Keith Haring Pop Art Study

Merge of Pop Art & Street Art

Introduction: Keith Haring

Keith Allen Haring was an American artist whose work grew out of the New York City graffiti scene of the 1980s. His bold, energetic figures and symbols became a universal visual language that communicated messages about love, unity, activism, and social awareness.

Haring began by drawing in subway stations and later brought his work to galleries, murals, and public spaces. His art is known for:

• Bold black lines

• Bright, flat colors

• Repeating symbols and figures

• Strong messages about humanity and connection

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nscsx9NldA

Essential Question

How can art be used to spread messages of kindness and connection in our community?

Learning Goals

Students will:

• Learn about Keith Haring and his influence on Pop Art and street art

• Explore symbolism and visual storytelling

• Use bold lines, color, and shape to create a clear message

• Create artwork that promotes kindness on campus

Project Prompt

Create a Keith Haring–inspired artwork that communicates a message of kindness, unity, or positivity.

Your final piece will be displayed around campus as part of a kindness initiative:

A Keith Kind of Experience – Let’s Plaster Campus in Kindness!

Materials

• Construction paper

• Scissors

• Rubber cement

• Sharpie

• Pencil

  
  

Instructions

1. Choose Your Background

   Select a bold color for your background.

2. Create Your Composition

   • Cut out shapes and figures from construction paper

   • Arrange your composition before gluing

3. Assemble Your Artwork

   • Glue using rubber cement

   • Make sure everything is securely attached

4. Outline & Design

   • Use Sharpie to create bold outlines

   • Add movement lines, patterns, and details

5. Add Your Message

   • Include a heart or central space

   • Write a message about kindness, love, or positivity

6. Inspiration Option

   You may base your design on a specific Keith Haring artwork

7. Final Step (After Grading)

   • Tape your artwork somewhere on campus

   • Choose a location where you have experienced or witnessed kindness

   • Take a photo of your campus art

   • Sumbit using the following QR code with a 2-3 sentence explanation

4-Point Rubric

Criteria	Advanced (4)	Proficient (3)	Developing (2)	Beginning (1)
Creativity & Composition	Highly original design; strong use of space, movement, and balance	Clear composition with thoughtful arrangement	Basic composition; some areas feel empty or crowded	Little planning; composition is unclear or incomplete
Use of Keith Haring Style	Strong understanding of Haring’s style (bold lines, symbols, movement) clearly applied	Good use of bold lines and simple figures	Some attempt at style, but lacks consistency	Minimal or no connection to Haring’s style
Craftsmanship	Clean, precise cutting and gluing; artwork is neat and professional	Mostly neat with minor flaws	Noticeable issues with cutting, gluing, or neatness	Messy, incomplete, or falling apart
Message & Effort	Message is clear, meaningful, and impactful; strong effort shown	Message is clear; good effort	Message is somewhat unclear or rushed	No clear message; minimal effort

Final Thought

Your art has power. Just like Keith Haring used public spaces to spread messages, you are contributing to a more positive and connected campus.

Let’s make Del Oro a place full of visible kindness.