New graphic biography chronicles Keith Haring's life and art

Italian cartoonist Paolo Parisi has created a graphic biography of Keith Haring, published by Centauria in Milan in 2021. The 128-page volume traces Haring's life from his childhood in Kutztown to his rise in New York's underground scene alongside Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Julian Schnabel, and his death at age 31. Parisi's book aims to capture the most significant moments of Haring's career, emphasizing his activism and political engagement. Haring's art, described as accessible to all, broke down barriers and used visual language as a common ground. The biography draws on Haring's diaries, which he kept from 1978 until his death, offering insights into his reflections on art, society, and personal life. Parisi, who previously created graphic biographies of John Coltrane, Billie Holiday, and Basquiat, sees Haring as part of a lineage of artists with strong communicative impact and shared ethical values. The book covers Haring's prolific output across murals, canvases, sculptures, design objects, clothing, theater performances, and stage sets, maintaining a frenetic pace even after his HIV diagnosis. Parisi stresses that Haring's activism and provocation remain relevant today, and that if alive, Haring would be at the forefront of civil and democratic struggles.