Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Alderman Tom Tunney join the Keith Haring Foundation to announce the outdoor sculpture, Self-Portrait, which will be placed at the AIDS Garden Chicago. Self-Portrait, by the late artist and activist Keith Haring, will be along the lakefront between Belmont and Diversey Harbors. 

“Keith Haring’s Self-Portrait finds its rightful home at AIDS Garden Chicago, where it will serve as a point of reflection and a place of discussion for all Chicagoans,” said Mayor Emanuel. “This sculpture is one of the many ways we are bringing the conversation around AIDS to the forefront to ensure that Chicagoans are better able to live long, healthy, well-rounded lives."

“There is no stronger activist than Keith Haring to help us honor the lives of those lost, and celebrate those who work tirelessly to educate and raise awareness,” said Alderman Tunney, 44th Ward. “Self-Portrait’s new home at AIDS Garden Chicago is a small but powerful way to continue talking about the epidemic as we fight to bring both HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths to zero.”

In addition to the Keith Haring sculpture, new trees, plants and landscaping will be added to the garden as a tribute to the thousands of Chicagoans affected by AIDS. AIDS Garden Chicago is located on a 2.5-acre lakefront property supported by the Chicago Park District.

“The Keith Haring Foundation is proud to make this gift to the City of Chicago, a city that has for decades supported public art,” said Julia Gruen, Executive Director of the Keith Haring Foundation. “Having this unique work as the centerpiece of Chicago’s new AIDS Garden is an honor for the Keith Haring Foundation, as it would have been for Haring himself. The Keith Haring Foundation would like to thank Mayor Emanuel, Alderman Tunney, the Gladstone Gallery, and Rosenthal Fine Art for their support.”

Self-Portrait is provided through a generous gift from the Keith Haring Foundation with the support of Rosenthal Fine Art.

“We are pleased to bring the Keith Haring sculpture to AIDS Garden Chicago,” said Chicago Park District General Superintendent & CEO Michael P. Kelly. “As the curator of nearly 300 pieces of public art, it is important our collection reflects the rich tapestry of our city.  Through this sculpture, we can continue to tell Chicago’s story in our parks, through art.”

The Chicago Parks Foundation, the charitable partner to the Chicago Park District, is a proud supporter of AIDS Garden Chicago. The Chicago Parks Foundation was established in 2013 as a nonprofit to operate in a private-public partnership in support of Chicago's parks, independent but collaborative in spirit. In 2017, CPF raised nearly $3 million and facilitated over $2.3 million in grants that supported Chicago parks and park programs.

ABOUT THE KEITH HARING FOUNDATION
Keith Haring (1958-1990) generously contributed his talents and resources to numerous causes. In 1989, Haring established a foundation to ensure that his philanthropic legacy would continue indefinitely.
The Keith Haring Foundation makes grants to not-for-profit groups that engage in charitable and educational activities. In accordance with Haring’s wishes, the Foundation concentrates its giving in two areas: The support of organizations that provide educational opportunities to underprivileged children and the support of organizations that engage in education, prevention and care with respect to AIDS and HIV infection.
Keith Haring additionally charged the Foundation with maintaining and protecting his artistic legacy after his death. The Foundation maintains a collection of art along with archives that facilitate historical research about the artist and the times and places in which he lived and worked. The Foundation supports arts and educational institutions by funding exhibitions, educational programs, and publications that serve to contextualize and illuminate the artist’s work and philosophy.

ABOUT ROSENTHAL FINE ART
Established in1986, Rosenthal Fine Art has most recently been dedicated to making art more accessible to the public through partnerships with private developers and city agencies. The 30-foot Self-Portrait by Keith Haring is a unique work that will be seen from the lakefront, and will be Rosenthal’s third public art installation. The other two are prominent River North locations: Upright (2000) by Clement Meadmore, located at the corner of Hubbard and Wells Streets; Turning Triangle (201X) by Swedish artist Pål Svensson is at The Exhibit, located at Superior and Wells Streets.

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