Untitled 1983

Keith Haring made this untitled piece, sometime before 1990, using bold, graphic shapes and a striking yellow and red color scheme. It’s kind of amazing how he boils everything down to the essentials, right? Looking at it, you see the flat surface, almost like a sign, but then you notice the tiny dots filling in the space, like someone took a marker and just went wild. That texture creates a kind of buzz, a vibration, that makes the whole thing pop. There’s a figure diving in, another leaping out, and some playful dolphins, all outlined in red against that sunny yellow. Haring's lines aren't precious; they're raw and full of energy. This piece is so characteristic of his signature style, reminiscent of his subway drawings. He reminds me a bit of Dubuffet. Both artists used a pared down language to express a certain freedom. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be serious or complicated. Sometimes, the simplest gestures can say the most.