In 1986, pop culture artist Keith Haring opened a retail space in New York City's SoHo district, from which he sold inexpensive clothing and gift items featuring his simple designs. At the time, critics viewed Haring's Pop Shop as commercial, but the artist remained committed to making his works affordable and readily available, and received strong support from friends, fans and mentors, including Andy Warhol. Haring died from complications of AIDS in 1990 at the age of 31, but the shop continued to attract customers for another 15 years before closing permanently last August. Tampa Museum of Art celebrates Haring and his creative achievements with the debut of Keith Haring: Art & Commerce, A Tribute to the Pop Shop, an exhibit showcasing more than 100 works on paper, Pop Shop artifacts and other Haring ephemera. In conjunction, TMA also hosts Lights On Tampa, another of those all-the-rage outdoor art projections, this one presented by Jeff Whipple and featuring 25 video vignettes exploring Tampa life in Whipple's narrative style. Fri., March 17, 7 p.m.-midnight; Pop Shop continues through June 11, 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa, 813-274-8130, www.tampamuseum.com.
