In The Blueprint Drawings 8, Keith Haring offers a striking visual reflection of 1980s New York during the height of the AIDS crisis. His characteristic faceless figures are densely arranged across the composition, set against a field marked with short, rhythmic lines that suggest both movement and the persistent presence of the virus. Despite their anonymity, the figures are charged with a sense of physicality, openly engaging themes of intimacy, vulnerability and survival within the gay community. Some gesture outward - perhaps reaching for connection - while others appear caught in moments of uncertainty, emotion or resolve.
A large black pyramid anchors the background - a recurring symbol in Haring's work. It evokes the weight of history and suggests that the AIDS epidemic, while immediate, was shaped by deeper cultural and generational forces.
On the right side of the image, a flying saucer hovers above the scene, its single eye casting a beam onto a solitary figure. Whether this moment represents selection, alienation or something else remains ambiguous. The symbol may gesture toward stigma, hope or external judgment - Haring leaves the interpretation open...

• Ask a question
• Buy