Keith Haring's Early Works Surveyed at Brooklyn Museum, 2012

The Brooklyn Museum hosted 'Keith Haring: 1978-1982' from March 16 to July 8, 2012, under the curation of Raphaela Platow. This exhibition documented Haring's journey from a student at the School of Visual Arts to his initial showcase at Tony Shafrazi Gallery in 1982, featuring previously unseen pieces such as the 'Manhattan Penis Drawings for Ken Hicks' (1978). It showcased text collages, experimental films, and 25 red gouache shapes that foreshadowed his later artistic style. Large sumi ink drawings reflected his line work inspired by Abstract Expressionism. Haring's connections with figures like Madonna and Jean-Michel Basquiat were highlighted at venues like Club 57. The display concluded with subway chalk art, emphasizing its transient quality and Haring's dedication to street art, including over fifty public works in New York City.