Keith Haring Mural May Decide the Fate of Public Art in Philly
“We The Youth” (1987), painted on a wall co-owned by a real-estate developer, could become the city’s first outdoor mural on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places.
Philadelphia could soon make a significant decision regarding the preservation of a Keith Haring mural, which may also set a precedent for the protection of public art in the city. This mural, titled "We The Youth" and created in 1987, depicts Haring's signature dancing figures in bold, black outlines, filled in by high school students with bright colors and patterns.
The mural was painted on a residential building wall in the historically Black neighborhood of Point Breeze, a location Haring deliberately chose over more frequented areas throughout the city. The artwork has undergone two restorations over its 39-year history, and remains the only remaining example of Haring's collaborative murals in its original location.
The Philadelphia Historical Commission will hold a public meeting on September 16 to discuss whether to designate "We The Youth" as part of the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. Should the mural receive this designation, it would be the first outdoor mural in the city to be afforded such protection, making Philadelphia a "Mural Capital of the World."
The mural's co-owners, the Neighborhood Gardens Trust (NGT) and OCF Realty, are both supportive of the commission's potential decision. OCF Realty has been criticized for contributing to the gentrification of Point Breeze, while NGT is dedicated to preserving community gardens.
The Keith Haring Foundation has expressed its support for the mural's designation, stating that it would preserve the artwork as a unique cultural icon and provide necessary legal protections against its loss.
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