Debbie Dick 1984

Keith Haring made ‘Debbie Dick’ with, what looks like, pretty straightforward acrylics. Haring wasn’t trying to be subtle, which is what I love about him. The pink is fleshy, really fleshy. It’s also flat, and almost cartoon-like. The black lines are bold, outlining everything, giving it that pop art punch, like he’s almost making a sign. Even the background, that bright blue, is so unapologetically in your face. It's funny, the way he reduces everything to these simple shapes and lines, but still manages to convey so much. It’s like, he’s saying, "Here it is, deal with it”. I mean, look at those little motion lines, it’s a penis with a face wearing a wig, and it’s moving, what’s not to love? Haring, like Basquiat, was part of that downtown scene, but he really wanted to make art for everyone. He's got this very queer, very political point of view, making art accessible and fun.