A Few things to know about Keith Harring
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/g/graffiti-art/lists/five-things-know-keith-haring1. HIS WORK STARTED ON THE STREETSKeith Haring was a popular artist and activist who was part of the legendary New York art scene during the 1980s. While he is known for his colourful works and his iconic motifs such as the radiant baby and the barking dog, much of his work responded to contemporary social and political events. This included the battle to end Apartheid, the AIDS epidemic and drug abuse. As an openly gay artist Haring also chose to represent the hardships of the LGBTQ community in his work, including gay rights. Inspired by graffiti artists, he began drawing in New York’s subway stations; filling empty poster spaces with chalk drawings which people would walk past every day. His aim was to make art accessible to everyone and these works allowed him to interact with a diverse audience. 2. HARING HAD A CIRCLE OF FAMOUS FRIENDSAndy Warhol Grace being painted by Keith 1986. © 2018 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Artists Right Society (ARS), New York and DACS, London Living and working in the East Village in New York, Keith Haring had a large social circle, which included many artists and performers who were part of the same underground art scene. This included people such as Madonna, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol, and he frequently worked with them. With growing recognition and popularity, his collaborations expanded to involve other artists, musicians and fashion designers, such as Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren. Haring’s collaboration with Grace Jones innovatively combined art and fashion. He painted Grace Jones’ body with his graffiti for music performances and also featured in her music video I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect For You). Haring formed a close friendship with Madonna and, when he was invited to her wedding, he took Andy Warhol as his plus one. 3. HIS WORK SPREAD IMPORTANT SOCIAL AND POLITICAL MESSAGES© Keith Haring Foundation Although his artworks were always colourful and animated, Haring tackled some hard-hitting and challenging subjects concerning people, not just in America but, around the world. Haring used catchy slogans to quickly and effectively make his point. One of his most famous examples is the Crack is Wack mural referring to the crack cocaine epidemic and its effects in New York City. The work was made large enough so that passing cars on the nearby roads would be able to see it. Keith Haring Crack Down! 1986. © Keith Haring Foundation/ Collection Noirmontartproduction, Paris In 1986 Haring was invited to paint on a section of the Berlin Wall, in an attempt to ‘destroy the wall through painting it’. He painted a bright figurative mural using the colours of the German flag, symbolising the hope of unity between East and West Germany. The work was destroyed in 1989 when the wall was demolished. In 1987 he wrote in his diary … If it is not regarded as ‘sacred’ and ‘valuable’, then I can paint without inhibition, and experience the interaction of lines and shapes. I can paint spontaneously without worrying if it looks ‘good’; and I can let my movement and my instant reaction/response control the piece, control my energy (if there is any control at all) … It is temporary and its permanency is unimportant. Its existence is already established. It can be made permanent by the camera. Keith Haring 4. HARING BROUGHT FUN AND COLOUR TO THE COMMUNITYKeith Haring Untitled 1983 © Keith Haring Foundation Haring loved working with children, admiring their imagination, sense of humour, lack of prejudice and encouraged young people to get together to collaboratively create their own artwork. In 1986 Haring painted a mural with 900 young people to celebrate the Statue of Liberty’s 100th anniversary. It was displayed on the Liberty Tower in Battery Park City. Haring often collaborated with charities aimed at young people, and he painted murals in lots of children’s hospitals, including the Necker Children’s Hospital in Paris. Haring wrote in his diary:I made this painting to amuse the sick children in this hospital, now and in the future.Keith Haring Untitled 1980 © Keith Haring Foundation Haring had a fun way of working which reflected the content of his work. He often listened to hip-hop music whilst working and painted rhythmic lines to express the movement and energy, which is recognisable in so many of his works. He painted on vinyl tarpaulin, a material often laid on the street and used by break dancers as a surface for their performances. He was so much fun – I think people forget that. He used to paint one stroke at a time to the rhythm of whatever he was listening to. Kenny Scharf, artist and friend of Keith Haring |
Keith Haring Style of Characters/ Art
1. Form and techniques
Herring's work is characterized by the repetition of stylized shapes outlined in black and often filled with warm, bright colors (yellow, green, red, blue). The drawing style is relatively simple and understated, but most of the time it gives the impression that the characters in these works are moving thanks to the lines borrowed from the world of comic books.
2. Implied Motion
He used characters in distinct T body gestures, along with the various line weights evoke a feeling of implied movement. Keith would use motion lines and accents to enhance the feeling of motion.
Herring's work is characterized by the repetition of stylized shapes outlined in black and often filled with warm, bright colors (yellow, green, red, blue). The drawing style is relatively simple and understated, but most of the time it gives the impression that the characters in these works are moving thanks to the lines borrowed from the world of comic books.
2. Implied Motion
He used characters in distinct T body gestures, along with the various line weights evoke a feeling of implied movement. Keith would use motion lines and accents to enhance the feeling of motion.
Keith Harring adapted Animations
it is no surprise that these colorful characters and styles have translated into animations. Sesame street in the 90s did a series of shorts.
Can we agree that “Sesame Street” is the true arbiter of cultural cool? The show that has taught kids how to read, write, and count has also featured musicians, avant garde artists, and actors in their prime because babies need to know about Lady Gaga, apparently?
I kid, but it’s been fascinating over the years to see how “Sesame Street” serves as kind of an informal barometer for when a creative has made it.
Case in point: pop artist Keith Haring, whose short, “Babies and Dogs” was featured on an early ’90s episode of the series.
Alright, my premise is a little flawed here: Haring’s career was already in full swing by the time of his death from AIDS-related complications in 1990, and Haring didn’t actually, you know, make the short (it was made by Bill Davis with the permission of the Keith Haring Foundation following the artist’s death).
But it was a flashpoint for Haring’s acceptance outside of the art world cognoscenti (it was also around this time that his work was being used in ads, and it’s kind of gutsy that “Sesame Street,” of all shows, would embrace work (inspired by) a man who was one of the public faces of being gay and battling AIDS at a time when the country was still squeamish about both.
- https://blog.redbubble.com/2014/02/keith-haring-sesame-street/
Can we agree that “Sesame Street” is the true arbiter of cultural cool? The show that has taught kids how to read, write, and count has also featured musicians, avant garde artists, and actors in their prime because babies need to know about Lady Gaga, apparently?
I kid, but it’s been fascinating over the years to see how “Sesame Street” serves as kind of an informal barometer for when a creative has made it.
Case in point: pop artist Keith Haring, whose short, “Babies and Dogs” was featured on an early ’90s episode of the series.
Alright, my premise is a little flawed here: Haring’s career was already in full swing by the time of his death from AIDS-related complications in 1990, and Haring didn’t actually, you know, make the short (it was made by Bill Davis with the permission of the Keith Haring Foundation following the artist’s death).
But it was a flashpoint for Haring’s acceptance outside of the art world cognoscenti (it was also around this time that his work was being used in ads, and it’s kind of gutsy that “Sesame Street,” of all shows, would embrace work (inspired by) a man who was one of the public faces of being gay and battling AIDS at a time when the country was still squeamish about both.
- https://blog.redbubble.com/2014/02/keith-haring-sesame-street/
Create A Movement animation inspired by Keith Harring and his characters
Student work 2021
Assignmentusing a Gif students will create a dancing or moving silhouette inspired by keith harring.
The animation must - have movement - be at least 5 to 10 seconds - have a background - have a silhouetted stylized figure - have linier embellishments |
Tutorials |