The Contemporary Arts Centre in Cincinatti is gearing up to open their massive and groundbreaking exhibition of early works by Keith Haring entitled Keith Haring: 1978-1982. The show focuses on Haring’s early career from his arrival in New York from his native Pennsylvania, to his first involvement in the New York art scene in the 1970’s. The exhibition explores the Haring’s development of a style that would become his signature and which continues to be influential today. He is a forerunner of contemporary street artists and espoused the philosophy that “The public has a right to art. Art is for everybody.”

The show runs from February 26th to September 5th, 2011. Check out some of the pieces that will be part of the CAC’s exhibition below.