Keith Haring

1958

Keith Haring is born on 4 May in Reading, Pennsylvania.

1978-1980

Studies at the School of Visual Arts in New York, where he is influenced by the graffiti and street art scene.

1980s

Acquaintance with the New York subculture, begins working with chalk drawings in underground stations - these signs are the basis for his later style.

1981

First solo exhibition at the Westbeth Gallery in New York.

1982

Haring uses public spaces and walls as a gallery, making his art accessible to a wide audience.

1986

Founding of the ‘Pop Shop’ gallery in New York.

1988

Murals in public institutions, including the famous ‘Crack is Wack’ mural in New York.

1990

Most recently, he is committed to AIDS awareness with his work and actively deals with his HIV diagnosis himself.

1990

Haring dies on 16 February from the consequences of AIDS at the age of 31.

A selection:

1978

First small solo exhibition at the Pittsburgh Arts and Crafts Centre, Pennsylvania, USA

1982

The Public Theatre, New York, USA

1984

‘Keith Haring: Paintings and Drawings’ at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, USA

1986

Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands

1987

Solo exhibitions in Helsinki, Antwerp and Knokke (Belgium)

1997

‘Keith Haring: The Politics of Style’ at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, USA