The artwork entitled “Crack Is Wack” was created by artist Keith Haring in the year 1986. This piece is an exemplification of the street art movement and is classified within the genre of graffiti.
The artwork is a vibrant and striking mural painted with a bold orange background and densly populated black line figures. The phrase “CRACK IS WACK” dominates the upper portion of the mural in large, capitalized letters. The lettering is artistically accented with patterns of dots and dashes, conveying a sense of urgency and eye-catching design. Surrounding the central message, various abstract human figures and forms are illustrated in Haring’s distinctive style, characterized by thick outlines and exaggerated, dynamic poses. The figures depicted seem to embody chaos and distress, conveying a profound social commentary on the dangers and destructive nature of drug addiction. The inclusion of “NYC 1986” at the top right of the mural contextualizes it within both a specific place and time, marking it as a significant piece of cultural and historical relevance.
