The year 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of Keith Haring’s first solo exhibition held at the Pittsburgh Arts and Craft Center in 1978. The Reading Public Museum, where the artist first exhibited his work in 1976, will mount an exhibition of paintings, prints, and sculpture from all phases of his career by the internationally-known “hometown” artist.

Raised in Kutztown, Berks County, Keith Haring went on to become one of the most influential artists of his generation, making his mark as both a graffiti artist and later, as a fine artist. Haring enlisted a language of visual symbols that embodied the essence of his age—televisions, radiant babies, barking dogs, hearts, pyramids, etc. — all of which became universally recognizable. Early works from the dawn of his career as well as works from the artist’s Pop Shop (1987, 1988), Chocolate Buddha (1989), and Icons (1990) series will be included in the exhibition.