous public projects and murals throughout the world, designed sets for theaters, collaborated with Swatch on watch designs, and worked on advertising campaigns.  Always a believer of making art public and accessible to all, in 1986 Haring opened up the Pop Shop, a retail space located on Lafayette Street in Soho that sold "T-shirts, toys, posters, buttons and magnets bearing his images."  The store sadly closed in 2005 but still operates online.

Though his works appear playful and light-hearted, many of Haring's pieces contained strong political and social messages, tackling topics like Apartheid, AIDS, and drugs.  Between 1982 and 1989, he "produced more than 50 public artworks... in dozens of cities around the world, many of which were created for charities, hospitals, children's day care centers and orphanages."  After being diagnosed with AIDS in 1988, the artist founded the Keith Haring Foundation which provides "funding and imagery to AIDS organizations and children's programs," and "expands the audience for Haring's work through exhibitions, publications, and the licensing of his images."  

Featuring over 50 works including drawings, paintings, and sculptures, displaying Haring's distinct, exuberant, colorful, lively style, Keith Haring 20th Anniversary is a loving tribute to a talented, socially-conscious artist whom we lost far too early.  Most of the info and all of the quotes in this post were taken from the bio at the artist's official website, Haring.com.  See the works in the exhibit at Tonyshafrazigallery.com.  Through April 3rd.

(Left to right) Spaceship with Ray, 1980; Untitled, 1981; Untitled (vase), 1983; Untitled (Elvis), 1981; Untitled (Marilyn), 1981; Untitled, 1982

Untitled, 1982; Untitled (blue sculpture), 1985; Untitled, 1981

Untitled, 1979 and Untitled (Breakdancer or Red Fallen Man), 1986

Untitled (Acrobats), 1982 and Untitled (Break Dancer), 1985

Left: Untitled (Head Stand), 1987-88 and Right: Untitled, 1987

Robot, 1983

Andy Mouse, 1985

Big Bad Wolf, 1984

Untitled (Fertility Suite), 1983 and Untitled (Fertility Suite), 1983

Icons, 1990, and Untitled (Three Dancing Figures), Version C, 1989

Comments

[Art Hag]

Not sure about the prices but you can try contacting the gallery via the contact info at the link below...

http://www.tonyshafrazigallery.com/index.php?mode=contact

[Morning Slayter]

What is the net and retail price of Keith Haring's 'Untitled,' (blue sculpture) Break dance?
Morning Slayter

[wireless sex toys]

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[cerebritis]

A mid-career survey of artwork by Anna Poor is on view at the Provincetown Art Association Museum (PAAM) March 12 -May 2, 2010. The power of narrative generated by mythology, folklore, and religious visual culture.

[orexis online]

The four major components of the Arts and Humanities are visual art, music, dance, and drama/theatre. Explain how all four art forms (visual art, music, dance, drama/theatre) are used in a Broadway musical to produce a unified experience