In 1980, Keith Haring received a studio residency within P.S. 122's building (P.S. 122 is now re-named and rebranded as 'Performance Space New York' - 'PSNY' - and has been...
In 1980, Keith Haring received a studio residency within P.S. 122's building (P.S. 122 is now re-named and rebranded as 'Performance Space New York' - 'PSNY' - and has been in existence as a non-profit organisation for the promotion of the creative arts for over 40 years, located at 150 First Avenue, NYC). Keith Haring developed much of his iconic painting style during this period and engaged in a variety of disciplines, as witnessed in his curating of performance, 'Acts of Live Art', nearby at Club 57, and in his street art, exhibitions and collaborations, combined a playful sensibility with incisive social commentary and, in the late 1980's, HIV and Aids activisim (an illness which he unfortunately later succumbed to). Offered here is an extremely rare work - a xerox on paper which shows a shot of his studio at P.S. 122 (most likely shot by his friend and documentary photographer, Tseng Kwong Chi). Below the image, lower left, Keith Haring has inscribed in biro 'P.S. 122 - N.Y.C. OCTOBER 1980'. The works on show in the studio shot and covering almost the entirety of Haring's studio walls, are very powerful, and hugely iconic important examples of his oeuvre. On the reverse of the xeroxed image is a note, in Keith Haring's hand in black biro, detailing the contents of the envelope he had posted to Ronnie Cohen. The envelope contains 3 Kodak slides of paintings Haring had made (2 of Elvis Presley and one of Marilyn Monroe), both sides shown of each, with a request that they be returned to his new address as he was moving (they were never returned, for some reason). The note is signed at the bottom, 'Keith Haring'. Keith Haring used to buy posters of Elvis and Marilyn Monro from tourist shops on Times Square and paint over them in his own unique style. Each slide bears the 'TSENG KWONG CHI' stamps and are inscribed by hand with the dimensions of each painting and the date of execution. The envelope is also inscribed in Keith Haring's hand, including his address, and is inscribed (both sides), 'DO NOT BEND' in gold marker pen (the envelope is post-stamped '29 May 1981' and includes the original stamp). An important snapshot of Keith Haring's enterprise and immense talent, on the cusp of international stardom.