ABOUT

Keith Haring (1958–1990) was an American artist and activist who became one of the defining figures of New York’s downtown art scene in the 1980s. Moving between the street and the art world, he developed an instantly recognizable visual language of bold lines, vivid colors and dynamic figures, including iconic motifs such as the Radiant Baby and Barking Dog.

Haring first gained widespread attention through his spontaneous chalk drawings on unused advertising panels in the New York City subway. His belief that “art is for everybody” remained central to his practice, leading him to open the Pop Shop in 1986 as a way of making his imagery accessible beyond galleries and museums.

Social and political engagement was inseparable from Haring’s work. Through paintings, drawings, posters and public projects, he addressed issues including nuclear disarmament, apartheid and the AIDS crisis. Following his AIDS diagnosis in 1988, he established the Keith Haring Foundation to support organizations working in AIDS education and care, as well as programs benefiting children.

Haring died in 1990 at the age of 31. His distinctive visual language and commitment to public art continue to influence contemporary art and visual culture worldwide.