LG OPTIMUS Black Creates Art With Keith Haring

By Ahsan Javed · Thursday, Feb 17, 2011 2 Comments

LG Electronics (LG) is making a statement in smartphone design with a collaboration with the Keith Haring Foundation. The partnership will see artwork from the legendary American pop artist featured on LG’s Optimus Black, which at just 6 mm (at its thinnest point) and 109 grams, takes the crown as the world’s slimmest and lightest Android-powered smartphone.

“Keith Haring inspired the art world with his energetic, colorful images which are recognized by millions of people around the world,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “We hope to capture some of that ?joie de vivre’ through this partnership as it’s perfectly consistent with our ?Life’s Good’ philosophy.”

LG and the Keith Haring Foundation have selected two of the artist’s works to create iconic back covers for the LG Optimus Black. This is the second time LG has worked with the foundation — in 2008 LG and the foundation collaborated on the LG KF600 and LG KF700 with the goal of bringing more art into people’s lives.

Julia Gruen, Executive Director of the Keith Haring Foundation said:

“The Keith Haring Foundation is pleased to be working with LG again. The partnership with LG is an extension of Keith’s goal of extending his work to different audiences in an effort to break down the barriers that exist between the art community and everyday people.”

Making a bold visual statement, the LG Optimus Black offers sleek and smooth lines that are both stylish and functional. No matter how it’s held, the LG Optimus Black delivers high-quality sound as a result of an antenna designed to be completely free from physical interference.

Featuring the NOVA display, the Optimus Black provides optimal brightness and readability under any lighting conditions. The NOVA screen delivers a more natural web browsing experience by displaying truer whites while also cutting energy use by 50 percent compared to conventional LCDs. The Optimus Black also offers a more intuitive user environment where frequently used functions can be accessed directly from the locked screen with a tap, tilt or shake command. Other features include the world’s first 2 megapixel front-facing camera and Android 2.3 upgrade capability.

The LG Optimus Black will be available in black, white and other color variations in select European markets next from February 14 to 17.

About Keith Haring:

Keith Haring was an artist and activist who frequently used his art to speak about social issues. He was one of the best known among the young artists, filmmakers, performers and musicians whose work responded to urban street culture of the 80s. Diagnosed with AIDS in 1988, Haring established the Keith Haring Foundation in 1989 to provide funding and imagery to AIDS organizations, and to ensure that his philanthropic legacy would continue indefinitely. The Keith Haring Foundation’s mission is to sustain, expand and protect the legacy of Haring’s art and his ideals. The Foundation supports organizations that assist underprivileged children, as well as those engaged in education, research and care with respect to AIDS and HIV. The Keith Haring Studio is represented by Artestar LLC, an international brand licensing and consulting firm specializing in fine art, fashion and design brands.