Keith Haring: The Authorized Biography [Hardcover]

John Gruen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1991

The biography of painter, designer and AIDS victim Keith Haring.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Melding graffiti, pop art and archetypal symbolism, Keith Haring's semiabstract human torsos, "radiant babies" and dogs gave street art unusual depth and popular appeal. Raised in a Pennsylvania Dutch farm town, Haring became a Jesus freak, a druggie and a hippie by age 15, and, in the Manhattan art world, a rebel consumed by restless energy and a thirst for celebrity. His death from AIDS in 1990 at age 31 left unresolved the debate over whether his art is ephemeral or lasting. Consisting entirely of transcripts of interviews with Haring, his parents, sisters, teachers, colleagues, lovers and art dealers, this pastiche reads like preliminary notes for a biography. Kenny Scharf, Timothy Leary, Madonna, Yoko Ono, Francesco Clemente, Roy Lichtenstein and William Burroughs are among the interviewees. Their appreciations of Haring and his kinetic art are eloquent and touching. Some 100 plates (most in color) are sprinkled throughout. Gruen's books include The New Bohemia.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Gruen tells the fascinating story of Haring, from his phenomenal rise on the international art scene as graffiti artist extraordinaire, whose "radiant child" became a worldwide symbol of the Eighties pop culture, to his tragic death from AIDS at the age of 31. The book focuses on Haring's creative talent--including sculpture, painting, murals, and graphic art projects--and on his compulsive work habits, tracing his progress from concept to installation of one-man shows in Australia, Japan, France, and Monaco, among others. His life and work are seen through personal and candid interviews with the artist, members of his family, friends, and celebrities, including William Burroughs, Timothy Leary, Madonna, and Princess Caroline. This shocking, graphic, and entertaining biography, however, depicts life in the fast lane, New York style, with its all-too-familiar components of celebrity, drugs, and sex. Recommended.
- Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson City
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 259 pages
• Publisher: Macmillan General Reference; 1st edition (October 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0135161134
• ISBN-13: 978-0135161135
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,137 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Gruen has written for "The New York Herald Tribune" and "The New York Times." He was the chief art critic for New York magazine, an arts columnist for Vogue, contributing editor to "ArtNews," writer for "Architectural Digest," and senior editor at "Dance Magazine." He has previously written 15 books, including biographies on conductor/composer Leonard Bernstein, composer Gian Carlo Menotti, dancer Erik Bruhn, and artist Keith Haring. He is also a published photographer who has exhibited widely and authored three photography books, "Facing the Artist" (Prestel, 1999), "The Sixties: Young in the Hamptons" (Charta, 2006) and "As Time Goes By" (Edition One Books, 2011.) Three hundred of his artist portraits are in the permanent collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art. John Gruen and his wife, painter Jane Wilson live in New York City and Water Mill, NY. Their daughter, Julia Gruen, is the Executive Director of the Keith Haring Foundation.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating and intimate portrait of an artist, January 24, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Keith Haring: The Authorized Biography (Paperback)

What makes "Keith Haring: The Authorized Biography", such a moving work is its unique approach to the biographical format. Rather than just recount his research into Haring's life, author John Gruen has pieced together writings by Haring, the artist's friends, companions, mentors, and dealers. The narrative switches perspective quite often, resulting in a balanced and more revealing account of Haring's life and art, from different points of view. Among other things, Haring recounts his beginnings as a graffiti artist, his rivalry with the painter Jean-Michel Basquiat, and his coming to terms with being gay, and eventually, his contraction of AIDS. Profusely illustrated throughout, the book also gives an inside look at several aspects of the 80's art scene in New York city. By the end, the reader gains not only a thorough knowledge of Haring the artist, but more importantly, an understanding of the humanist philosophy and intent behind the art

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This was the first biography that I'd read, March 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Keith Haring: The Authorized Biography (Paperback)

I had always been under the impression that biographies were purposely designed to be dull and pointless, until I picked up this book. I have always liked Haring's work and wanted to find out more about the man himself. Not only is this book a biography but it contains words from Haring himself. It is very accessible, all chapters are broken down into easy to read sections and you can dip in and out of the book as you wish. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in his art (it contains many colour photographs of his more famous works) and all those who are interested in learning more about Haring's colourful life.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keith Haring: Radiant Child, July 7, 2000

By 

"bunnygirl-12" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keith Haring: The Authorized Biography (Paperback)

I first became interested in Keith Haring as an artist when I saw a collection of his work at the Tampa Museum of Art in the very early 1990's. By that time, Keith had already passed away; however, he left behind a very large legacy of his remarkable work. I decided I had to know more about this man whose colorful pop art had caught my eye, so I went out and bought the book, "Keith Haring: The Authorized Biography." This book is awesome!! It is part autobiography, part miniature art gallery. Keith's story is told in a very intimate, revealing way, and it really makes you feel as if you are right there in the middle of his life in New York in the 80's. All of the famous artists and people from the entertainment world that comprised Keith's social circle are also included in the book, offering up their observations and anecdotes of Keith Haring, his lifestyle, and his art. There are many personal photographs of the artist at work and with his friends included in the book, as well as eye-popping photos of some of Keith's famous works. Often Keith Haring is called a "grafitti artist." When you read this book, you will realize that he is more than just that; Keith Haring was a down-to-earth man whose stunning and sometimes controversial art holds a universal appeal and a bittersweet social commentary of life as he knew it. Art lovers - don't miss out on this one!