Keith Haring (1958-1990) was born in Reading, Pennsylvania. Moving to New York City in 1978 to attend School of Visual Arts, Haring began using the city as his canvas, creating drawings in subway stations.

Haring’s work uses the mechanics and colors typified in Pop Art and the stylistic tendencies of graffiti, or street art.

Haring’s work explores deeper themes of love, activism and the ensuing political climate of New York in the 1980’s. His work can be viewed in prestigious museums such as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.

The Montreux Jazz Festival, founded in 1967, is one of the most important musical events in Europe and has a history of enlisting international artists to create its official posters. In 1983, Pierre Keller, the Art Director for The Montreux Jazz Festival approached Keith Haring, a relatively unknown artist at the time, and asked him to produce a festival poster featuring a dancing figure.

Haring submitted three design variations, and the festival, so delighted with Haring’s work, promptly accepted all three.

Image:

Keith Haring (1958 - 1990)

Montreux Festival De Jazz (Yellow Background) 1983

39.40 x 27.50 in

Image:

Keith Haring, 1986 @ DR

Artwork available for sale at New River Fine Art

https://www.newriverfineart.com/art/montreux-festival-de-jazz-yel-by-keith-haring-1958---1990