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An Original Keith Haring Unveiled
It was Christmas day in 1983. Artist and fashion designer Claire Joseph was waiting to catch a subway in New York City (Penn Station stop). She was currently in art school and was headed downtown to Christopher Street. She noticed an original Keith Haring on the wall.
Back in the 80s, advertising agencies would paste up posters all through the New York City subway system. Once the ad time was over, a piece of black paper was glued over it. Haring frequently claimed these black back-drops to create his well-known chalk drawings all over the city. Joseph had always admired his work. Like many others, she had attempted on prior occasions to acquire one. “I wasn’t the only one, everyone was trying to pull them off,” said Joseph. She casually tugged on the end to see if the artwork would easily lift up. This time it did. “It was a cold day, recalled Joseph. “I think the glue had frozen, and it just popped off.” That was her lucky day. She scrambled off with her treasure…it has been hanging in her home ever since.
Just about a week later, Claire would meet Haring when he was drawing in front of the New York public library on 42nd St. She was with her mother who approached Haring asking, “You never erase do you?” He confirmed. Then she added, “You’re like Picasso.” Haring went on to engage in a forty-minute conversation about art with the pair. As mothers can’t help…
