Keith Haring’s art comes to life in a dynamic pop-up book

July 11, 2024

Keith Haring Pop-Up Book

Keith Haring is known for his colorful and energetic pop art that defined the legendary New York art scene of the 1980s. His life and career ended tragically, but his legacy lives on in museums, galleries, and now in a pop-up book.

Designed by paper engineer Simon Arizpe and designed by Rosston Meyer of Poposition Press, the officially licensed book features several elaborate pop-up pages celebrating six of Haring’s famous artworks. The famous Sculptures is recreated with a colorful tower of paper figures, and Haring’s famous Dog character jumps out of the pages of the book. The publication also contains paper representations of The connection between heaven and hell, Pop Shop Grid, Silence = deathand that Mural “Street in Houston”.

“All of Keith’s works have such a strong energy. Even after all these years, they still look like they were painted a minute before you walked into the room,” says Arizpe of the challenges of creating the book. “I wanted to maintain that spark of spontaneity when putting this book on paper – by focusing on the surprise and playfulness that was already inherent in his original artworks and translating it into pop-up form.”

Like many of us, Arizpe was initially drawn to Haring’s work for its bright colors and bold imagery. It was only later in life that he truly realized the profound impact Haring’s art had on the political and social landscape.

“There’s a photo of me posing for my graduation photo, wearing my worn-out Keith Haring T-shirt that I loved and wore until I couldn’t take it anymore,” he reveals. “Did I know about Keith Haring at the time, his contributions to pop art and the New York graffiti scene, or his commitment to safe sex and AIDS education? Not really.”

Arizpe continues, “It wasn’t until years later, when I saw a major retrospective of his work at the Brooklyn Museum in 2011, that I began to understand his complex legacy in the art world and gay rights. During that exhibition, I actually thought it would be great to do a Keith Haring pop-up book ‘someday.'”

The pop-up book is a fitting medium to celebrate Haring’s work, as it is an art form in its own right. The first official pop-up book, which is considered the story of Little Red Riding Hood Published in 1855 by Dean & Son, it laid the foundation for this creative format. Since then, paper artists have kept the tradition alive with playful and interactive books.

Poposition Press specializes in the production of pop-up books, cards, and limited edition prints. Each publication, which showcases the work of contemporary artists and designers, is a collector’s item. These books often come in special editions with bespoke packaging, including slipcases, custom boxes, and more, making each piece extra special.

While the standard Keith Haring pop-up book costs $60, Poposition Press offers a special Altarpiece Edition for $350. This deluxe version features a silver foil embossed cover and is housed in a laser-engraved wooden case reminiscent of an altarpiece. The set includes a Love Greeting card and an additional Once Upon a time… interactive diorama depicting Haring’s iconic mural at the LGBTQ Center in New York.

You can now purchase and pre-order the Keith Haring Pop Up Book here. Altarpiece Edition online.