Don't do it for anyone else

It's incredible to think that Keith Haring was only alive for 31 years, given the impact of his work. In New York particularly, his public pop-art greeted many thousands of people every day, and internationally he was, and still is, highly regarded. He also left behind a valuable legacy that includes, alongside his artwork, the Keith Haring Foundation; launched in 1989 "to assist AIDS-related and children's charities", said disease being the cause of his death just a year later.

Below: a brief letter of advice he wrote to an aspiring artist and fan of Haring's work, circa-1987.

Transcript follows. Image courtesy of Gotta Have It.

Image: Gotta Have It

Transcript

KEITH HARING
676 BROADWAY N.Y.C. 10012 212-477-1579

Michael -

Thanks for your letter. I draw everyday. When I was 15, I wanted to be an artist so I drew all the time. It was my only visible talent.

Whatever you do, the only secret is to believe in it and satisfy yourself. Don't do it for anyone else.

Good luck,

Keith