The Universe of Keith Haring

‘Like Andy Warhol, whom he revered and later befriended, Haring was the visual artist as social phenomenon, connecting the gay scene to hip-hop, Madonna to museum culture, the democratic street to the rarefied art world.’ ~The New York Times

The Universe Of Keith Haring is an intimate portrait of world-renowned artist Keith Haring. Out of a small town in Pennsylvania, Haring moved to New York and quickly became an iconic figure in the downtown scene during the 1980s. He built his reputation as a painter, graffiti artist and designer outside the closed world of the art establishment by putting his art on the street and declaring his mantra that "Art is for everyone!" His stylized silhouettes became modern icons that revolutionized the art world and buoyed him into the world of celebrity. He counted Madonna, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol amongst his friends and became an influential gay icon who campaigned tirelessly up until he died of AIDS at age 31.

With Fab 5 Freddy, Jeffrey Deitch, Julia Gruen, Kim Hastreiter, Bill T. Jones, David LaChapelle, Hans Mayer, Samantha McEwen, Carlo McCormick, Roger Nellens, Yoko Ono, Kermit Oswald, Kenny Sharf, Bruno Schmidt, Tony Shafrazi, Drew Straub, Junior Vasquez and Gil Vasquez. 82 mins. Rated: M.

More info at www.anode2009.com and www.speakeasycinema.com.au

Presented by Speakeasy Cinema and Anode