Keith haring biography john gruen photographer

Synopsis:

A biography of the pop-art phenomenon discusses his work, homosexuality, and his coming to terms with his illness

From Kirkus Reviews:

A largely sympathetic portrait of the recently deceased young artist whose works moved from the subway platforms of N.Y.C.

to the walls of galleries and museums throughout the world. Using the form of interviews with Haring himself as well as with the hustlers and hangers-on, the con men and collectors, the celebrities and sycophants who formed his world, Gruen (Eric Bruhn, 1979, etc.) paints a vivid picture of pop culture in the 1980's.

Haring's recounting of his own adventures forms the backbone of the book. He is remarkably frank about his gay life (he died of AIDS at the age of 31), his impatience for fame, his dissatisfaction with the art establishment.

Augmenting these revelations are reminiscences by such fellow artists as Kenny Scharf and Roy Lichtenstein, art dealers Leo Castelli