Together with Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring has become one of the most recognizable and representative of the American art scene in the 1980’s. He started his work through the Subway Drawings, a series of graffiti art on matte black pieces of paper which functioned to cover up unused advertisement panels in the corridors and hallways of subway stations. His drawings were easily understood, accessible, and relatable, becoming enormously popular among the subway commuters and making Keith Haring famous overnight.

From 1980 to 1986, Haring participated in one exhibition after another, gaining international acclaim. He also became very active in a variety of media, spanning from the creation of an animated billboard illustration in New York’s Time Square, to stage designs, and to the opening of his Pop Shop selling Keith Haring merchandise and goods. He was also involved in creating murals and wall paintings, as well as organizing art workshops all over the world. These events frequently were for children, for charity, and for special social causes. Haring also exhibited his works, organized workshop events, and created a branch of the Pop Shop in Japan.

Keith Haring was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988 and established the Keith Haring Foundation the following year. Until his death in 1990 at the age of 31, Haring was actively involved in AIDS prevention campaigns through his art.