LONDON.- Keith Haring by Simon Doonan is a fascinating new biography of a revolutionary artist, who transformed the art world during his short but impactful life. Brought to life by Simon Doonan, Creative Director for Barneys New York, this new pocket-sized biography tells the iconic artist’s inspirational story.

Revolutionary and renegade, Keith Haring was an artist for the people, creating an instantly recognisable repertoire of symbols: barking dogs, space-ships, crawling babies, clambering faceless people, which became synonymous with the volatile culture of 1980s. Like a careening, preening pinball, Keith Haring playfully slammed into all aspects of this decade: hip-hop, new-wave, graffiti, funk, art, style and LGBT culture, and brought them together.

Haring’s fanatical drive propelled him into the orbit of the most interesting people of his time: Jean Michel Basquiat envied him; Warhol, William Boroughs and Grace Jones collaborated with him. Madonna and he shared the same tastes in men. Famous at 25, dead from AIDS at 31, Keith Haring is remembered as a Pied Piper, an unpretentious communicator who appeared happiest when mentoring a gang of kids, arming them with brushes and attacking the nearest wall.

Author Simon Doonan, knew Haring personally and encountered his passion and talent first-hand. An accomplished author and activist himself, Doonan writes with clarity and empathy about Haring’s unpretentious, inspiring attitude.

Simon Doonan is the author of many books, including Drag: The Complete Story and How to Be Yourself: Life- Changing Advice from a Reckless Contrarian. His memoir Beautiful People was adapted for television by the BBC. Simon appears as a judge on the hit NBC television show Making It.

Available at laurenceking.com