Rare Keith Haring “Life is Fresh! Crack Is Wack!” 1987:
A rare, highly sought-after 1980s record album featuring original artwork by Keith Haring. Among the most difficult to find of Keith Haring record illustrations.

Keith Haring's cover illustration here for his friend at the time, Bipo, is inspired by his famous 1986 Harlem mural by the same title - perhaps the most famous of all public artworks by Haring. Rare as presented here in nice condition (also includes the original album).

Off-Set Lithograph on vinyl record cover. 1987.
12 x 12 inches (30.48 x 30.48 cm).
Minor shelf-wear; otherwise very good to excellent condition.
Plate signed by Haring on lower left. Scarce from an edition of unknown.
Reverse photo by Haring's close friend, Tseng Kwong Chi.
Well suited for framing. Vinyl record included in very good condition.

Keith Haring Crack Is Wack: A brief history
The historic 1986 mural, done in Haring's signature style of thick black outlines, bright colors and intermingling, cartoon-like bodies, was painted to send a serious anti-drug message to the community.

In the days following its creation, the mural was quickly picked up by the news media, not because of Haring’s arrest — but because of the newsworthiness of crack cocaine and Reagan’s “War on Drugs”. Haring explained: “Every time the news did a story on crack, they would flash to the [mural as a visual]. NBC [even] did a public service announcement using it as a background.”

Close to the court date, the New York Post contacted Haring and asked if they could take a picture of him in front of the mural. In the process, they learned about Haring’s arrest and were shocked. They had no idea he could face jail time.

People immediately came to Haring’s defense. The topic even made the evening news, which prompted Mayor Edward Koch — who was both anti-crack and anti-graffiti — to have to consider the issue. Koch commented that “we have to find somewhere else for Haring to paint.”

Several years after Haring’s untimely death in 1990, the park was officially named the “Crack Is Wack Playground" and put under the protection and jurisdiction of the City Department of Parks and still exists.

Keith Haring Album Art: A brief history:
Whether collaborating with Grace Jones, Andy Warhol, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, regularly frequenting clubs like Paradise Garage alongside close friend Larry Levan, or sketching DJ robots, New York artist and activist Keith Haring’s work was deeply entwined with the music world lending his vision to sounds by everyone from David Bowie to Run DMC.

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