THE DIVERSITY RELATED
TO CULTURE, GROUPS,
AND SOCIETIES
KEITH HARING AND JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT
THE DIVERSITY RELATED TO
CULTURE, GROUPS, AND
SOCIETIES
KEITH HARING AND JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT
Courtney Ledington
Art and Culture 2000
Art and Identity
January, 2020
KEITH HARING & JEAN-MICHEL
BASQUIAT
Both artists use similar materials in
order to create meaningful artworks
to themselves and to the public.
Whether it was due to drug
addiction and a rough start to life, or
a struggle with a sickness, both
artists manage to stay motivated and
express themselves through Art.
This is important as they created a
self identity based on that diversity
related to culture, groups and
society, while also making an impact
in the art world.
Keith Haring Untitled (1982)
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Untitled (Skull) (1981)
KEITH HARING
Keith Haring was born on May 4, 1958 in Reading, Pennsylvania
Upon graduation from high school in 1976, Haring enrolled in the Ivy School of
Professional Art in Pittsburgh, a commercial arts school. He soon realized that he had
little interest in becoming a commercial graphic artist and, after two semesters, dropped
out.
Later that same year, Haring moved to New York City and enrolled in the School of Visual
Arts (SVA).
Haring found a thriving alternative art community that was developing outside the gallery
and museum system, in the downtown streets, the subways and spaces in clubs and
former dance halls. Here he became friends with fellow artists Kenny Scharf and Jean-
Michel Basquiat.
Between 1980 and 1989, Haring achieved international recognition and participated in
numerous group and solo exhibitions.
Throughout his career, Haring devoted much of his time to public works, which often
carried social messages. He produced more than 50 public artworks between 1982 and
1989, in dozens of cities around the world, many of which were created for charities,
hospitals, children’s day care centers and orphanages
.
KEITH HARING
Haring was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988. In 1989, he
established the Keith Haring Foundation, its mandate
being to provide funding and imagery to AIDS
organizations and children’s programs, and to expand the
audience for Haring’s work through exhibitions,
publications and the licensing of his images. Haring
enlisted his imagery during the last years of his life to
speak about his own illness and generate activism and
awareness about AIDS.
Keith Haring died of AIDS related complications at the
age of 31 on February 16, 1990. A memorial service was
held on May 4, 1990 at the Cathedral of St. John the
Divine in New York City, with over 1,000 people in
attendance
.
KEITH HARING
As for Keith Haring, he also used the materials for graffiti in public
places such as the subway mentioned previously.
Haring's deceptively simple imagery and text provided poignant
and cutting cultural commentary on issues including AIDS, drug
addiction, illicit love, and apartheid. As both an artist and an
activist he established that depicting serious issues could be fun or
at least lively when communicated through highly cartoony images
and fresh and vivid choices of colors.
