Untitled (Pair of Vases)

These two fiberglass vases, covered in Keith Haring's signature ink marker drawings, are vibrant examples of his early 1980s work. Created in 1981, the same year he had his first solo exhibition and began collaborating with graffiti artist Angel 'LA II' Ortiz, they bridge the gap between street art and fine art. Haring, who emerged from the dynamic downtown New York art scene, was known for transforming everyday objects and public spaces into canvases for his distinctive visual language. His figures, often outlined in thick black lines and filled with energetic squiggles, derive from the vocabulary he developed in his iconic subway chalk drawings, featuring dancing figures, barking dogs, and radiant babies. Here, these animated symbols bring a playful yet powerful energy to a traditional art form, reflecting Haring's desire to make art accessible and integrate it into daily life, a philosophy he would later embody with his Pop Shop.