0CTOBER 27TH – DECEMBER 18TH

Briggs Robinson gallery is proud to present the 1982 coloring book drawings, the complete collection of drawings conceived and executed for a 32 page coloring book. This will be the first time that these original works have been exhibited as a group.

Infused with energy, these black marker ink drawings are the basis of the artist’s most important work. In these works [each is only 9 inches square] Haring articulated his entire visual language. His famous radiant baby, barking dog, flying saucers, glowing angels and beating hearts are all subjects in the series. Through these symbols, Haring endeavored to distill into their simplest forms the universal elements of human experience. In actuality his images became the hieroglyphics of an era, at once disseminating an instantly recognizable message to millions and transcending the limited and rarified art community in a single stroke of populistic genius.

Initially reproduced in 1:1 scale and published in the catalogue produced for Keith’s first show at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery in 1982, these works became well known primarily because of the publication that carried them. This pink spiral bound book, containing seminal texts by Tony Shafrazi, Robert Pincus-Witten, David Shapiro and Jeffrey Deitch is arguably the most legendary gallery catalogue of the last quarter century and continues to be bought and sold as one of the more desirable collectible items from its era. Since 1993, the Pop Shop carried a new version that has been one of its most enduringly popular products.

Briggs Robinson Gallery will publish a new catalogue of these works for the exhibition. Produced in a limited quantity of 2,000 and with a new essay by David Shapiro, this publication seeks to appreciate these works in the context of Keith’s standing today as one of the most influential artists of recent times.

PLEASE CONTACT THE GALLERY FOR FURTHER INFORMATION