Keith Haring’s Pop Shop series is a joyful, energetic celebration of his belief that art should be for everyone. Created between 1987 and 1990, these vibrant prints reflect the spirit of Haring’s iconic Pop Shop. Praised by Andy Warhol, Haring opened the Pop Shop in downtown Manhattan in 1986 to make his art accessible to all.
“My shop is an extension of what I was doing in the subway stations, breaking down the barriers between high and low art,” Keith Haring
The Pop Shop was more than just a shop; it was an extension of Haring’s artistic vision. It sold t-shirts, badges, jewellery and magnets featuring his unmistakable designs, sometimes for as little as 50 cents. Whether aimed at kids or seasoned collectors, the idea was simple: art should be enjoyed by everyone.
“I could earn more money if I just painted a few things and jacked up the price,” Haring once remarked, “but that’s not what I’m about.”
This ethos carries through in the Pop Shop prints: one of the best examples from the series, Pop Shop VI is instantly recognisable. His simplified figures outlined in black, radiate energy and movement, dancing, jumping and twisting with infectious vitality. A standout composition, the five figures form the shape of a hand, a powerful symbol of unity and togetherness - echoing Haring’s commitment to connection over exclusivity.
These motifs were developed during Haring’s early days of drawing on the empty advertising panels of New York’s subways in the early 1980s and became symbols of his larger goal: to create a visual vocabulary that could speak to people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures.
Haring’s aim was to inspire joy and connection rather than exclusivity. As Haring once explained, the Pop Shop wasn’t about chasing collectors; it was about sharing art.
The legacy of the Pop Shop lives on in these prints. They are artworks that encapsulate the essence of Keith Haring and Street Art: inclusive, optimistic and powerfully original.
Acquiring Pop Shop VI, is more than buying a piece of art for the wall, it is buying the belief that art can be for everyone, no matter your budget or your collection. Keith Haring reshaped the role of what an artist could be and his influence is felt across fashion, design, pop culture and activism to this day.