On this day, May 4, 1958, artist and illustrator Keith Haring was born in Reading, Pennsylvania. Trained at the School of Visual Arts in New York, Haring was also influenced by his father a cartoonist. With the advent of his signature figures and style, Haring opened a retail store selling merchandize marked with his iconic characters and supporting certain social and political themes. He also created advertising images for Absolut vodka and Swatch watches.