Keith Haring is an American artist famously known for his cartoonish style. He believed art shouldn’t belong to the elite, and should be enjoyed by all, that’s why he makes his art accessible. He puts it online, on street walls, subway stations, and on the side of highways. His art can be described as seemingly childish but holding powerful messages. He is commonly compared to Banksy, another social activist who spoke through his mural art. One of Haring’s most iconic artwork, that you might recognize, is used as the Best Buddies’ symbol. It shows two figures holding each other in a way that shows that they are good friends, and that they accept each other. This artwork, like his others, are so simple, but can carry movement and meaning, with only a few brush strokes and with colors that pop.
Another artwork, Rebel With Many Causes, represents the three Wise Monkeys; hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. It comments on the ignorance of people when they were fearful of issues, such as the AIDS crisis. It also criticizes the government and their slow action, in which Haring was a great advocator of. He was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988 and died in 1990. He spent most of his life advocating and raising awareness of sexual education and diseases such as AIDS and HIV. Which we see again in his poster, Ignorance = Fear. He states that ignorance is fear and silence is death. He encourages his viewers to stand up and not to turn their head the other way. This is, again, in reference to the AIDS epidemic that spanned in the United States from the 1980s to early 1990s. It caused a panic and led to a lot of discrimination and prejudice.
Another artwork that might shock you, is his Berlin Wall Mural. Haring was invited to paint on the Berlin Wall, which marked the border between West and East Germany, and kept East Germans away during the Cold War. Many East Germans attempted escaping to the to West, but many were killed. When Haring was invited to paint a portion of the walls, his rebelling spirit took over. He painted a chain of interlinking figures which were red, yellow, and black, representing the German flag. It symbolizes the unity to the German people, and the commonality of those who live on both sides. There is one figure who seems to be holding the rest of the chain, and it looks like they are either climbing or pushing the wall. It symbolizes that both sides need to work together, and they could destroy the wall that divides them, physically and symbolically.

Keith Haring’s art can seem one dimensional, but when inspected closer, you realize that there is more to his cartoons. Keith Haring is a testimony to how something small or simple can hold greater meaning or movement. You can apply this to your own life, you could even try making your own art. As Keith Haring said, “Art should be something that liberates your soul, provokes the imagination and encourages people to go further.”