Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Timothy Leary and the Amiga Computer

My drawings were perfect for translation into computers because the drawing line was already very close to the idea of ‘pixels.

— Keith Haring (1958-1990)

 

Five digital drawings that Keith Haring made in 1987 were recently sold at a Christie’s auction. The drawings were done on an Amiga computer that was given to Haring by psychologist Timothy Leary, known for his research and advocacy of psychedelic drugs. In the 1980s, Leary became fascinated by computers, the internet, and virtual reality. He said that "the PC is the LSD of the 1990s" and urged “historically technophobic” bohemians to "turn on, boot up, jack in.” He gave computers to several artists, including Haring and Andy Warhol.

The images that Haring created were stored on floppy disks and not on public view until recently. They were sold as NFTs and garnered from $252,000 to $352,800 at Christie’s. Proceeds from the sale went to The Keith Haring Foundation.

In 1985, Andy Warhol (1928-1987) was given an Amiga computer by Commodore International, who hired him to demonstrate the artistic prowess of the Amiga.  The company arranged a show at Lincoln Center, where Warhol would paint a portrait of Blondie’s lead singer, Debbie Harry in front of a live audience.

The show was a success, but the computer was not. Sadly, the company went bankrupt in 1994. Like Keith Haring’s digital works, Warhol’s were placed on a floppy disk and stored in the archives of the Warhol Museum. In 2021, Warhol’s digital drawings were sold at Christie’s as NFTs to benefit the Andy Warhol Foundation.

 Please contact us if you would like more information about the fine art prints by Keith Haring and Andy Warhol available at VFA.