Artnet received the first bid on a black leather jacket worn, painted and signed by late graffiti artist Keith Haring — $22,000. “The owner of this vintage leather jacket was sixteen years old when he cut school to meet his hero, Keith Haring, who was working on a mural in Chicago in 1989. Haring created this painting on the back of his leather jacket as an impromptu thank you gift for his help with the mural. The jacket has been in the owner’s possession for the past twenty five years. The drawing is full of the artist’s characteristic dynamic imagery and whimsy. Featuring scissors that resemble human forms cutting off a snake’s tail scissors, the image is full of life, fervor and clearly a passion for his work, his life, and his friendship with the jacket’s owner. Haring signed and dated the jacket as well, and Haring’s photographer, Kwong Chi, signed the sleeve. The artist died six months later in February of 1990 at the age of 31.”
If that’s out of your budget, you could bid on another extremely rare piece of Haring ephemera – one of his first edition coloring books of 32 lithographs, published by the artist himself in 1982. Opening bid $750. Auction ends December 20.
