"Radiant referring to both Harings recurrent drawing of a crawling baby and his own fast-burning star, is a faithful retracing of his steps, with over 200 people interviewed or consulted: devoted and probably definitive. [Gooch] is a poet, which shows in phrasing at once shrewd and evocative . . . . With licensing and replication now turbocharged . . . Goochs book insists readers slow down and consider the artists legacy. And its cover feels like a secret handshake, done in the colors of an old-fashioned New York City taxicab." Alexandra Jacobs, The New York Times "[Harings] admirers continue to complain that he isnt taken seriously enough; in a way, they are correct, though this book may change things . . . . highly entertaining. The New Yorker [A] thorough account of Harings brief time . . . . Haring may be gone, but that radiant infant? Still going. AirMail "Gooch made it his mission to show how much living and creating Haring packed into just 31 years, and hemore than succeeds. Radiant not only gives usa much-overdue appreciation of Haring as an important artist. It also paintsan exhilarating portrait of a young artist finding himself and his calling.... His chronicle of Harings volcanic rise isdeeply engaged with the culture of the time and placenot only the art world but also the gay community and New York.... Radiant has given usa more vibrant and complete picture of the enduring gifts of Keith Harings life." Los Angeles Times Gooch's extensive research creates a seductive portrait of the artist as a young man . . . . As in previous books on Frank O'Hara and Flannery O'Connor, Gooch writes bourbon-smooth prose." Minneapolis Star Tribune "An unforgettable portrait of an icon who's as smart, charming, and multifaceted as the masterpieces that he left behind. Town & Country The world that Gooch describes, of interconnected gay and cultural networks in the febrile atmosphere of 1980s New York, is one in which he too took part. And first-hand experience has clearly proved integral in shaping his book, for it reads not only as the definitive biography of its subject, but as a memorial to a collective past, from which many did not survive. The Art Newspaper Its all here:the grade school Walt Disney and Dr. Seuss; the adolescent acid trips; the fondness for Post-it notes and flying saucers; the long tails of Dubuffet and Burroughs; the encounters with Madonna, Warhol, and one game-changer of a subway Johnny Walker Red poster.Brad Gooch takes us deep into Keith Harings imagination while somehow managing to fix the aura and energy of the 1980s New York art scene to the page.A keen-eyed, beautifully written biography, atmospheric, exuberant, and as radiant as they come. Stacy Schiff, Pulitzer Prize winning author ofThe Revolutionary: Sam Adams "Brad Gooch is the perfect guide to 1980s downtown Manhattan's holy, scuzzy streets. This rigorous, loving exploration of Keith Haring's life and work will be cherished by fans of Haring, art history, and New York City." Ada Calhoun,New York Times-bestselling author ofAlso a Poet A thorough, intricately detailed, and enthralling portrait of a singular artist who followed his own winding road to artistic success until AIDS cut short his highly creative life." Booklist (starred review) A rewarding deep dive . . . . Gooch captures the innovative, whirlwind creative spirit of the artist . . . . Shot through with details that bring to life the tumultuous social ferment of the era, this honors the inimitable spirit of a defining figure in the art world. Publishers Weekly "Keith Harings art is the most identifiable of any since Andy Warhols. Yet Keith Haring the man is known to a very few. Brad Goochs brilliant Haring biography Radiant corrects that imbalance. By the end of his powerful telling of Harings life, the reader understands the searching boy and comes to admire the young man whose workcombining play and politicshad global impact. Its impossible after reading Goochs book to see Harings famous lines and not recognize in them the beautiful yet tragic man who created them." Mary Gabriel, author of Madonna: A Rebel Life Haring is the central figure in Goochs lively portrayal of a roiling art world and of gay culture in the 1980s . . . . A sympathetic and well-researched portrait. Kirkus Reviews "Fans of Harings will not want to miss this definitive account of the artists life." The Millions A compelling analysis of the remarkable legacy of visual artist Keith Haring. Gooch was a contemporary of Haring . . . [and he] draws on this on-the-spot knowledge to good effect. Much has been written about Haring from an art history perspective, but Gooch adds immeasurably to the literature with this sensitive and engaging contextualized portrait that examines the life and times of the iconic artist . . . a compendium of vivid, first-person narratives that provide an engaging insiders perspective on the artists life. The Arts Fuse If you likedNinth Street Women: Lee Krasner, Elaine de Kooning, Grace Hartigan, Joan Mitchell, and Helen Frankenthaler: Five Painters and the Movement That Changed Modern Art, by Mary Gabriel, readRadiant: The Life and Line of Keith Haring, by Brad Gooch." Washington Post Book World Thorough and thoughtful . . . . A solid choice for those with an interest in pop art figures or gay culture of the 1970s and 80s, particularly in relation to the AIDS epidemic in New York City. Library Journal Radiantis a miracle of research but reads as quickly as Haring lived his remarkable life. Edmund White, author ofA Boys Own Story Gooch has produced the authoritative and likely definitive account of this emblematic, prophetic artist of the 1980s . . . . Having lived in Haring's world, Gooch is superlative in recreating the excitement and volatility of that burgeoning East Side New York art scene, with its accompanying cultural upheaval. His prose shines. Bay Area Reporter Through interviews and research, Gooch captures the enduring allure of Keith Haring, a visionary artist with a profound impact on culture. She Reads
