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Keith Haring

American pop artist in 1980s graffiti subculture

Keith Haring was an American artist known for his pop art that emerged from NYC graffiti. His work includes social activism themes like safe sex and AIDS awareness. Haring's iconic imagery gained recognition through public artworks and solo exhibitions worldwide. He passed away in 1990, leaving a lasting legacy in the art world.

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Timeline

Birth of Keith Haring

Keith Allen Haring, an American artist known for his pop art, was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, United States. He emerged from the New York City graffiti subculture in the 1980s.

Keith Haring's College Experience

After graduating from high school, Keith Haring attended the Pittsburgh College for Illustration. He found some of the rules stifling and rebelliously exhibited his art without permission, leading to his eventual dropout.

Keith Haring's fascination with graffiti in New York City

In 1978, Keith Haring became interested and fascinated by the graffiti he saw in the streets and subways of New York City. He found graffiti to be the most beautiful things he had ever seen and wanted to bring art to the public in a less serious and more accessible way.

Haring's graffiti art in subways

Keith Haring gained public attention with his graffiti art in New York City subways, where he created white chalk drawings on black, unused advertisement backboards in the stations. He considered the subways to be his 'laboratory' for experimenting and creating his artwork.

First Solo Exhibition at Westbeth Painters Space

In February 1981, Keith Haring had his first solo exhibition at Westbeth Painters Space.

Untitled by Keith Haring

Keith Haring's piece 'Untitled' from 1982 is a notable work that reflects his distinctive style and contribution to the art world.

Creation of First Major Outdoor Mural on Houston Bowery Wall

During the summer of 1982, Keith Haring painted his first significant outdoor mural on the Houston Bowery Wall located in the Lower East Side.

Exhibition at Tony Shafrazi Gallery

In October 1982, Keith Haring had an exhibition at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery with his collaborator graffiti artist Angel 'LA II' Ortiz.

Solo Exhibition at Fun Gallery in Manhattan

In February 1983, Keith Haring had a solo exhibition at the Fun Gallery in the East Village of Manhattan, showcasing his unique artistic style.

Commissioned to Paint Mural at Haggerty Museum of Art

In April 1983, Keith Haring was commissioned to paint a mural titled 'Construction Fence' at the construction site of the Haggerty Museum of Art in Milwaukee.

Invited by Elio Fiorucci to Paint Walls of Fiorucci Store in Milan

In October 1983, Elio Fiorucci invited Keith Haring to Milan to paint the walls of his Fiorucci store, showcasing Haring's unique artistic expression.

Designing Logo for New York City Department of Sanitation

In 1984, Keith Haring was asked by the New York City Department of Sanitation to design a logo for their anti-litter campaign, showcasing his involvement in social and environmental causes.

Keith Haring's Rise in Art History

In 1985, artist Keith Haring challenged the traditional notions of prestige and elitism in the art world by rejecting the importance of museums, buyers, and curators.

Creation of Mural on Berlin Wall at Checkpoint Charlie Museum

On October 23, 1986, Keith Haring created a 300-meter long mural on the Berlin Wall at the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, symbolizing hope for unity between East and West Germany through art.

AIDS suspicion in Belgium

In June 1987, Keith Haring received a call from a reporter in Belgium asking about his AIDS status, leading to Haring reflecting on the importance of art.

Official AIDS diagnosis

In August 1988, Keith Haring was officially diagnosed with AIDS, marking a significant moment in his life and art.

Collaboration with William Burroughs

In September 1988, Keith Haring collaborated with his hero William Burroughs on a print project, showcasing his diverse artistic partnerships.

Rebel with Many Causes

In 1989, Keith Haring criticized the avoidance of social issues such as AIDS through a piece called Rebel with Many Causes, which revolves around the theme of 'hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil'.

A Day Without Art Mural at ArtCenter College of Design

During the last week of November 1989, Keith Haring painted a mural at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena for 'A Day Without Art', commemorated on December 1, the second annual AIDS Awareness Day.

Death of Keith Haring

On February 16, 1990, Keith Haring died of AIDS-related complications at his LaGuardia Place apartment in Greenwich Village.

