Keith Haring

Keith Haring in 1986

Keith Haring (May 4 1958 –February 14, 1990) was a pre-eminent artist and social activist whose work responded to the New York street culture of the 1980s.

Quotes

• The only way art lives is through the experience of the observer. The reality of art begins in the eyes of the beholder and gains power through imagination, invention, and confrontation.
  • Haring – Art in Transit The Keith Haring Foundation

• Whatever you do, the only secret is to believe in it and satisfy yourself. Don't do it for anyone else.
  • Letter to Michael

• Art is for everybody.
  • Keith Haring Journals (1996)

• It is a very fine line between life and death. I realize I am walking this line. Living in New York City and also flying on airplanes so much, I face the possibility of death every day. And when I die there is nobody to take my place… That is true of a lot of people (or everyone) because everyone is an individual and everyone is important in that they cannot be replaced.
  • Keith Haring Journals (1996)

• Touching people's lives in a positive way is as close as I can get to an idea of religion.
  • Keith Haring Journals (1996)

• I am not a beginning. I am not an end. I am a link in a chain.
  • Keith Haring Journals (1996)

• Art is one of the last areas that is totally within the realm of the human individual and can't be copied or done better by a machine.”
  • Haring-isms (2020)

• If I could clone myself, there would still be too much work to do.
  • Haring-isms (2020)

• Nothing is important... so everything is important.
  • Keith Haring Journals (1996)