prismacolor pencil, acrylic pen, on black construction paper; 9×10”
“Under the guidance of art teacher Steve Groh, students learned about the graffiti style artwork of Keith Haring, and created a drawing in a similar style using symbolic imagery to communicate a message based on a social issue.”
“Inspired by Keith Haring’s bold style, my artwork addresses the urgent issue of racism. The central figure is a Black man with his hands up, symbolizing innocence and vulnerability, yet he has been shot by police. The stark contrast of the dark figure against a bold yellow background emphasizes the tragedy and injustice of such incidents. Vibrant colors and dynamic lines capture the pain and anger felt by many. Through this piece, I aim to raise awareness, provoke conversation, and advocate for the end of racial violence and systemic injustice.”
ARTIST BIO: “Inspired by Keith Haring’s bold style, my artwork addresses the urgent issue of racism. The central figure is a Black man with his hands up, symbolizing innocence and vulnerability, yet he has been shot by police. The stark contrast of the dark figure against a bold yellow background emphasizes the tragedy and injustice of such incidents. Vibrant colors and dynamic lines capture the pain and anger felt by many. Through this piece, I aim to raise awareness, provoke conversation, and advocate for the end of racial violence and systemic injustice.”
ARTIST BIO: Kayman DIESMAN is a grade 10 student at OHHS.