Keith Haring (1958-1990)

Keith Haring (1958 to 1990) was an American artist whose bold, energetic images of radiant babies, barking dogs, and dancing figures became one of the most recognizable visual languages of the 1980s. He moved to New York in 1978, studied at the School of Visual Arts, and made his name with public work, including chalk drawings in subway stations. Openly gay, Haring was deeply part of New York's queer and downtown club scene. After his HIV diagnosis in 1987, he used his fame to fight AIDS stigma, worked with ACT UP, and in 1989 founded the Keith Haring Foundation to fund AIDS and children's charities. He died of AIDS-related complications in February 1990 at age 31.