7th Dec, 2023 18:00

Urban & Contemporary Art

Lot 175

Lot 175 - Keith Haring (American 1958-1990), ‘Crack Down!’, 1986

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

Sold for £350
Estimated at £150 - £250

inc.premium

Condition Report

In very good condition
No knocks or tears to the sheet
One minor crease to the upper left hand edge of the sheet, visible upon close inspection
Minor markings about the upper lettering of the sheet, potentially from time of production
This work has been stored flat and has not been framed.

Keith Haring (American 1958-1990), ‘Crack Down!’, 1986, offset lithograph in colours on paper, produced as part of The Crack-Down Fund, New York; sheet: 55.5 x 43cm

Auction: Urban & Contemporary Art, 7th Dec, 2023

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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.