Keith Haring’s
Untitled (Radiant Baby from Icons series)
Keith Haring’s work is considered comical and cartoony. His style is
naïve, and his marks
are often minimal. However, despite the simplicity of his designs, Haring’s art is saturated with
symbolism and imagery. One
such iconic piece, filled with recurring imagery, is the radiant baby,
which appears in different forms in a number of the artist’s works.
Untitled (Radiant Baby from
Icons series)
, 1990, represents the large influence that Haring’s minimalist symbols have on his
art. Through the use of mass media and various forms of public art, Haring transforms the image
of the Radiant Baby into an iconic signature of his work, as seen in
Untitled (Radiant Baby from
Icons series),
and has been named the “most populous figure of the post-Warhol generation”
(Adams, Brooks).
Born in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1958, Haring has displayed a remarkable artistic talent
from a young age. In his youth, he spent his spare time reading books and visiting museums,
such as the Carnegie Museum of Art, familiarizing himself with modern art and pop culture. To
gain even more inspiration, Haring hitchhiked across the United States while looking at various
art programs. His parents suggested that he take classes at Pittsburgh’s Ivy School with a focus
on commercial art. However, Haring felt restricted by the commercial art program, and thus
transferred to the New York School of Visual Arts, becoming rapidly immersed in the limitless
urban life of the city. He quickly grew accustomed to the busy streets of New York, expressing
himself through graffiti, wall murals, and other public displays of art, naturally gaining a
reputation. Inspired by the city, Haring first focused on public works, such as subway drawings,
that truly reflected the simplicity and symbolism of his art. Never giving himself time to plan
ahead, Haring drew these pieces free hand; therefore rather than shading, he used simplistic
outlines of figures and shapes to depict images and messages (Geldzhaler). Haring’s spontaneous
