Pop Shop VI, Plate I - by Keith Haring Poster 75x100 cm / 30x40″

This set was printed in the year before Keith Haring’s death and is closely connected to his influential Pop Shop project. In downtown Manhattan, Haring opened the Pop Shop to sell his designs on T-shirts, badges and other merchandise for as little as 50 cents. The project reflected Haring’s belief that art should be accessible to everyone rather than reserved for an elite few.

This philosophy also led Haring towards printmaking, a medium that allowed him to reproduce his paintings and drawings in larger editions and make his imagery available to a much wider audience. The Pop Shop embodied Haring’s desire to break down the traditional boundaries between fine art and popular culture.

The project attracted support from artists such as Andy Warhol, who was particularly interested in the possibilities of art in an age of mechanical reproduction. At the same time, the Pop Shop was criticised by some established figures within the art world who placed greater value on unique original works. Haring, however, remained committed to the idea that art could reach a broader audience through accessible editions and merchandise.

Printed in four colours—black, red, yellow and blue—this work demonstrates Haring’s mastery of screen printing. Although he had experimented with techniques such as lithography during the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was in 1983 that Haring began producing screen prints, also known as serigraphs. The technique allowed him to create multiple impressions of his imagery while maintaining the bold lines and vivid colours that defined his visual language.

Haring’s embrace of screen printing was influenced in part by Andy Warhol, one of his most important artistic influences, whose pioneering use of commercial printing techniques demonstrated the creative potential of multiples. Haring quickly developed the medium in his own distinctive style, producing increasingly inventive and energetic works.

The energy and curiosity that characterised Haring’s paintings translated naturally into his printmaking. He went on to collaborate with publishers across the United States, Switzerland, Japan, Germany, France, Denmark and Holland. Prints featuring individual images were released as portfolios of four, each from an edition of 200, while the Quad prints, combining four images in a grid format, were produced in an edition of 75.

In total, 875 prints featuring the vibrant Pop Shop VI imagery were produced, demonstrating the remarkable productivity of Haring’s printmaking practice. Despite the scale of these editions, each individual work reflects the care and attention Haring brought to the production process. While the individual Pop Shop VI prints were originally released as four-part portfolios and remain especially desirable as original matching sets, many portfolios have since been separated.

By the time of his death, Haring had created such an extensive body of prints that the exact number is difficult to determine. Numerous unsigned editions exist on the market, although these are generally considered valuable when their authenticity has been approved by the Keith Haring Foundation. Today, Haring’s prints remain among the most sought-after multiples in the art market, celebrated for their bold graphic language, vibrant colours and enduring Pop Art appeal.

Explore more Keith Haring prints and artworks in our collection.

Our Master's Edition archival paper, in off-white and uncoated, offers museum-quality for art enthusiasts seeking a luxurious way to enjoy world-class artworks:

• Paper Finishing: Matte, uncoated, natural white (off-white).
• Acid-Free: pH above 7 to prevent yellowing over time.
• Paper Weight: 250 gsm (110 lb), Thickness: 0.29 mm (11.4 mils).
• Available Sizes: 29 sizes in inches (US&CA) and cms (rest of the world).
• Sustainable Paper: FSC-certified paper for sustainability.

Learn about paper types and their unique textures and finishes here.

No minimum orders, printed and shipped on demand.