Keith Haring’s Andy Mouse (1986) is a bold screenprint that fuses two icons: Andy Warhol and Mickey Mouse. In this work, Warhol appears as a cartoon figure with Mickey’s trademark round ears, oversized gloves, and bright orange shorts. His skin is a vibrant blue, his hair a shock of gray, and his eyes hide behind pink sunglasses. The background blazes with solid red, while the figure stands defiantly on a heap of green dollar bills. Haring’s thick black outlines and energetic motion marks give the image a sense of both humor and attitude.
This single work captures the essence of Haring’s playful yet pointed approach to Pop imagery. Warhol is no longer just a man—he is a cultural mascot, as recognizable as Mickey Mouse or the dollar sign. By transforming his mentor into a cartoon mouse, Haring honors Warhol while poking fun at how fame turns people into brands.
Andy Mouse as Part of Haring’s and Warhol’s Larger Body of Work
Haring grew up sketching Mickey Mouse and idolizing Disney characters. Warhol, too, admired Disney and often said he wanted to be “as famous as Walt.” Their shared fascination with icons of Americana makes the Andy Mouse series a natural outcome of their friendship. The dollar bills scattered at the character’s feet nod to Warhol’s famous statement that “good business is the best art.”
Warhol himself had also created his own version of Mickey Mouse just a few years earlier. In his Myths portfolio (1981), Warhol screenprinted the Disney mascot in glittering diamond dust. With it, he elevated the cartoon character into the realm of fine art. Haring’s Andy Mouse playfully continues this theme, recasting Warhol himself as a Pop icon alongside Mickey. For more on Warhol’s fascination with the Disney figure, see our article The Many Faces of Mickey.
The Andy Mouse prints were also a true collaboration. Haring and Warhol signed all four prints in the complete portfolio, uniting two generations of Pop artists on the same surface. At the time, Warhol frequently visited Haring’s Pop Shop in SoHo, offering guidance and encouragement. Haring, in turn, regarded Warhol as both mentor and hero.
This particular print highlights Haring’s ability to merge satire with celebration. By turning Warhol into a cartoon mouse basking in wealth, he comments on art’s relationship to commerce while paying tribute to the Pop Art pioneer. Today, Andy Mouse remains one of Haring’s most famous images and a cherished symbol of his unique bond with Warhol.
Photo credit: Andy Warhol and Keith Haring attend Mick Jagger’s 42nd Birthday Party on July 26, 1985, at the Palladium in New York City. Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images.
