‘Dear Keith,’ an Online Auction Benefit, for Works from Keith Haring’s Personal Collection
Eight years after New York City’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Community Center (The Center) opened, famed gay, pop artist, Keith Haring painted a 360-degree mural in a second-floor bathroom turned meeting room. He called it “Once Upon a Time…” and if you’ve never seen it, it’s quite remarkable.
While The Center building remains closed due to Covid19 until at least January 2021, its work, support, and advocacy of the LGBTQ Community continues. This week they announced a special benefit auction bridging their past and present. It’s one in which Keith Haring fans and collectors alike, across the country and around the world can participate. Online bidding is currently open on 140+ works and will continue through October 1st. From The Center,
“When Keith Haring painted his iconic mural, “Once Upon a Time…” in The Center in 1989, he cemented a friendship and connection that continues today through the Keith Haring Foundation’s long-standing support of The Center’s work. This September, we’re proud to partner with the Keith Haring Foundation to highlight Dear Keith, a special auction presented by Sotheby’s and benefiting The Center. This online auction includes 140+ works from the personal collection of activist and artist Keith Haring, on offer from the Keith Haring Foundation… In keeping with the Keith Haring Foundation’s mission to sustain and expand the artist’s legacy of philanthropy, full proceeds from the auction will benefit The Center.”
To see videos about Keith Haring and his work, the pieces up for auction, and to place your bids, click the link to Sotheby’s below.
Dear Keith: Works from the Personal Collection of Keith Haring
To mark this unique collaboration The Center is also offering a limited-edition tote bag through its website featuring Keith Haring’s 1988 work, “Art Attack on AIDS,” for any donation of $50 or more supporting The Center.
Make a donation and receive the limited edition tote bag HERE
Thursday night, The Center hosted a virtual conversation, “Inspired by Keith” with people who personally knew and worked with Keith Haring and those who are still inspired by his activism today.
(Main photo credit: KEITH HARING IN FRONT OF ONCE UPON A TIME, THE MURAL HE PAINTED AT THE CENTER IN 1989. CREDIT: PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN (1989). COURTESY OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER NATIONAL HISTORY ARCHIVE.)
