Andy Mouse 1985

Keith Haring made "Andy Mouse" using silkscreen, a process with deep roots in commercial printing. The flat, vibrant colors and crisp lines achievable with silkscreen allowed Haring to bridge the gap between fine art and mass production. Silkscreen involves pushing ink through a stenciled mesh onto a surface, in this case, the canvas. The result is a layering of color, creating depth and visual pop. Haring uses a striking palette of pinks and blues to draw your eye. Haring embraced the reproductive nature of silkscreen, blurring the line between high art and consumer culture. Just like Warhol, Haring recognized that art could be both a commodity and a form of social commentary. By embracing processes typically associated with commercial industries, Haring asked viewers to reconsider the value we place on art, and questioned traditional hierarchies within the art world.