Pop Shop Iii Scissors
by Keith Haring
Year: 1989
Medium: Silkscreen
Size: 13 × 16 in (33.02 x 40.64 cm)
Edition: 200
Emerging from Keith Haring’s influential Pop Shop period, Pop Shop III Scissors (1989) is a silkscreen measuring 13 × 16 inches (33.02 × 40.64 cm), issued in an edition of 200. Its scissors motif adds a sharp, symbolic edge to Haring’s instantly recognizable graphic language, reflecting his fusion of street culture and fine art. As a period collectible, it holds strong cultural resonance and enduring appeal for discerning collectors.
First appearing in Haring’s 1989 Pop Shop III portfolio, Scissors turns an everyday tool into a playful symbol. Two human figures form the blades as they cut through a yellow ribbon, suggesting separation, release, and the opening of new possibilities. The ribbon also connects to the opening of Haring’s Pop Shops in New York and Tokyo, tying the image to his mission of making art more accessible.
There is no documented street-graffiti version of this exact composition. Yet its bold contours, simplified figures, and flat color fields clearly carry Haring’s subway-drawing language into the print medium. This is a key part of his late-1980s practice, when street culture, fine art, and popular commerce deliberately collided.
For collectors, the edition of 200 plus 20 artist’s proofs offers attractive scarcity. The work has proven auction demand, including a $6,875 Phillips result, while another printer’s proof reached $10,000.
What I find especially compelling is Haring’s ability to make a simple image carry real cultural weight. Scissors connects directly to the Pop Shop concept while reflecting his larger themes of transformation, accessibility, and human connection.
For collectors building a serious Keith Haring collection, this is a highly recognizable late-period print with strong historical context and enduring market appeal.
More Keith Haring Works to Explore
Pop Shop Iii Scissors
by Keith Haring
Year: 1989
Medium: Silkscreen
Size: 13 × 16 in (33.02 x 40.64 cm)
Edition: 200
Emerging from Keith Haring’s influential Pop Shop period, Pop Shop III Scissors (1989) is a silkscreen measuring 13 × 16 inches (33.02 × 40.64 cm), issued in an edition of 200. Its scissors motif adds a sharp, symbolic edge to Haring’s instantly recognizable graphic language, reflecting his fusion of street culture and fine art. As a period collectible, it holds strong cultural resonance and enduring appeal for discerning collectors.
First appearing in Haring’s 1989 Pop Shop III portfolio, Scissors turns an everyday tool into a playful symbol. Two human figures form the blades as they cut through a yellow ribbon, suggesting separation, release, and the opening of new possibilities. The ribbon also connects to the opening of Haring’s Pop Shops in New York and Tokyo, tying the image to his mission of making art more accessible.
There is no documented street-graffiti version of this exact composition. Yet its bold contours, simplified figures, and flat color fields clearly carry Haring’s subway-drawing language into the print medium. This is a key part of his late-1980s practice, when street culture, fine art, and popular commerce deliberately collided.
For collectors, the edition of 200 plus 20 artist’s proofs offers attractive scarcity. The work has proven auction demand, including a $6,875 Phillips result, while another printer’s proof reached $10,000.
What I find especially compelling is Haring’s ability to make a simple image carry real cultural weight. Scissors connects directly to the Pop Shop concept while reflecting his larger themes of transformation, accessibility, and human connection.
For collectors building a serious Keith Haring collection, this is a highly recognizable late-period print with strong historical context and enduring market appeal.