Christie’s to auction Keith Haring’s digital works in a World Premiere at The Gateway: Korea
Seoul’s The Gateway: Korea is all set to host an unparalleled event in the world of art. Auction giant Christie’s has announced the exclusive online auction “Keith Haring: Pixel Pioneer,” featuring five digitally-drawn works by the iconic artist Keith Haring.
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Priceless Pixels: Keith Haring’s Legacy meets Digital Art
Created on an Amiga computer back in the 1980s, these rare pieces will be unveiled at a world premiere exhibition at The Gateway: Korea from September 6-8, followed by a display at Christie’s New York from September 14-19.
Estimated to fetch between $200,000 to $500,000 each, the digital drawings build on Keith Haring’s already monumental legacy.
Famed for his groundbreaking work in both street and gallery art during the 1980s, Haring’s digital endeavors resonate loudly in today’s Web3 world. His distinct approach to art transcended traditional norms and marked a pivotal moment in broadening art’s outreach.
Haring was not new to the world of digital art. Like his mentor, the legendary Andy Warhol, Haring was an early adopter of digital platforms, even incorporating the Apple Macintosh computer into his artworks.
The Amiga drawings, characterized by his signature bold lines and vibrant colors, reflect Haring’s genius in embracing an emerging medium, one that now underpins much of 21st-century art and commercial design.
Following Warhol’s digital footsteps
The auction aims to echo the success of Christie’s 2021 Warhol sale, where recovered digital works by the iconic pop artist sold for a staggering $3.8 million. Nicole Sales Giles, Christie’s Vice President and Director of Digital Art Sales, noted:
“Haring’s work transitioned art from the confined gallery spaces to the streets. Given his early fascination with the digital realm, he would have undoubtedly been a key figure in today’s Web3 community.”
Preserving Haring’s Legacy
This initiative is the result of a collaboration between Christie’s and the Keith Haring Studio, which falls under the umbrella of the Keith Haring Foundation. The Foundation is devoted to preserving Haring’s work and advocating for nonprofits focused on children and AIDS-related issues.
Gil Vazquez, Executive Director and President of the Keith Haring Foundation, emphasized the importance of minting Haring’s digital art pieces as NFTs. He described them as a “pivotal moment in identifying Haring as a pioneer in the digital art space,” stressing the collection’s “groundbreaking convergence of art and technology.”
A pioneering partnership
To actualize this project, Christie’s collaborated with Artestar, a global licensing agency and creative consultancy, symbolizing the increasing convergence of traditional and digital art spaces.
As the lines between traditional and digital art continue to fade, the forthcoming auction and exhibitions stand as a testament to Keith Haring’s eternal relevance. It underscores the broadening horizons of what art can be and where it can exist, further solidifying the artist’s indelible mark on the global art scene.
