KEITH HARING (American, 1958–1990)
The Growing Portfolio (Complete Set of 5), 1988
Littmann 88
Color screenprints on wove paper, 1988, comprising the complete suite of five prints, each hand-signed and numbered in pencil by the artist from the edition of 100. Published by Martin Lawrence Editions, New York.
Sheet Size (each): 40 × 30 inches (101.6 × 76.2 cm)
Edition: No. 2/100 (each print numbered 2/100)
Reference: Klaus Littmann, Keith Haring: Editions on Paper 1982–1990, Hatje Cantz, 1993, pp. 88–91.
Description
Few print portfolios embody Keith Haring’s artistic vision as completely as The Growing Portfolio. Created in 1988, during the height of Haring’s creative maturity, this celebrated suite of five monumental screenprints explores themes of growth, transformation, unity, and the interconnectedness of humanity through the artist’s unmistakable visual language.
Executed in bold, saturated color with Haring’s iconic black line, each composition radiates movement and vitality. Dancing figures, radiant forms, and labyrinthine compositions evolve across the portfolio, creating a visual narrative that celebrates life while acknowledging the profound cycles of birth, evolution, and renewal. Produced only two years before the artist’s untimely death, The Growing Portfolio stands among the most important and recognizable print series of Haring’s career.
Beyond their immediate visual impact, these works reflect Haring’s lifelong belief that art should communicate universally. The imagery is simultaneously joyful and deeply philosophical, expressing optimism, resilience, and the shared human experience. The portfolio remains one of the defining achievements of late twentieth-century printmaking and is increasingly sought after by serious collectors and institutions alike.
This exceptionally desirable example is Edition No. 2 of only 100. Remarkably, the complete portfolio remained preserved in its original publisher’s portfolio case from the time of publication until its recent professional conservation framing. As a result, the prints have benefited from decades of minimal handling and exceptional preservation.
Each work has been professionally framed to museum-conservation standards using archival materials, silk-wrapped mats, and optical-grade UV-filtering museum Plexiglas, allowing the portfolio to be immediately installed while ensuring long-term preservation.
Complete portfolios have become increasingly difficult to acquire, particularly in outstanding original condition. As intact examples continue to become scarcer, The Growing Portfolio represents one of the most significant opportunities within Keith Haring’s print market.
Provenance
Private Collection, USA
Acquired directly from the original publisher’s distribution.
Preserved in the original portfolio case until recently framed to museum-conservation standards.
Condition
Excellent overall condition.
Catalogue Raisonné
Klaus Littmann, Keith Haring: Editions on Paper 1982–1990, The Complete Printed Works, Hatje Cantz Publishers, New York, 1993, catalogue no. 88, illustrated pp. 88–91.
