The Blueprint Drawings #17
by Keith Haring
Year: 1990
Medium: Screenprint
Size: 108 × 118 cm (42 1/2 × 46 1/2 in)
Screenprint on wove paper with full margins
Signed and numbered in pencil recto right edge
Copyright stamp on the reverse: Keith Haring 1989 George Mulder Fine Arts.
Edition of 33
Produced in 1990, Keith Haring’s The Blueprint Drawings #17 is a striking screenprint on wove paper with full margins, measuring 108 × 118 cm (42 1/2 × 46 1/2 inches). From an exceptionally rare edition of just 33, it is signed and numbered in pencil, with the George Mulder Fine Arts copyright stamp on the reverse. Its scarcity, impeccable provenance, and late-career significance make it a premier collector’s acquisition.
The Blueprint Drawings #17 by Keith Haring is a significant work from the artist’s acclaimed Blueprint Drawings series, revealing the disciplined structure behind his famously spontaneous imagery. First created in Haring’s studio during the mid-1980s, the work was conceived as a fine art drawing rather than a street graffiti piece. Although it was not painted on New York subway panels or city walls, its visual language grew directly from the symbols and bold line work that defined Haring’s public art.
The composition combines rhythmic figures, dynamic movement, and interconnected forms to explore themes of communication, unity, and the shared energy of human experience. The blueprint format suggests both planning and possibility, highlighting how Haring balanced instinct with careful composition while remaining true to his belief that art should be universally understood.
Collectors highly value The Blueprint Drawings #17 for its rarity, museum-quality provenance, and importance within Haring’s studio practice. Works from this series are increasingly sought after for their close connection to the artist’s creative process and enduring market strength.
Curator Insight: At ArtLife Gallery, we consider The Blueprint Drawings #17 a compelling bridge between Haring’s street-inspired vision and his refined studio mastery.
The work belongs to Haring’s mature period and complements The Blueprint Drawings, Pop Shop, Totem, and his iconic subway drawings, illustrating the evolution of one of contemporary art’s most influential visual languages.
Keith Haring (1958–1990) was an influential American artist known for his bold lines, vivid colors, and instantly recognizable figures that helped define the New York art scene of the 1980s. Combining elements of Pop Art, graffiti, and street culture, Haring created energetic artworks featuring dancing figures, barking dogs, radiant babies, and symbolic imagery exploring humanity, love, social justice, and political activism.
Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, Haring moved to New York City in 1978 to study at the School of Visual Arts. He gained public attention through his chalk drawings on unused subway advertising panels, transforming everyday urban spaces into accessible public art. His distinctive visual language soon attracted international recognition and led to exhibitions, collaborations, and large-scale murals.
In 1986, Haring opened the Pop Shop in Manhattan, offering prints, clothing, and other products featuring his designs. The shop reflected his belief that art should reach people beyond traditional galleries and museums. Throughout his career, he addressed important social issues, including racism, apartheid, drug abuse, and the AIDS epidemic.
After being diagnosed with AIDS in 1988, Haring continued creating art and established the Keith Haring Foundation in 1989 to support AIDS-related organizations and children's programs. He died in 1990, aged 31, leaving a lasting legacy in contemporary art.
Today, Keith Haring art prints and original artworks remain sought after by collectors worldwide. Understanding an artwork's edition, condition, provenance, and market history is essential when evaluating its value. Explore our guide to Keith Haring print valuation and learn more about the investment potential of Keith Haring art.
More Keith Haring Works to Explore
The Blueprint Drawings #17
by Keith Haring
Year: 1990
Medium: Screenprint
Size: 108 × 118 cm (42 1/2 × 46 1/2 in)
Screenprint on wove paper with full margins
Produced in 1990, Keith Haring’s The Blueprint Drawings #17 is a striking screenprint on wove paper with full margins, measuring 108 × 118 cm (42 1/2 × 46 1/2 inches). From an exceptionally rare edition of just 33, it is signed and numbered in pencil, with the George Mulder Fine Arts copyright stamp on the reverse. Its scarcity, impeccable provenance, and late-career significance make it a premier collector’s acquisition.
The Blueprint Drawings #17 by Keith Haring is a significant work from the artist’s acclaimed Blueprint Drawings series, revealing the disciplined structure behind his famously spontaneous imagery. First created in Haring’s studio during the mid-1980s, the work was conceived as a fine art drawing rather than a street graffiti piece. Although it was not painted on New York subway panels or city walls, its visual language grew directly from the symbols and bold line work that defined Haring’s public art.
The composition combines rhythmic figures, dynamic movement, and interconnected forms to explore themes of communication, unity, and the shared energy of human experience. The blueprint format suggests both planning and possibility, highlighting how Haring balanced instinct with careful composition while remaining true to his belief that art should be universally understood.
Collectors highly value The Blueprint Drawings #17 for its rarity, museum-quality provenance, and importance within Haring’s studio practice. Works from this series are increasingly sought after for their close connection to the artist’s creative process and enduring market strength.
Curator Insight: At ArtLife Gallery, we consider The Blueprint Drawings #17 a compelling bridge between Haring’s street-inspired vision and his refined studio mastery.
The work belongs to Haring’s mature period and complements The Blueprint Drawings, Pop Shop, Totem, and his iconic subway drawings, illustrating the evolution of one of contemporary art’s most influential visual languages.
Keith Haring (1958–1990) was an influential American artist known for his bold lines, vivid colors, and instantly recognizable figures that helped define the New York art scene of the 1980s. Combining elements of Pop Art, graffiti, and street culture, Haring created energetic artworks featuring dancing figures, barking dogs, radiant babies, and symbolic imagery exploring humanity, love, social justice, and political activism.
Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, Haring moved to New York City in 1978 to study at the School of Visual Arts. He gained public attention through his chalk drawings on unused subway advertising panels, transforming everyday urban spaces into accessible public art. His distinctive visual language soon attracted international recognition and led to exhibitions, collaborations, and large-scale murals.
In 1986, Haring opened the Pop Shop in Manhattan, offering prints, clothing, and other products featuring his designs. The shop reflected his belief that art should reach people beyond traditional galleries and museums. Throughout his career, he addressed important social issues, including racism, apartheid, drug abuse, and the AIDS epidemic.
After being diagnosed with AIDS in 1988, Haring continued creating art and established the Keith Haring Foundation in 1989 to support AIDS-related organizations and children's programs. He died in 1990, aged 31, leaving a lasting legacy in contemporary art.
Today, Keith Haring art prints and original artworks remain sought after by collectors worldwide. Understanding an artwork's edition, condition, provenance, and market history is essential when evaluating its value. Explore our guide to Keith Haring print valuation and learn more about the investment potential of Keith Haring art.