Keith Haring

Pop art, activism

Modern influential 126 sayings

Sayings by Keith Haring

My contribution to the world is my ability to draw.

1989 — Self-reflection on his legacy
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I don’t believe in waiting for inspiration. I just start drawing.

1983 — On his creative process
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The more you do, the more you can do.

1987 — Personal motto
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

I don’t care if people remember me. I just want them to remember my work.

1989 — On his legacy
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I don’t draw for galleries. I draw for people.

1985 — On his public art approach
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The best way to predict the future is to create it.

1986 — Philosophical statement
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I’m not afraid of death. I’m afraid of not finishing my work.

1989 — Reflecting on mortality
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The only rule is: there are no rules.

1984 — Creative philosophy
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I don’t believe in mistakes. Everything is an experiment.

1985 — On artistic freedom
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I don’t need drugs to hallucinate. My art is my trip.

1987 — On sobriety and creativity
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I’m not a saint. I’m just a guy who draws.

1988 — Rejecting hero worship
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The moment you stop creating, you start dying.

1989 — On the necessity of constant creation
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I don’t care about critics. I care about people.

1986 — On art elitism
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Art is too important not to share.

1989 — Final public statement
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Nothing is important…so everything is important.

Unknown — Artistic philosophy
Humorous Unverifiable

I was always totally amazed that the people I would meet while I was doing them were really, really concerned with what they meant. The first thing anyone asked me, no matter how old, no matter who they were, was, 'What does it mean?'

1980s — Observation on public reaction to his subway drawings
Humorous Unverifiable

Children know something that most people have forgotten.

Unknown — General observation
Humorous Unverifiable

If commercialization is putting my art on a shirt so that a kid who can't afford a $30,000 painting can buy one, then I'm all for it.

Unknown — Defense of commercializing his art
Humorous Unverifiable

I'd like to pretend that I've never seen anything, never read anything, never heard anything... and then make something.

Unknown — Artistic approach
Humorous Unverifiable

The best reason to paint is that there is no reason to paint.

Unknown — Artistic philosophy
Humorous Unverifiable