Keith Haring gained fame in the 1980s New York art scene, particularly in the East Village, alongside artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kenny Scharf, and Jenny Holzer. He was known for his ability to merge street art with the traditional art world. Haring started by creating graffiti on city subways and sidewalks before transitioning to a studio practice. Haring combined the appeal of cartoons with the raw energy of Art Brut artists like Jean Dubuffet. He developed a distinct pop-graffiti aesthetic that featured energetic, boldly outlined figures against solid or patterned backdrops. His major themes included exploitation, subjugation, drug abuse, and the threat of nuclear holocaust. Haring boldly engaged with social issues, especially after receiving an AIDS diagnosis in 1987. Today, his work sells for seven figures at auction and has been featured in solo exhibitions at prestigious institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Albertina Museum in Vienna.
