Activism Artist: Keith Haring

Keith Haring was a pop artist who was well-known for his bold lines and strong colors. Haring was born in 1958 in Reading, Pennsylvania. He moved to the lower east side of New York City in 1978 to study painting at the School of Visual Arts. He originally started off as a graffiti artist, drawing simple figures on blank walls or subway cars. As he gained popularity, Haring began to use his art to spread awareness about various issues, such as the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, homosexuality, and safe sex. Haring died in 1990 due to complications from AIDS.