The Buyer’s Guide To Keith Haring

Known for his bold black-outlined figures and use of vibrant primary colours, Haring believed in making art accessible to everyone. His work, from the Berlin Wall to New York subways, embodied themes of social justice and contemporary life. Haring's relatable messages resonate with a broad audience, regardless of background or experience. His 1986 Pop Shop in New York further democratised art by offering affordable posters and merchandise, reinforcing his relevance and marketability today, from auction sales to branded collaborations.

Haring's prints represent a vast and diverse body of work, with his early forays into printmaking using traditional methods like lithography and etching. These early works, often featuring muted colours and smaller edition sizes, include collections like the Bayer Suite (1982) and Ludo (1985), both of which employ a simple red, black, and white palette. These prints are generally more accessible on the market in terms of price and availability. However, his Chocolate Buddha series (1989), a more ambitious lithography collection featuring intricate Aztec designs in two-tone colours, is more sought after and typically ranges between £14,000 to £22,000.

As Haring’s style evolved, he gravitated towards screenprinting, utilising the medium’s efficiency to produce larger edition sizes. This shift allowed him to explore more ambitious compositions and vibrant neon colour palettes, as seen in his earliest screenprinting collection, Fertility Suite (1983). The transition to screenprinting signalled a pivotal development in Haring's practice, emphasising the energy and vibrancy that became synonymous with his later works.

Pop Shop Prints

Created at the height of his career, Haring's Pop Shop prints are arguably his most popular and expansive collection on the market, serving as a vibrant testament to his life and work. Known for their dynamic and playful nature, these prints feature Haring's iconic black-line characters and were central to his decision to open the renowned Pop Shop in 1986. This innovative storefront flipped the traditional gallery setting, offering an affordable space where people could purchase his work for as little as 50 cents. Haring's experimentation with different printmaking techniques and his commitment to making art accessible allowed him to reproduce his most popular works, making Pop Shop sales viable and effectively subverting art market elitism.

“I could earn more money if I just painted a few things and jacked up the price. My shop is an extension of what I was doing in the subway stations, breaking down the barriers between high and low art,” Haring said. The Pop Shop was his way of “taking art off the pedestal," and ”giving it back to the people.”

In-Demand Portfolios

Other iconic collections by Haring include Andy Mouse (1986), Growing (1988), and Pyramids (1989), which features Haring's renowned Silence Equals Death (1989) print, a powerful symbol of AIDS activism in the 1980s. The appeal of these works comes from Haring’s signature continuous line design, with profound underlying messages, and the exceptional quality of the printing techniques.

Haring's print market is well-established, consistently generating over £1 million in sales value annually over the past decade, with more than 100 lots sold each year. 2021 was a standout year, with a sales turnover of £3.7 million from 148 lots sold–a record year that marked a 36% increase from the previous year. In 2022, the market saw further success, with a 26% increase in sales value despite only a 3% rise in lots sold, resulting in an increasedb average selling price (ASP) for individual prints.

Although 2023 saw a slight contraction in sales value, down 4%, the year still recorded a turnover of £4.4 million, with fewer lots sold–124 compared to 152 in the previous year–indicating a stable ASP for individual prints. For more insights into investment opportunities in Haring prints, explore the Keith Haring Investment Guide.

Haring’s prints regularly achieve six-figure sums at auction, with six works reaching this milestone in 2023. Among them, Andy Mouse (complete set) was the highest-selling print, setting a new auction record at Christie’s in September, selling for £990,387 with fees.

Over the past ten-year period, Haring's yearly print sales by value shows a fairly even distribution across categories, though a notable shift occurred between 2022 and 2023 in works priced between £0-50,000 and £50,000-100,000. These two categories made up 67% of the market share in 2022 and 59% in 2023. In 2022, strong sales like Pop Shop IV at £98,115, Apocalypse at £116,225, and Icons (1990) at £107,100 contributed to this balance. However, in 2023, the higher-priced category contracted to just 19% of sales value, with lower-valued works (up to £50,000) dominating the market.

Looking at the yearly number of lots sold, most of Haring's works over the past decade fall within these key price categories, with higher-end segments consisting of only a few standout pieces, like the popular Andy Mouse prints in 2023. Understanding the price distribution across these categories can be useful when determining the fair market value of the Haring print you're interested in. Our team of specialists is here to help–contact us today.

