Keith Haring (1958-1990) came to prominence in the early 1980s New York art world through the appropriation of subway advertising boards as his canvas.

Haring's work originated as a public art form and was intended to be accessible through its universally identifiable imagery and its use of public spaces. Haring's media-friendly and easily recognizable images, such as his radiant child, barking dog and flying saucer, rapidly made their way from the subway to the street and into leading galleries and museums by the mid-1980s.

Haring remained focused on public art works throughout his life and was able to complete more than 50 mural and sculpture projects worldwide between 1982-1989. Haring died of AIDS-related illnesses in 1990 at the age of 31, by which time he had earned the respect of a broad international audience from his roles both as an artist and a social activist.

Biography

1958 - Born in Kutztown, PA
1976 - 1978 - Moved to Pittsburgh
1978 - 1979 - School of Visual Arts, New York
1988 - Opened the Pop Shop in Tokyo
1989 - Established the Keith Haring Foundation
1990 - Died

Museums:

Sidney, Museum of Contemporary Art
Belgrave
Bordeaux (Mus. d’Art Contemporain)
Brusselles (Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain)
Geneva (Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain)
Denver, Colorado (Museum of Contemporary Art)
Chicago
Paris (Musée de la Ville)

Exhibitions

2002 - Sex Show, Galerie Jérôme de Noirmont, Paris, France
1997 - Retrospective, The Whitney Museum of American Art New York, NY
1989 - Gallery 121, Antwerp (solo)
1988 - Hans Mayer Gallery
1986 - Stedelijk Museum (solo)
1986 - Vienna Festival '86
1983 - Whitney Biennale
1982 - Toney Shafrazi Gallery, New york (solo)
1980 - Club 57

Literature

L. Harambourg, L’Ecole de Paris, 1945-1965, Neuchatel, Ides & Calendes, 1993.
Keith Haring - Subway Drawings e la New York Street Art, a cura di E. Politi, Milano, Mazzotta, 1997
In Fumo, a cura di G. Di Pietrantonio, Bergamo, Lubrina Editore, 2001
Keith Haring a Milano, a cura di A. Galasso, Milano, Johan & Levi Editore, 2005