Keith Haring

Keith Haring (1958-1990) was a major American urban artist and an emblematic figure of 1980s New York culture. Trained at the School of Visual Arts, he drew his inspiration from graffiti, comic strips and hip-hop culture. His bold lines, dynamic figures (the radiant baby, the barking dog, dancers) and vivid colours make his style instantly recognisable. Haring began by drawing in white chalk on the blank advertising panels of the subway, turning public space into both a studio and a place of encounter, before going on to exhibit in galleries and museums around the world.

A committed activist, he placed his art at the service of social causes: the fight against racism, apartheid and drugs, and above all raising awareness of HIV/AIDS. Diagnosed HIV-positive in 1988, he intensified his projects, founded the Keith Haring Foundation (1989) to support children and AIDS research, and produced ever more public murals accessible to all, notably the “Crack is Wack” mural (1986) in Harlem and works in Europe (Berlin, Pisa). His approach democratised art through the Pop Shop, making his motifs available at affordable prices without ever compromising on artistic rigour. He died in 1990, leaving behind an iconic body of work that brings together creativity, community engagement and the visibility of minorities.