Untitled 2 From Free South Africa 1985
by Keith Haring
Year: 1985
Medium: Lithograph
Size: 32" x 40" (81 cm x 100 cm)
Lithograph on Rives BFK Paper
A defining political work from Keith Haring’s 1980s practice, Untitled 2, From Free South Africa (1985) is a 32 × 40-inch (81 × 100 cm) lithograph on Rives BFK paper. Created amid global opposition to apartheid, its urgent graphic language merges activism with Haring’s signature visual vocabulary. Historically resonant and visually commanding, the work offers collectors a compelling example of socially engaged art with strong provenance value.
Created in 1985, Untitled 2, from Free South Africa belongs to Keith Haring’s landmark anti-apartheid project. It first appears as a limited-edition lithograph, rather than a known street-graffiti work. Haring designed the Free South Africa works as activist art, using his direct visual language to confront racial oppression and support the struggle against apartheid.
The image is stark: a large black figure dominates a smaller white figure marked with a red cross, while a chain suggests oppression. Haring turns his familiar dancing forms into a forceful symbol of resistance, inequality, and liberation. The message is immediate, yet the composition leaves room for deeper reflection on power and control.
The edition is limited to just 60, with 15 artist’s proofs. That scarcity, its political importance, and Haring’s global market profile make it a particularly significant acquisition. A 1985 example sold for €6,875 at Ketterer Kunst, while another reached £11,250 at Phillips.
This is Haring at his most purposeful—an instantly readable image where graphic simplicity becomes political power.
It sits at the heart of Haring’s activist practice, alongside Free South Africa, Crack Down, and his later AIDS-related works, linking his street-born vocabulary with socially engaged printmaking.
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
Untitled 2 From Free South Africa 1985
by Keith Haring
Year: 1985
Medium: Lithograph
Size: 32" x 40" (81 cm x 100 cm)
Lithograph on Rives BFK Paper
A defining political work from Keith Haring’s 1980s practice, Untitled 2, From Free South Africa (1985) is a 32 × 40-inch (81 × 100 cm) lithograph on Rives BFK paper. Created amid global opposition to apartheid, its urgent graphic language merges activism with Haring’s signature visual vocabulary. Historically resonant and visually commanding, the work offers collectors a compelling example of socially engaged art with strong provenance value.
Created in 1985, Untitled 2, from Free South Africa belongs to Keith Haring’s landmark anti-apartheid project. It first appears as a limited-edition lithograph, rather than a known street-graffiti work. Haring designed the Free South Africa works as activist art, using his direct visual language to confront racial oppression and support the struggle against apartheid.
The image is stark: a large black figure dominates a smaller white figure marked with a red cross, while a chain suggests oppression. Haring turns his familiar dancing forms into a forceful symbol of resistance, inequality, and liberation. The message is immediate, yet the composition leaves room for deeper reflection on power and control.
The edition is limited to just 60, with 15 artist’s proofs. That scarcity, its political importance, and Haring’s global market profile make it a particularly significant acquisition. A 1985 example sold for €6,875 at Ketterer Kunst, while another reached £11,250 at Phillips.
This is Haring at his most purposeful—an instantly readable image where graphic simplicity becomes political power.
It sits at the heart of Haring’s activist practice, alongside Free South Africa, Crack Down, and his later AIDS-related works, linking his street-born vocabulary with socially engaged printmaking.
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.