Keith Haring

Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat

Keith Haring, 1985

Keith Haring was a prominent street artist in New York City. Haring, who was born in 1958 in Reading, PA, decided to move to New York City in 1978. Later that same year, Haring also enrolled in the School of Visual Arts (SVA). In New York, Haring found a thriving alternative art community that was developing outside the gallery and museum system, in the downtown streets, the subways and spaces in clubs and former dance halls. Here he became friends with fellow artists Kenny Scharf and Jean-Michel Basquiat, as well as the musicians, performance artists and graffiti writers that comprised the burgeoning art community. Haring was swept up in the energy and spirit of this scene and began to organize and participate in exhibitions and performances at Club 57 and other alternative venues. Furthermore, in April 1986, Haring opened the Pop Shop, a retail store in Soho selling T-shirts, toys, posters, buttons and magnets bearing his images. Haring wanted the shop to be an extension of his work and painted the entire interior of the store in an abstract black on white mural.

Unfortunately, Haring was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988. He then established Keith Haring Foundation in 1989 to provide funding to AIDS organizations and children’s programs, and to expand the audience for Haring’s work through exhibitions, publications and the licensing of his images. 

Keith Haring died from AIDS complications in 1990.