Release of Silence = Death Documentary

Three months after Keith Haring's death, he posthumously appeared in Rosa von Praunheim's documentary film Silence = Death (1990) about gay artists in New York City fighting for the rights of people with AIDS. It was released on May 4, which would have been his 32nd birthday.

Establishment of The Keith Haring Foundation

A year after his AIDS diagnosis, Keith Haring established The Keith Haring Foundation to provide funding and support for AIDS research, charities, and education. The foundation continues to carry out Haring's legacy and support the fight against AIDS.

Retrospective at Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

In 1996, a retrospective of Keith Haring's work was held at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.

Retrospective at Whitney Museum of American Art

In 1997, a retrospective of Keith Haring's work was held at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.

Closure of Pop Shop

The Pop Shop, which was established by Keith Haring in Soho, remained open until 2005 after his death. The profits from the shop were used to benefit the Keith Haring Foundation, continuing his legacy of making art accessible to a wider audience.

Display of Self-Portrait sculpture at the Arsenal in Central Park

In 2007, Keith Haring's painted aluminum sculpture Self-Portrait (1989) was displayed in the lobby of the Arsenal in Central Park.

The Universe of Keith Haring Documentary Release

In 2008, filmmaker Christina Clausen released the documentary The Universe of Keith Haring, showcasing Haring's legacy through colorful archival footage and interviews with friends and admirers.

Exhibition at Tony Shafrazi Gallery on 20th anniversary of Haring's death

In February 2010, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Keith Haring's death, the Tony Shafrazi Gallery showed an exhibition containing dozens of works from every stage of Haring's career.

Keith Haring: Double Retrospect Puzzle

In 2011, Ravensburger released a monster-sized jigsaw puzzle measuring 17 by 6 feet with 32,256 pieces, featuring 32 pieces of Keith Haring's work and breaking the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest puzzle ever made.

Retrospective exhibit at Brooklyn Museum

In March 2012, a retrospective exhibit of Keith Haring's work, titled Keith Haring: 1978–1982, opened at the Brooklyn Museum in New York.

Exhibition at Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris

In April 2013, Keith Haring: The Political Line opened at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.

Inaugural honoree in the Rainbow Honor Walk

In 2014, Keith Haring was honored as one of the inaugural honorees in the Rainbow Honor Walk in San Francisco. This walk of fame recognizes LGBTQ individuals who have made significant contributions in their respective fields.

Exhibition at Petersen Automotive Museum

From December 2016 to June 2017, the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles exhibited The Unconventional Canvases of Keith Haring, which featured five vehicles that Haring painted.

Untitled (1982) Painting Sold at Sotheby's

In May 2017, Keith Haring's painting Untitled (1982) sold for $6.5 million at Sotheby's in New York, becoming the most expensive Haring artwork sold at auction.

Keith Haring Exhibition at Tate Liverpool

From June 14 to November 10, 2019, Tate Liverpool hosted an exhibition dedicated to Keith Haring, showcasing his iconic works and highlighting his impact as an artist and activist. The exhibition aimed to celebrate Haring's legacy and raise awareness about his contributions to the art world.

Keith Haring: Street Art Boy Documentary Broadcast

In July 2020, BBC Two broadcast the documentary Keith Haring: Street Art Boy, featuring interviews between Haring and art critic John Gruen in 1989.

Online Auction 'Dear Keith' at Sotheby's

In October 2020, the Keith Haring Foundation held an online auction at Sotheby's, surpassing its estimate to achieve $4.6 million with a 100 percent sell-through rate by lot.

Exhibition at Museum of Contemporary Art Denver

In February 2021, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver opened the exhibition Keith Haring: Grace House Mural, displaying 13 panels from a mural Haring painted at a Catholic youth center on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Exhibition at Schunck Museum in Heerlen

In 2022, the exhibition Keith Haring: Grace House Mural was displayed at the Schunck Museum in Heerlen.

First museum exhibition in Los Angeles at The Broad

In 2023, The Broad presented Keith Haring's first museum exhibition in Los Angeles, titled Keith Haring: Art is for Everyone.

End of the Timeline
Keith Haring

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