Courtney Dootson
Graphic Design Student
Keith Haring
Keith Haring was an American pop art and graffiti-like artist, who started off his career by using white chalk drawings on a black, unused advertisement backboard in the stations. In 1980, he organized exhibitions at Club 57 and around this time, "The Radiant Baby" became his symbol as it has bold lines, vivid colors, and active figures carry strong messages of life and unity. By 1982, Keith Haring had established friendships with fellow emerging artists like Madonna and created more than 50 public works between 1982 and 1989 in dozens of cities around the world.
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Between 1982 and 1989, he became politically active, designing a Free South Africa poster in 1985 and on October 23 1986, Keith Haring was asked by the Checkpoint Charlie Museum to create a mural on the Berlin Wall. It was 300 meters long and depicted red and black interlocking human figures against a yellow background. The colours were a representation of the German flag and symbolized the hope of unity between East and West Germany. By the arrival of Pop Shop in 1986, his work began reflecting more socio-political themes, such as anti-Apartheid, AIDS awareness, and the crack cocaine epidemic, but it he created several pop art pieces influenced by other products: Absolut Vodka, Lucky Strike cigarettes, and Coca-Cola as well.
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Because his work grew in popularity from his spontaneous drawings in New York City subways, he has shown visual language with in his work and shows creativity through inspirartions like symblolism and how it effects people around them. Even his type of work is used today in the Change4life programme, which helps families eat healthy and live healthy as well. Even when he was here making awareness, he still does it now when he isn't.
I'm really inspired by his work because he shows commitment and how much he relates to others around the world. He didn't just designs for himself, but to benefit others in a child like way so we all understand.