Keith Haring strived to make his work available to the widest range of people possible. His practice of making pins started out as a calling card, which he would give away to people while making his iconic NY Subway Drawings. They later became a staple at The Pop Shop, which existed in SoHo from 1986-2005. He viewed the pins, as well as the shops entire output, an extension of his work.

“Here’s the philosophy behind the Pop Shop: I wanted to continue the same sort of communication as with the subway drawings. I wanted to attract the same wide range of people and I wanted it to be a place where, yes, not only collectors could come, but also kids from the Bronx … this was still an art statement.”