Who doesn’t appreciate a winter afternoon exploring an art gallery? And when an original Keith Haring is on display, even better.
Pop artist and activist, the creator rose to fame in the ’80s for his bold motifs that oftentimes accompanied a significant social message. For
those who weren’t around to catch his transformation of public places into stunning displays, now is your chance to catch up. But you’ll have to hurry — the stunning work won’t be around much longer.
The Martos Gallery on Elizabeth Street has graciously extended its display of Haring’s FDR mural from 1984 until Saturday, February 7th. One of Haring’s most famous public works, the mural spanned 300 feet alongside the highway and the East River, according to the gallery. Fourteen of the 30 panels Haring created are yours for the viewing.
Its unique details — light bulbs, barking dogs, people running, people with wings, etc. — was meant to accompany the busy NYC life passing before all those in the FDR’s path.
“I was always totally amazed that the people I would meet while I was doing them were really, really concerned with what they meant. The first thing anyone asked me, no matter how old, no matter who they were, was what does it mean,” the artist once said, according to the Keith Haring Foundation.
To accompany this magnificent display that was once in a private collection, curator and critic Bob Nickas penned an essay detailing the artist’s work, intentions, and significance, even 40+ years later.
“It’s still alive. Haring’s distinctive, vibratory line animates figures that float, fly, somersault, and exuberantly defy gravity, movement from dancing, breakdancing and the sense that bodies can transcend physical limits,” Nickas writes.
