How a chance meeting in New York led Keith Haring to create his final mural in Pisa

In 1987, a 19-year-old art lover named Piergiorgio Castellani from Pontedera, Italy, encountered Keith Haring on a street in Manhattan. Castellani humorously pointed out that Italy lacked a permanent piece by Haring, prompting the artist to invite him to his studio. They envisioned a mural in Italy, as Haring sought to escape the pressures of the art scene following the deaths of Andy Warhol in 1987 and Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1988. Although initially intended for Florence, the mural was ultimately created in Pisa, with the support of Mayor Giacomino Granchi and culture assessor Lorenzo Bani. In June 1989, Haring completed 'Tuttomondo,' showcasing 30 figures representing peace. Although he promised Castellani a retrospective, he canceled it in December 1989 before his passing. Castellani later established Materia Prima and incorporated a Haring sketch into a wine label.