Advertising branded merchandise sold in Keith Haring’s Pop Shop, the following works by Haring belong to the Manhattan store’s general manager from the late 1980’s to early 1990’s. Haring opened his retail store on Lafayette Street in 1986 following years of deliberation and discussion with close friend and mentor, Andy Warhol, on the fine line between commercialism and his desire to maintain the respect of the art world. The hugely successful Pop Shop acted as a clubhouse and information center for Haring’s work, an immersive experience that was an extension of his artistic vision and that allowed him to make his widely popular imagery accessible to everyone, from collectors to kids from the Bronx.
Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner
American • 1958 - 1990
Haring's art and life typified youthful exuberance and fearlessness. While seemingly playful and transparent, Haring dealt with weighty subjects such as death, sex and war, enabling subtle and multiple interpretations.
Throughout his tragically brief career, Haring refined a visual language of symbols, which he called icons, the origins of which began with his trademark linear style scrawled in white chalk on the black unused advertising spaces in subway stations. Haring developed and disseminated these icons far and wide, in his vibrant and dynamic style, from public murals and paintings to t-shirts and Swatch watches. His art bridged high and low, erasing the distinctions between rarefied art, political activism and popular culture.
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