Keith Haring

Keith Haring was an American artist who was born on May 4, 1958 in Reading, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a small town called Kutztown, where he learned to draw cartoons from his father and from popular culture. He moved to New York City in 1978 to study at the School of Visual Arts, where he became part of the underground art scene that included artists like Kenny Scharf and Jean-Michel Basquiat. He was influenced by graffiti, pop art, and social activism, and he developed a unique style of drawing that used simple lines, shapes, and colors to create expressive and energetic images. He started to draw on the blank black panels in the subway stations, creating hundreds of public artworks that attracted attention and admiration from the commuters. He also made large-scale murals, paintings, sculptures, prints, and installations that explored themes such as love, death, war, sexuality, and AIDS. He collaborated with other artists, musicians, dancers, and celebrities, such as Andy Warhol, Madonna, Grace Jones, and Yoko Ono. He also opened his own store called the Pop Shop in 1986, where he sold his art and merchandise to make his work more accessible and affordable. He was involved in many social causes and charities, such as the anti-apartheid movement, the anti-nuclear movement, and the fight against AIDS. He died of AIDS-related complications on February 16, 1990 at the age of 31. He left behind a legacy of art that has inspired generations of artists and activists.