Keith Haring Fertility 5, 1983 is the second of five works in the artist’s Fertility Suite of 1983. In this color screenprint, the artist illustrates four figures atop a pink and green background. The first two are pregnant forms that stand on either side of the composition and are rendered in black with yellow contouring. The stand one either side a third figure who draws them into a gentle embrace. This figure is colored in red and yellow speckles and also appears in Haring’s Fertility Untitled 4, from the Fertility Suite, 1983. The two figures in black each extend one arm out and above toward the other, as if in celebration. The icon of a crawling infant that has become staple imagery in Pop art appears in the bottom right corner of the composition, encased in a black sphere. Action lines protrude from all four figures in the work emphasize their excitement regarding their fruitfulness.

Keith Haring Fertility  5, 1983 is part of a portfolio of five screenprints in the artist’s Fertility Suite of 1983. This body of work depicts forms engaging in ritualistic activities as they revel in their fecundity. The works in the Keith Haring Fertility Portfolio are:  Fertility Untitled 1, 1983, from the Fertility Suite,  Fertility Untitled 2, 1983, from the Fertility Suite,  Fertility Untitled 3, from the Fertility Suite, 1983, Fertility Untitled 4, from the Fertility Suite, 1983, and Fertility Untitled 5, from the Fertility Suite, 1983.

Created in 1983, this Keith Haring Fertility 5 color screenprint is hand-signed in pencil and numbered from the edition of 100 in pencil in the lower right margin.

Keith Haring Fertility Suite:

Keith Haring was one of the most prominent and influential artists of the 20th century. His art was known for its bold and colorful style, which captured the spirit of New York City during the 1980s. One of Haring's most intriguing works is the Fertility Suite, a series of  screenprints that he created in 1983.

The Fertility Suite was created during a particularly productive period in Haring's career. He was also openly gay and was a vocal advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness and education. In the early 1980s, he was becoming increasingly famous for his street art, which he created using chalk and markers on the walls of subway stations and other public spaces. Haring's art was a reflection of the energy and vibrancy of New York City, and it quickly gained a devoted following.

One of the reasons that Haring was drawn to the theme of fertility was his own personal life. In 1982, he had been diagnosed with HIV, a disease that was still poorly understood at the time. Haring's diagnosis was a turning point in his life, and it had a profound impact on his art. He began to explore themes of mortality, illness, and the fragility of life in his work.

The Fertility Suite was one way that Haring grappled with these themes. By exploring the concept of fertility, he was able to create art that was both life-affirming and deeply personal. The images in the suite are joyful and colorful, even as they grapple with serious themes.

The Fertility Suite remains an important part of Haring's legacy because it represents a turning point in his career. It was one of the first times that he had created a series of screenprints, and it marked a shift away from his street art roots. The suite was also significant because it explored themes that were deeply personal to Haring, and it allowed him to grapple with his own mortality in a creative and productive way.

Today, the Fertility Suite is considered one of Haring's most important works. The series is housed in museums and private collections around the world, and it continues to inspire new generations of artists. By creating art that was both deeply personal and universally resonant, Keith Haring left an indelible mark on the art world, and the Fertility Suite remains a testament to his creative vision and his enduring legacy.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
Keith Haring Fertility 5, from the Fertility Suite, 1983 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the sale of the work).

1. Littmann, Klaus. Keith Haring: Editions on Paper 1982-1990, The Complete Printed Works. Hatje Cantz Publishers: New York, 1993. Keith Haring Fertility 5 is listed and illustrated on pg. 33 b.
2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany our Keith Haring Fertility 5.

About the Framing:
Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, Keith Haring Fertility 5, from the Fertility Suite,  1983 is presented in a complementary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.