Absolut Haring 1986

Keith Haring made this advert for Absolut Vodka in 1987. It is part of a series of collaborations between artists and the Swedish brand which began in 1985 with Andy Warhol. Pop Art questioned the cult of the unique artwork and blurred the boundary between commerce and art. In this image, Haring's cartoonish figures seem to worship an icon of consumer culture. Haring came from a graffiti background and often used public spaces like the New York subway to show his art, which meant he was interested in breaking down the traditional art world's barriers between high and low culture. Haring's imagery also engaged with issues such as safe sex, drug abuse and AIDS awareness. When we look at images like this, we can think about the relationship between advertising, the art world, and public life. Academic resources such as art journals, artist biographies, and historical archives help us to understand the social and institutional contexts that shape the production and interpretation of art.