Crack Is Wack

Crack Is Wack is a wall painting by Keith Haring on a disused handball court in East Harlem, Manhattan, United States. The piece shows human and monster-like figures in thick black lines against an orange background, grouped around the central lettering.

Haring painted the piece without permission in 1986 and was arrested, but the city later decided to preserve the work permanently. A full restoration took place in 2019 to protect the original for future generations.

The title refers to the drug crisis of that time and the direct warning Haring wanted to communicate through simple shapes and clear words. Today the wall is a spot where people stop to photograph the piece and think about its message.

The wall painting stands at the corner of Second Avenue and East 128th Street and is easy to see from the street. Drivers on Harlem River Drive can see it while passing by.

During the restoration experts placed stencils over the original to trace every brushstroke exactly and preserve the artist's hand. The result feels not like a copy but like the real work from the eighties.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1986

Creator: Keith Haring

Address: E. 127 St., 2 Ave., and, Harlem River Dr, New York, NY 10035, USA

Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 07:00-18:00

Phone: +12126399675

Website: http://nycgovparks.org/parks/crack-is-wack-playground

GPS coordinates: 40.80472,-73.93194

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:22