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His father, an amateur cartoonist, sparked his son's early interest in art. After high school, Haring enrolled in the Ivy School of Professional Art in Pittsburgh, but soon grew dissatisfied with the commercialism of his illustration and graphic design coursework.

He withdrew from school and hitchhiked across the United States. He returned to Pittsburgh in where he became involved with the Pittsburgh Arts and Crafts Center and hosted his first art show at age The graffiti he saw throughout the city immediately appealed to Haring's artistic sense of spontaneity and the possibilities for political messages.

Soon Haring began using building facades and subway walls as canvases for his own graffiti art. Most of his subway graffiti was benign, as it was done in white chalk on the blank black background of unused advertising panels.

Though Haring was arrested several times for illegally spray painting building walls, Haring continued to create his distinctive murals. Haring believed that art should be accessible to everyone, and his philosophy is reflected in both the simplicity of his figures and the public medium through which he chose to express himself. As his signature chalk outlines of interlocking bodies grew in fame, Haring gained the respect of the international art community and the appreciation of the public.

A foundation in his memory was established, which continues to support the organizations he championed. This public exhibition occurred simultaneously with a retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Click image for larger view.

Please note, the NAME field includes a primary designation as well as alternate namingsoften in common or popular usage. If the monument did not have a formal dedication, the yearlisted reflects the date of installation. Was this information helpful? Optional Please tell us how we can make this page more helpful. If you need a response,please use the Contact the Commissioner form instead. Crack is Wack Playground. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email this.

Header Photo. Northwest facing side of mural. Photo by Stan Wiechers, via Flickr, History The famous Crack is Wack mural, which is actually the second version at this location, was painted on both sides of a concrete handball court wall by the openly gay artist Keith Haring in Related Media.

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