About this work: “Andy Warhol (1928–1987) and Keith Haring (1958–1990) both came from Christian families in Pennsylvania. As young gay men, they soon left heteronormative structures behind them—both were drawn to New York (albeit 30 years apart). As one of the pioneers of Pop Art, Warhol changed the understanding and concept of art and was a major influence on the young Haring. The latter left thousands of “Subway Drawings” in the public spaces of New York’s subways, used his art in activist poster campaigns and opened his Pop Shop in 1986, with the support of Warhol, where he sold t-shirts, badges and posters designed by himself and other artists. During this time, Warhol produced TV shows and created commissioned works and celebrity portraits… Both artists [explored] excessive consumer culture, the possibilities of new media, with queerness, gentrification, fears of nuclear war and activism as well as the pursuit of community in times of crisis. [1]

[Haring and Warhol] were pop stars, charismatic networkers and (self-)marketing geniuses… They also revolutionized established ideas of art and its dissemination. Warhol’s pop paintings and Haring’s dancing figures are part of our collective visual memory and remain omnipresent to this day in advertising, fashion, music and film. Despite their large age gap and different styles, these two artists were friends and companions. They met in New York’s art and clubbing scene and influenced each other—and many others besides.” [1]

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Cited:

[1] Museum Brandhorst. “Andy Warhol & Keith Haring. Party of Life.” Museum Brandhorst, 6 June 2024, www.museum-brandhorst.de/en/press-releases/keith-haring-andy-warhol-party-of-life/.