In the early hours of the morning of February 16, 199o, Keith Haring died of AIDS at the age of just 31. He left behind an enormous oeuvre of drawings and paintings, murals and sculptures, as well as countless printed T-shirts and posters: a comprehensive legacy produced in the course of ten years of creativity by an artist who left no "late" works. In spite of his youth, Haring at the time of his death was already a celebrated artist, established in the eyes of his fellowartists, accepted by the critics and loved by children. During his short life he became an American export hit, achieving fame and commercial success.