Pop art has always been very hip with young people. Kids from the 1960s had Andy Warhol. Children of the 1970s had Peter Max (I had a Peter Max bed sheet set and loved it!) and we 1980s kids had Keith Haring.
Danny, my BFF in 7th grade (1985), first introduced me to cool Keith Haring designs. He had several Keith Haring Swatch watches, which we thought were totally awesome. I remember posters, t-shirts, stickers and other collectibles could be purchased at Pop Shop on NYC's Lafayette Street in SoHo. The stuff wasn't cheap of course, but it was so rad, you had to have something Keith Haring if you were truly hip and new wave.
Fast Facts About Keith Haring
- Keith Haring was born in Reading, Pennsylvania and grew up in Kutztown, Pennsylvania.
- He studied graphic design at The Ivy School of Professional Art in Pittsburgh between 1976-78.
- Keith Haring moved to NYC at age 19 and studied at SVA, School of Visual Arts.
- Keith Haring died on February 16, 1990 of AIDS-related complications.
- All ticket proceeds of Madonna's first New York date of her Blond Ambition World Tour went towards AIDS charities including AIDS Project Los Angeles and amfAR.
- Keith Haring's work was included in the song "Into the Groove" during Madonna's live performances on her 2008 tour and during the U2 performance on the 1997/1998 PopMart Tour.
