Description
Keith Haring Chess Set
Offered here is a complete Keith Haring Chess Set, comprising 32 cast resin pieces, a folding chessboard, and a copy of a page from the instruction sheet (not included) showing the identity of each of the chessmen. These are all housed within the original compartmented cardboard display box. The pieces are as new. The box is in good condition and shows typical signs of wear from long-term shelf storage. Licensed by Art Merchandising & Media AG from the Estate of Keith Haring, New York, 2001. The overall box size: size is19″ x 13-1/2″ x 2″.
Background.
Keith Haring, American Artist, 1958–1990
Keith Haring rose to prominence in 1980s New York within the East Village art scene alongside Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kenny Scharf, and Jenny Holzer. He bridged the gap between the art world and the street graffiti on city subways and sidewalks before committing to a studio practice. Haring united the appeal of cartoons with the raw energy of Art Brut artists such as Jean DuBuffet as he developed a distinct pop-graffiti aesthetic that comprised energetic, boldly outlined figures against solid or patterned backdrops. His major themes included exploitation, subjugation, drug abuse, and the threat of nuclear holocaust; Haring boldly engaged with social issues, especially after receiving an AIDS diagnosis in 1987. Today, his work sells for seven figures at auction and has been the subject of solo shows at the Brooklyn Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Albertina Museum in Vienna, among other institutions.
