Keith Haring Ludo (Plate 3), 1985 brings a heightened sense of movement and playful tension to the gameboard structure that defines the suite. The rigid grid of Ludo becomes a stage for Haring’s signature figures, who tumble, stretch, and collide with infectious energy. The interplay of vibrant colors against strong black outlines generates a rhythmic pulse, transforming the traditional logic of the game into an allegory of chance, chaos, and human interaction.

The figures within the composition seem both players and pieces, caught in the unpredictable flow of the game. Their positions suggest cooperation and conflict simultaneously, evoking the dual nature of competition—one that unites through shared play while dividing through its inherent rivalry. Radiant lines amplify the dynamism of the scene, imbuing the flat surface with vitality, as though the figures are not only moving across the board but leaping beyond its boundaries.

As the third work in the Ludo Suite, this plate intensifies the series’ balance between structure and spontaneity. The rigid geometry of the game is constantly disrupted by the vitality of Haring’s human forms, suggesting that life, like play, is never fully determined by rules alone. Chance, energy, and human connection ultimately drive the narrative forward.

Keith Haring, Ludo Suite Portfolio, 1985
Keith Haring’s Ludo Suite (1985) is a dynamic portfolio of five screenprints that brilliantly merges the energy of play with the artist’s unmistakable visual language. Inspired by the classic board game Ludo, Haring transforms the familiar forms of dice, playing pieces, and game structures into bold, graphic compositions alive with his signature dancing figures and radiant lines. The suite reflects Haring’s lifelong fascination with games, symbols, and shared cultural touchstones—recasting them into universal metaphors for joy, struggle, chance, and connection.

Across the five works, Haring fuses vibrant primary colors with his iconic black outlines, creating an aesthetic both instantly accessible and profoundly symbolic. Each print feels like a self-contained celebration of movement and interaction, yet together the suite resonates like a choreography of human experience: the push and pull of competition, the randomness of fate, and the unity that comes from shared participation.

Produced in the mid-1980s—at the height of Haring’s career and international acclaim—the Ludo Suite captures his ability to elevate the ordinary into something monumental. Just as the game of Ludo brings people together across cultures and generations, these works embody Haring’s mission of art as a universal language: playful, powerful, and deeply human.

Today, the portfolio is recognized as one of Haring’s most joyful and inventive series, reflecting not only his mastery of screenprinting but also his gift for transforming simple imagery into lasting symbols of collective spirit.

Keith Haring Ludo 1
Keith Haring Ludo 2
Keith Haring Ludo 3
Keith Haring Ludo 4
Keith Haring Ludo 5

Created in 1983,  Ludo (Plate 3) is hand-signed by Keith Haring (Reading, 1958 – New York, 1990) in pencil in the bottom right margin and numbered from the edition of 80.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
Keith Haring Ludo (Plate 3), 1985 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 sale of the work).

1. Littmann, Klaus. Keith Haring: Editions on Paper 1982-1990 (The Complete Printed Works). Germany: Hatje Cantz Publishers, 1993. Listed and illustrated on pgs. 46 b.
2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this artwork.

About the Framing:
Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, Keith Haring Ludo (Plate 3), 1985 is presented in a complementary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.