Keith Haring Pop Shop II (Plate 4), from the Pop Shop II Portfolio, 1988 is the third print in the artists Pop Shop II portfolio of 1988. Cast above a vast ocean rendered in a blue that spans between the 4 prints is a human figure completely colored in bright pink. His arms and legs are haphazardly spread above, around, and beneath him, seemingly flailing in midair. The think black lines that surround the figures limbs accentuate the movement, yet there is something graceful about this potentially disastrous outcome. The color scheme used by Haring helps illustrate how art can also be a form of distraction from terrible events, even when the work is self-critical and creates an air of lighthearted understanding. Haring often delved into pertinent social problems that were troubling the world at the time in his art. He would use his simple designs to help viewers digest his commentary and get them thinking about the world around them. Haring created multiple Pop Shop portfolios during the span of his career and derived the name from his original Pop Shop that he opened in a retail space in downtown New York in 1986. This shop was opened with the intention of making the artist’s work accessible to the general public. Today, Haring is still known as an artist who was passionate about access to art and art education.

Created in 1988, Keith Haring Pop Shop II (Plate 4) silkscreen on BFK Rives paper is hand-signed and dated in pencil by Keith Haring (Reading, 1958 – New York, 1990) in the bottom right-side margin, and is numbered from the edition of 200 in pencil in the bottom right-side margin.

Keith Haring Pop Shop II:

The Keith Haring Pop Shop 2 series refers to a continuation of Keith Haring's concept of making his artwork accessible through merchandise. While there is limited information available specifically about a Pop Shop 2 series, it is important to note that Haring's Pop Shop concept expanded over time, resulting in new releases of merchandise featuring his iconic artwork.

Building upon the success of the original Pop Shop, Haring continued to create and release a wide range of merchandise featuring his distinctive imagery. These items included T-shirts, hoodies, hats, pins, buttons, stickers, posters, and more, all adorned with his iconic motifs such as dancing figures, radiant babies, barking dogs, and crawling babies. The merchandise remained affordable and accessible, allowing individuals to own and engage with Haring's art in their everyday lives.

One of the key elements of Haring's Pop Shop philosophy was to maintain the integrity of his artwork on the merchandise. He ensured that the quality of the materials and the production process met his standards, resulting in products that accurately represented his artistic vision. This commitment to quality helped establish the Pop Shop merchandise as more than just commercial goods; they became symbols of Haring's artistic legacy and messages.

Keith Haring’s Pop Shop II (Plate 4) is part of a portfolio of four silkscreens in the artist’s Pop Shop Quad II portfolio of 1988. This body of work depicts some of the artist’s iconic figures in a limited palette of black, orange, blue and pink. Also featured in this portfolio are Pop Shop II (Plate 1), Pop Shop II (Plate 2), and Pop Shop II (Plate 3).

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
Keith Haring Pop Shop II (Plate 4), from the Pop Shop II Portfolio, 1988 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the sale of the work).

1. Littmann, Klaus. Keith Haring: Editions on Paper 1982-1990 (The Complete Printed Works). Germany: Hatje Cantz Publishers, 1993. Keith Haring Pop Shop II (Plate 4) is listed and illustrated on pgs. 94 – 97.
2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany our Keith Haring Pop Shop II (Plate 4).

About the Framing:
Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, Keith Haring Pop Shop II (Plate 4), from the Pop Shop II Portfolio, 1988 is presented in a complementary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.