Keith Haring, Chocolate Buddha (Plate 1), 1989 marks the beginning of one of the artist’s most profound and contemplative suites, where his bold graphic language engages directly with spiritual symbolism. In this work, Haring depicts the seated Buddha as both iconic and dynamic, transforming a traditionally still, meditative figure into one that radiates vitality and energy. Thick, confident lines outline the figure with rhythmic precision, while surrounding patterns pulse with movement, suggesting an aura of spiritual power emanating from within.

Keith Haring, Chocolate Buddha Series, 1989 represents one of the artist’s most ambitious and spiritually charged bodies of work, blending his instantly recognizable visual language with themes of meditation, ritual, and transcendence. Conceived during the later years of his career, this portfolio of screenprints takes its inspiration from Buddhist iconography and Eastern philosophy, while still embodying Haring’s playful dynamism and graphic intensity. The series is a meditation on repetition, rhythm, and the universal search for meaning, filtered through the bold outlines and vibrant patterns that defined his artistic voice.

The Chocolate Buddha Series is composed of 5 individual prints, each depicting the seated Buddha in a series of expressive variations. Rather than presenting the figure as static or solemn, Haring reimagines the Buddha with pulsating lines, radiating energy, and rhythmic motifs that animate the spiritual icon with a sense of movement and vitality. The choice of the Buddha form becomes a vehicle for exploring both the universality of symbols and the transformative power of art.

Executed in rich, warm tones—earthy browns, blacks, and deep neutrals—the portfolio departs from Haring’s more familiar neon palette, signaling a contemplative shift in mood and intention. The title Chocolate suggests both sweetness and sensuality, while also grounding the work in materiality and everyday associations, balancing the sacred with the playful.

Today, the Chocolate Buddha Series is celebrated as one of Haring’s most intellectually layered and visually compelling suites. It reflects not only his artistic versatility but also his deep engagement with spiritual and cultural themes beyond the New York street scene that first made him famous. Collectors and institutions prize the series for its rarity, depth, and its unique position within Haring’s oeuvre, standing as a testament to his belief in art’s power to transcend boundaries and speak to the universal human spirit.

The five works in the Chocolate Buddha Series
The series is comprised of these five lithographs, each printed on Arches wove (or Arches paper), individually hand-signed and dated by Haring, and numbered within an edition of 90 (with additional artist’s proofs).

Chocolate Buddha (Plate 1), 1989

Chocolate Buddha (Plate 2), 1989

Chocolate Buddha (Plate 3), 1989

Chocolate Buddha (Plate 4), 1989

Chocolate Buddha (Plate 5), 1989

Created in 1987, this color lithograph is hand-signed and dated by Keith Haring (Reading, 1958 - New York City, 1990)in pencil and numbered from the edition of 80 in pencil in the lower left.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
This work is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the final sale of the work).

1. Cantz, Edited by Klaus Littman. Keith Haring: Editions on Paper 1982-1990, The Complete Printed Works. Hatje Cantz Publishers: New York, 1993. Listed and illustrated on pg. 123.
2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.

About the Framing:
Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, Keith Haring Chocolate Buddha (Plate 1), 1989 is presented in a complementary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.