Best Buddies 1990

Keith Haring made "Best Buddies" sometime during his short but meteoric career. The two dancing figures are outlined with a thick black line that seems to vibrate with energy and rhythm. The yellow figure takes up more space and is more active, almost protective of its more pale buddy. I can imagine Haring working on this in his downtown studio, music blasting, spray cans in hand, finding a kind of shorthand for the human form. These generalized bodies, which are simple, feel so specific to Haring’s world. The black dashes surrounding them, like energy bursts, remind me of graffiti writing, where the tag becomes a kind of personal aura. Haring wasn’t just making art; he was communicating, making symbols that everyone could access. And it’s cool to see how he drew inspiration from street art, pop art, and even ancient art, filtering it all through his unique vision. It’s like he was saying, "We're all in this together," creating a visual language of inclusivity, friendship, and joy.