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Get to know Keith Haring: A celebration of queer activism and playful artistry
child learning how to draw cartoons from his father. The rebelliousness of his youth propelled him to modern art. Guilted by his parents, Haring studied commercial art at the Ivy School of Professional Art in Pittsburgh from 1976 to 1978 and dropped out when the career tracks failed to interest him. There are different claims about what pushed the artist to pursue fine art, including reading The Art Spirit (1923) by Robert Henri and seeing an exhibit by Pierre Alechinksy (which sounds more like like a rumor started by a 20th-century publicist). We like to think the guy’s reasoning was multifaceted, in true gay fashion. A post shared by Keith Haring Foundation (@keithharingfoundation)You probably won’t find many people in this lifetime who haven’t heard Keith Haring’s name, and even fewer who wouldn’t recognize his work. Haring’s signature style appears with continuous repetition of stylized shapes in bright, vibrant colors and outlined in black on different media. The art legend cared deeply about accessibility, so his creations often appeared as subway drawings, white chalk on sidewalks, and graffiti on public buildings.