24th Jun, 2020 16:00

Urban and Contemporary Art

Lot 282

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Keith Haring (American 1958-1990), 'Story of Red and Blue #20', 1990

Sold for £4,250

inc.premium

Keith Haring (American 1958-1990), 'Story of Red and Blue #20', 1990, silkscreen in colours on paper, signed and dated with stamp recto, numbered 1/90 to the printed Certificate Of Authenticity verso, published by the Keith Haring Estate; sheet: 56 x 42cm

Auction: Urban and Contemporary Art, 24th Jun, 2020

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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.