In the Grace House Youth Center, Manhattan, a young Keith Haring painted a mural that came to cover the stairwell and its three floors. Now, 35 years later, the building will be sold and in turn renovated. But what happens to the barking dog, the crawling child and all the other figures Haring painted?
In 1983, Keith Haring began the project where he painted, without preparation or sketches, a dozen figures in black in his characteristic, cartoon style. He started with the shining baby, one of his most famous figures, followed by the barking dog and the conjoined couple.
During all the years that the mural has been in the stairwell, it has been kept in good condition, thanks to the Ascension Church who owns the building. Now the property will be sold to become a residential building. And since the building is over 90 years old, a major renovation is required.
In order to save Haring's work from being damaged during the renovation, the church has spent over $850,000 (£655,000) to remove the mural, and, with the help of conservators, managed to cut out 13 figures.
Due to the church's financial situation, they have chosen to auction the artworks at Bonhams. The church hopes that the work will end up in a museum and that it raise money to donate to the Keith Haring Foundation. Many people are worried that the mural will end up with a private individual, something that upsets Gil Vazquez, acting chief of the Keith Haring Foundation, who told The New York Times, "This mural was not meant to be owned by a collector. It was meant to brighten a room full of children."
The work was never signed by Keith Haring and Mr Mallon, a former Grace House employee, also told The New York Times, “It would’ve been ridiculous for him to sign it. Everybody knew who he was. We all watched him do it.” Although there is no signature, the mural has an estimated price of US$3-5 million (£2.3-3.85 mil) and will be sold on 13 November when Bonhams holds its 'Post-War & Contemporary Art' auction in New York.
Keith Haring became one of America's greatest artists with his graffiti-inspired works. Instead of using spray paint, he used crayons and painted in subways and walls around New York. He was active in the AIDS movement and in 1990 he died of the disease at only 31 years old.
Despite his short life, he managed to create many sensational works. When they go under the hammer at auction, they achieve millions, including Untitled from 1984, which sold for just over US$4.5 million (£3.47 mil) in 2018.