Haring prints featuring his most politically charged motifs–such as the barking dog, symbolising a call to action against social injustices, fertility symbols honouring mothers with HIV, and phallic flowers celebrating homosexuality–have a timeless appeal. These symbols, often tied to themes of activism, continue to resonate with collectors today. Below are some of Haring’s most popular prints and collections:

1. Best Buddies: Themes of peace and unity are powerfully represented in Best Buddies. Originally created as the logo for Anthony Shriver’s Best Buddies organisation, this design was later reproduced as a limited edition print series, raising over $500,000 (USD) for the cause. The artwork has become one of Haring’s most iconic images. In 2019, five of these prints were sold at auction, but since then, only two have surfaced each year, making them increasingly rare. Consequently, Best Buddies prints are now more commonly sourced through private sales, with their average price rising from £17,000 in 2019 to £40,000 in today’s market.
2. Flowers IV: Many American Pop artists have explored the flower motif, but Haring's interpretation stands out for its unique individuality. As one of the last print series produced before Haring's death, the flowers in this collection are vividly colorful but also intentionally phallic in form, imbuing them with a raw, expressive quality. Due to their scarcity on the market, these prints are highly coveted by collectors. In 2023, Flowers IV sold at auction for £30,720, setting a new record for the piece. This was the first individual print from the series to surface since 2022, with the ASP of the collection having risen 3.5 times over the past ten-year period.
3. Growing Collection: In 2023, Haring's Growing collection experienced a record-breaking year in both sales value and lots sold, with a turnover of £819,507, marking an increase of 236% from 2022 with 12 additional lots sold. This success is largely attributed to the emergence of trial proofs (TP) from Haring's Growing collection. Five TPs entered the market and all sold during Christie's April sale, further establishing this series as a trending focus for collectors.

For more insights on Haring's highest valued prints on the market explore the Top 10 Most Investable Keith Haring Prints.

When purchasing a Haring print, verifying the signature is imperative. While many of Haring’s editions are signed by the artist himself, certain Pop Shop quad prints feature the signature of Julia Gruen, the executor of the Keith Haring Estate. Some prints, such as the = Andy Mouse series, bear dual signatures from both Haring and Andy Warhol. Additionally, the exact placement of Haring’s signature can vary depending on the collection. To guarantee authenticity, it's always recommended to consult with experts who can accurately verify signatures.

To confirm the print's provenance, Haring worked with renowned publishers, such as Tony Shafrazi Gallery, Michael Kohn Gallery, and Leo Castelli, where authentic works will typically link to one of these names. Documentation proving previous ownership is necessary to preserve the print’s value. For a more detailed guide on the authentication process, explore our comprehensive guide, explore our How to Authenticate Keith Haring Prints.

Maintaining the condition of a print is crucial for preserving its value. When purchasing a print, it’s important to inspect it unframed to check for damage such as tears, stains, or warping. If needed, professionals like MyArtBroker can recommend whether restoration is required. Get in touch with us for a free consultation.

You can ensure a prints longevity by investing in expert framing with UV-protective glass and displaying the work away from direct sunlight and moisture. If storing, it is recommended to place it flat in a dark, cool area rather than rolled. For more detailed guidance on the best practices refer to our Guide to Restoring and Caring for Modern and Contemporary Prints.

Whether you're a seasoned collector or purchasing your first print, it's essential to choose a trusted source. While galleries and auction houses are reputable options, their premiums can be high, reaching as high as 25%.

At MyArtBroker, our brokers provide the trust and confidence of working with a specialist, combined with the ease and convenience of buying online for fair market value. We can assist you in purchasing a Haring print from our international network of sellers and help with provenance, authenticity, and condition verification.

Read the Keith Haring Investment Guide

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A Dedicated Specialist

At MyArtBroker, we offer a secure and straightforward solution for buyers by connecting you directly with our expert specialists. Whether you're looking to purchase a specific Haring piece to start or expand your collection, our dedicated specialists will assist you through our extensive network of collectors who buy and sell daily. They will also conduct thorough condition checks and authenticate the artworks, ensuring you can buy with confidence. We will help arrange delivery, combining the trust and comfort of working with a specialist with the efficiency, transparency, and convenience of an online process.

Our Network

Our global network includes over 30,000 collectors actively buying and selling works daily, alongside dealers, galleries, and independent experts worldwide who collaborate with us to provide the most sought-after and authentic Haring pieces. With 75,000 visitors to our website each month, we regularly publish updates on the artist’s market performance, new works, auction results, and news. Additionally, we offer an updated biography and insightful essays on all Haring editions.

MyArtBroker has access to a vast network of art collectors selling Haring artworks. If you're interested in purchasing a Haring print, get in touch with us, and we'll guide you through the process.

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