Yesterday, the Brooklyn Museum opened its doors for the first large-scale exhibition of pop artist Keith Haring’s early work, covering 1978 through 1982. The exhibition includes “155 works on paper, numerous experimental videos, and over 150 archival objects, including rarely seen sketchbooks, journals, exhibition flyers, posters, subway drawings, and documentary photographs,” tracing Haring’s artistic development in his first years in New York City. During his time there, Haring created hundreds of pieces of public art, sometimes slapping up as many as 40 subway drawings in a single day. Unfortunately, there aren’t many left. So to complement the Brooklyn Museum’s exhibit, we’ve created an interactive map of the existing Haring murals around New York City. Happy hunting!
Click here for a larger, clickable map, and check out the places we marked below.
Crack is Wack, 1986
This two-sided mural, painted on a handball court wall, was recently restored and is now an official Historical Sign.
Carmine Street Mural, 1987
This 170 foot long mural, painted on the wall that adjoins the Carmine Street Pool at the James J. Walker Park handball court, was restored in 1995.
Once Upon a Time, 1989
One of Haring’s final works, completed just months before his death, this mural in the second floor men’s room of The Center was created as part of an effort to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.
Woodhull Medical Center Mural, 1986
Haring spent a week painting a colorful mural in the Woodhull Medical Center, a personal donation reportedly “due to the hospital’s dedication to pediatric AIDS research and treatment.”
Children’s Village Mural, 1984
Okay, so this isn’t NYC proper, but you can still get there on a day trip, so we’re counting it. After painting this mural at the Children’s Village, Haring later returned there to hand out t-shirts and balloons on Keith Haring Day.
American Thread Building Mural, 1979
A previously unknown early Haring was uncovered by contractors several years ago in a triplex in the American Thread Building that once served as an art exhibition space. While this isn’t exactly a public artwork, if you can sneak in to take a look (or shell out to rent it), it’ll probably be worth your while.
Not enough for you? Click here for a full list of Haring’s existing public works all over the world.
[h/t prepareforcrosscheck]