Melbourne's Lost Keith Haring Returned

An integral piece of one of Melbourne's most famous works of street art was returned anonymously to Arts Victoria this week.

The 65cm x 69cm wooden door was part of a mural painted by pioneering US street artist Keith Haring in the city's inner suburb of Collingwood in 1984.

The door contained not only Haring's signature but also one of the late artist's 'crawling baby' motifs.

The much-revered artist was comissioned to paint the mural for, what was in 1984, the Collingwood Technical School - next door to the Tote. It is believed to be Haring's first mural painted outside the US. The door went missing not long after the mural was completed, its whereabouts unknown for nearly three decades.

The former campus has recently become a part of Arts Victoria, and is set to house Circus Oz headquarters. Arts Victoria had undertaken conservation work on the mural, so the return of the signed door is timely.

The Age reported that the door was returned anonymously, wrapped in black plastic with the name of Art Victoria's Project Officer scrawled in purple texta across the wrapping.

This morning, Victorian Premier Ted Ballieau revealed that, “Those who had this vital piece of the mural asked for indemnity for its safe return."

He added that  they outlined "how the missing piece would be a gift to the local community" and had specifically stated that its return was motivated due to Arts Victoria's mural conservation project.

For more information on Haring and his work, check out the Keith Haring Foundation website.