May 5, 2012 | Arts / Entertainment

Remembering Keith Haring

Happy birthday, Keith Haring!

The world famous artist succumbed to AIDS in 1990, but would have turned 54 years old yesterday. The day was even celebrated with a special Google Doodle in honor of the man and his work.

And though he started from rather humble beginnings - he grew up in Kutztown, Pa., and worked as a paper boy - he blossomed when at 19 he moved to New York to attend the School of Visual Arts. He put art shows on at the infamous Club 57, and hung out with other young up-and-comers like Madonna and the B52s.

His work started showing up, quite literally, all over the place. He was one of several young artists spreading artistic graffiti around SoHo and the East Village. He developed a love for murals, and was soon creating them all over the world, from Chicago to Berlin, Melbourne to Rio de Janiero. He often called on the help of children to help assist him with his work.

One of his most famous public murals, 'Crack is Wack!' Created in 1986.

Haring didn't take himself too seriously. "The dripping... well, if it happens, it happens; it does not take anything from the work," he once said. "The dripping just proves that you were not trying to control the work, but the work was developing by itself and if it drips, it's a natural part in the evolution of the work."

In 1988, Haring was diagnosed with AIDS. The following year, he established the Keith Haring Foundation to provide funding to AIDS organizations and manage his work (through exhibitions, publications and the licensing of his images).

"My contribution to the world is my ability to draw. I will draw as much as I can for as many people as I can for as long as I can."