The Pennsylvanian Graffiti artist & a social worker, Keith Haring, was born on May 04, 1958 in Reading, and was raised in Kurtztown, Pennsylvania.He involved himself in drawing at a very young age. His father taught him the basics of cartoon drawing.
Haring graduated in 1976 from a high school and took admission in Ivy School of Professional Arts, Pittsburg to study graphic design. He later developed interest in commercial graphic art and dropped out of the college in the second semester (1978). He used to work and study on his own. Keith then enrolled himself in the School of Visual Arts in the New York City to study Graffiti art. Here,he found that art was not only restricted to museums and galleries, but also obvious everywhere around such as, subways, clubs, and downtown streets. During the same phase, he befriended many well-known artists, musicians, etc. With full readiness, he started participating and organizing exhibitions at various venues. Among the initial public displays of his art included chalk drawings in the subways of New York. By 1980, "Radiant Baby" had become the signature statement of Keith Haring.
While being a student at the School of Visual Arts, Haring experimented with the various forms of art such as, collage, video, etc. Haring received international recognition for his art forms between 1980 and 1989. His first solo exhibition in New York was in 1981 at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery. He also participated in various other International exhibitions of global acclaim. In 1983, he met the famous American artist, Andy Warhol, who went on to be the key influence of many of Haring's works, including "Andy Mouse" (1985). 1985 was also the year when Keith Haring started with his first canvass drawing.
Later in 1986, Haring opened a retail store, the Pop Store. He sold toys, magnets, T-shirts, and posters bearing his images. He devoted much of his time in creating works with social messages. Keith produced many artworks in many cities around the world, between 1982 and 1989. His famous work, "Crack is Wack," was completed in 1986. It is now located at New York on FDR drive. He also developed designs and advertisement campaign for various companies such as, Swatch and Absolut Vodka, to name a couple. He took Drawing classes for children in Tokyo, New York, London, Bordeaux, and Amsterdam. He even devoted his time and art for various literacy and social welfare programs.
In 1988, Keith , who was a gay, was diagnosed with AIDS. After that, he established Keith Haring Foundation for funding the AIDS patients and several children welfare programs. In his last days, he generated public awareness among people about AIDS through his paintings and art. Throughout his career, he participated in more than 100 solo and group exhibitions. Through his paintings, Keith expressed the universal truths of life such as, birth, love, sex, war, and death. His paintings not just reflected life, but also created it. June 1989, he painted the mural "Tuttomondo," his last artwork, on the back wall of the Church of Sant'Antonio, Pisa.
At 31, on February 16, 1990, Keith Haring died of AIDS. On May 04, 1990, at the Cathedral of St. John the Devine, New York, a memorial service was organized for him, which was attended by more than 1000 people. Today, his work can be seen in several museums and art galleries, all around the globe.
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