Bridging the Gap: Gilbert Vazquez

In 1989, Keith Haring asked his dear friend, Gilbert Vazquez, if Vazquez wanted to get involved in his foundation.  Although Gilbert Vazquez didn’t know what this meant at the time, he knew that he wanted to help his friend carry out his wishes.  Haring had been diagnosed with AIDS, and he wanted his legacy to continue to make positive change after his passing.  Since Haring’s death in 1990, Vazquez has worked tirelessly to continue the change that he and Haring wished to create. 

After meeting Haring at 17 years old, Vazquez was quickly introduced to a new and exciting world.  Vazquez grew up in the Bronx and knew very little about the downtown area.  As Haring was already a famous artist, Vazquez was introduced to an exciting new community in which he met celebrities and other important people.

However, Vazquez says that he was mostly “impressed by the club scene,” as he was able to listen to the best and most influential DJs of the time.  Having started DJing at the age of 10, this introduction to the community was very influential to his life.  He soon became a professional DJ at 21, making mixtapes with his partner, Double R.  Together, they created a unique sound that differed from many other popular DJs of the time, as their music involved more than just the classic two turntables. As Vazquez began to grow within the music community, he developed a duality in his life. Vazquez describes living in what “felt like two different worlds.” In one of these worlds, he worked to create change in the art community. In the other, he expressed himself through his passion for music. 

Over time, Vazquez’s work helped to create a bridge between the Bronx community and the art world.  The Keith Haring Foundation focuses on care for those affected by HIV and AIDS, helping children, and advancing the influence of Haring’s art.  Although Vazquez doesn’t necessarily consider himself a bridge, he does acknowledge that his “director position may be inspirational to children from these communities.”  Seeing someone involved in the arts world working towards positive change can make similar careers seem attainable to them.  In this way, Vazquez bridges the gap between these worlds.  

As Vazquez bridged the gap for children within the Bronx community, he also saw a bridge forming in his own life.  While he attempted to keep his worlds separate for much of his career, he began to see them collide. After being disappointed by the music business, Vazquez’s love for music led him to return to DJing.  

It was in this return that Vazquez says he “found his voice.”  Connecting with people in a live setting helped him attain skills that he uses to run the foundation.  Most recently, he has worked at a hip-hop themed restaurant in the Bronx called Beatstro.  He performed brunch there every Sunday for two years, meeting people from all different backgrounds.  Here, he learned to incorporate something for everyone during his sets, as a variety of different people attended his brunches.  With new perspectives and confidence, Vazquez began to see his experiences influence the way he runs the Keith Haring Foundation.

Vazquez takes the responsibility of carrying out his best friend’s wishes extremely seriously.  As such, he ensures that any opportunity he gets to further his involvement is “tackled full steam ahead.”  The mission of the Keith Haring Foundation has become very personal to Vazquez, due to both his friendship with Haring and his own personal experiences.  

Having interacted with many people across his careers, it is now one of Vazquez’s personal missions to eradicate HIV/AIDS. In doing so, Vazquez stresses the importance of protecting vulnerable communities, especially black trans women.  Black trans women are among the most vulnerable communities, as they are marginalized across the United States and often pushed to do sex work to survive.  While it may be an uncomfortable topic for many, Vazquez pushes for widespread acceptance so that these marginalized communities can live openly as themselves.  Only through overcoming discomfort can we prevent further harm to these communities, protect them, and bridge the gaps to allow them to seek prosperity.