Keith Haring - New York City

Bridging the gap between the art world and the street, Keith Haring rose to prominence in the early 1980’s with his graffiti drawings made in the subways and on the sidewalks of New York City. Combining the appeal of cartoons with the raw energy of Art Brut artists like Jean DuBuffet, Haring developed a distinct pop-graffiti aesthetic centered on fluid, bold outlines against a dense, rhythmic overspread of imagery like that of babies, barking dogs, flying saucers, hearts, and Mickey Mouse. He created the Pop Shop in NYC where he sold stickers of his artwork along other limited edition merchandise, becoming one of the first graffiti/street artists to ever do this. Alongside Jean-Michel Basquiat, Futura and Richard Hambleton, Haring is regarded as a leading figure in New York East Village Art scene in the 1970’s and '80s.