Keith Haring

Google recently honored artist Keith Haring (1958-1990) with a Google Doodle to celebrate the anniversary of the late artist's birthday.  Heres the doodle. If you were around during the 1980s, you may have become familiar with the works of Haring, who designed, among other things, the cover art for the multi-artist album A Very Special Christmas.

Haring became well known for his vibrant artwork often containing stylized images of people, frequently presented in the form of murals. According to his bio, he became interested in art at an early age, drawing inspiration from the works of Walt Disney and Dr. Suess. Further, 

 In addition to being impressed by the innovation and energy 

of his contemporaries, Haring was also inspired by the work of 

Jean Dubuffet, Pierre Alechinsky, William Burroughs, Brion Gysin and 

Robert Henri’s manifesto The Art Spirit, which asserted the 

fundamental independence of the artist. With these influences 

Haring was able to push his own youthful impulses toward a singular 

kind of graphic expression based on the primacy of the line. Also drawn 

to the public and participatory nature of Christo’s work, in 

particular "Running Fence," and by Andy Warhol’s unique fusion of 

art and life, Haring was determined to devote his career to 

creating a truly public art.

Haring's signature was the "radiant child." In the early '80s, Haring became a fixture in the burgeoning underground New York art scene. 

Here's his website.