He used ART as an AID

Amanda Barnes
February 7, 2010



Keith Harings work can easily be recognized. The distinctive thick lines and vibrant colors are a definite indicator of his creations. Haring’s work helped Americans to understand and appreciate Graffiti as an art form. Living in New York, Haring constantly traveled using the Subway systems. He made thousands of drawings “”In transit” always, quick,simple,strong and direct, for the activity carried with it the risk of arrest for defacement of public property”(Arnason 718). Through these quick chalk or marker drawings he developed a “distinctive vocabulary of cartoon figures” (718). Although his images may appear to be juvenile and senseless, they explore some very obscene topics.


Keith Haring was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988 (Haring). During this time is was taboo to discuss the disease and its effects on society. Instead of the government investigating the pressing issue that this disease created, the topic was avoided altogether. Haring devoted his art work to AIDS awareness. His earlier subway cartoons had given him the publicity and recognition in the art realm to have an influential voice. The biography on his website stated that “Haring enlisted his imagery during the last years of his life to speak about his own illness and generate activism and awareness about AIDS” (Haring) Not only did Haring devote his imagery to AIDS awareness, he donated his money to “establish[ed] 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). It is interesting to explore the evolution of Haring’s artwork from the walls of a subway into gallery spaces. While the prestige of his works increased throughout his career, his monumental underlying messages remained the same.



Arnason, Mansfield. History of Modern Art. Sixth. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 718-719. Print.

"Haring." www.Haring.com. The Keith Haring Foundation, Web. 7 Feb 2010. .

"Keith Haring." Artbrokerage. Web. 7 Feb 2010. .