The rights to a 2024 biography on the iconic pop artist’s life and career is being developed into a show…
His artwork is known internationally. You’ve seen it featured on apparel, perfume bottles, chess sets, accessories, phone cases and more. You’ve also likely come across his barking dog and dancing figures in a museum or gallery. But beyond his energetic lines, how well do you know the story of Keith Haring?
The life and career of the iconic pop artist and activist is currently being adapted into a series. Working Title Television has acquired the rights to Radiant: The Life and Line of Keith Haring, a 2024 biography of the artist by Brad Gooch. The series is being developed by All of Us Strangers director Andrew Haigh, who will serve as executive producer. The Keith Haring Foundation, Gooch and executives at Working Title Television will also get executive producer credits on the show.
“Haring’s work, while profoundly personal, speaks to something deep in us all,” Haigh said in an exclusive interview with Deadline. “His bold line defined a moment in time, yet his art resonates as powerfully today as it did in the 1980s.”
The biography by Gooch was New York Times Book Critics Favourite Book of the Year. The 430 page biography takes readers to the very beginning of Haring’s life to his death due to AIDS-related complications. It examines how he became an ’80s cultural icon and broke down the barriers between high art and popular culture. It features interviews and pulls archival material to illustrate his life. Needless to say those developing the series have a lot to work with.
While Haring has been the subject of many documentaries, there hasn’t been a scripted series based on the artist’s life. The show is currently in very early stages of development. There is no word on when we can expect it or if it will be a ongoing or limited series.
Who is Keith Haring?
Born in 1958, Haring developed a love of drawing at a young age. He learned the art of cartooning by absorbing the works of Dr. Seuss, Walt Disney and other notable pop culture figures. His time in New York City was central to his development, immersing himself in the city’s graffiti subculture. It was also where he began to embrace his homosexuality and the world around him.
Haring’s art is recognizable for its vibrant colours and upbeat style. His characters have been described as eye-catching and joyful. The trailblazer also used his art as a vehicle for activism, making statements and educating people on the complex issues of his time. He protested apartheid in South Africa, supported nuclear disarmament and raised awareness about the AIDS crisis.
In 1990, Haring died of AIDS-related complications at the age of 31.
RELATED:
POST A COMMENT