11th Dec, 2024 18:00

Urban & Contemporary Art

Lot 209

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Keith Haring (American 1958-1990), ‘Crack Down!’, 1986

Sold for £275

inc.premium

Keith Haring (American 1958-1990), ‘Crack Down!’, 1986, offset lithograph in colours on paper, produced as part of The Crack-Down Fund, New York; 58 x 45.5cm inc frame

Auction: Urban & Contemporary Art, 11th Dec, 2024

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Keith Haring

Keith Haring emerged as a significant figure in the East Village art scene of 1980s New York, alongside contemporaries such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kenny Scharf, and Jenny Holzer. He effectively connected the realms of fine art and street culture, initially expressing his creativity through graffiti on subway cars and sidewalks before transitioning to a more formal studio practice. Haring's work synthesized the playful elements of cartoon imagery with the visceral intensity characteristic of Art Brut artists like Jean Dubuffet, resulting in a unique pop-graffiti style defined by dynamic, boldly outlined figures set against vibrant or patterned backgrounds. His artwork frequently addressed pressing social issues, including exploitation, oppression, substance abuse, and the looming threat of nuclear disaster; his engagement with these themes intensified following his AIDS diagnosis in 1987. In contemporary times, Haring's pieces command prices in the seven-figure range at auctions and have been featured in solo exhibitions at prestigious institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Albertina Museum in Vienna, among others.