Pop Art “Untitled (Be Mine)” (1987) by Keith Haring, reproduction on paper

In New York City in the 1980s, an underground art movement emerged, characterized by its anarchic spirit and distinctive visual language, which continues to inspire artists today. Street art, embodied by Keith Haring's graffiti, became an integral part of mass culture. Haring, born in Pennsylvania in 1958, identified with the style of earlier artists and began his graffiti work in the early 1980s after graduating from art school. Unlike many street artists, he approached street art as a painter. His works, characterized by repeated figures in the style of American Abstract Expressionism, gained recognition and led to collaborations with figures such as Andy Warhol. Haring opened the Pop Shop in 1988, where he presented his vibrant "Radiant Child" figures. He also raised awareness of AIDS, a disease from which he ultimately died at the age of 31.