Keith Haring and Pop Art
Keith Haring and Pop Art
Items in this lesson
Keith Haring and Pop Art
Open by telling pupils that Keith Haring made bright, bold pictures with simple shapes and lines. His art is easy to spot because it looks lively, playful and full of movement.
Our learning goal
I can describe Keith Haring’s art style and say how it is part of Pop Art.
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What words come to mind when you see Keith Haring art?
Use this to surface simple visual ideas such as bright, lines, dancing, dog, baby, fun, bold or colourful. Accept single words or very short phrases.
Who was Keith Haring?
Keith Haring was an artist.
He made art with bold lines and simple shapes.
His pictures often show dancing people, barking dogs and babies.
His art looks busy, bright and full of energy.
What can you see in this picture ?
Keep the focus on recognising his style, not on biography. Pupils at this age benefit from noticing repeated images such as the radiant baby and barking dog.
What is Pop Art?
Pop Art is art that uses bold colours and clear images.
It is inspired by everyday life and popular culture.
Pop artists wanted art to feel fun, easy to see and easy to remember.
Keith Haring is part of Pop Art because his work is bright, simple and made for lots of people to enjoy.
For 6–7 year olds, explain popular culture as things many people know, see or enjoy. Avoid abstract theory; keep it concrete and visual.
Colours and techniques
Keith Haring used bright colours like red, yellow, blue and green.
He used thick black outlines.
He made simple shapes instead of tiny details.
He added short lines around shapes to show movement, sound or action.
Point out that the extra action lines help the pictures feel alive. This is a key feature children can copy in their own artwork.
which picture do you think is Keith Haring's work ?
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which picture do you think is Keith Haring's work ?
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Glossary
artist - a person who makes art
style - the special way an artist’s work looks
Pop Art - art with bold colours and clear images from everyday life
outline - a line around a shape
symbol - a picture that stands for an idea
movement - when art looks as if it is full of action
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Finish the art facts
Keith Haring was an artist. He used bright colours and thick black outlines. His short lines can show movement.
This echoes the exact lesson vocabulary from the content slides and glossary: artist, colours, outlines, movement.
