Martin Wong, Chinese New Years Parade Chinese New Years Parade, c. 1992 (courtesy of Visual AIDS)
To preserve a generation of artists whose legacies were cut short by AIDS, virtual art center POBA and AIDS relief groups have digitized paintings, fashion design, sketches, and other works for historical and cultural reference. Footage and recordings from disco icon Sylvester, couture by Heart Strings Dress designer Patrick Kelly, paintings by influential NYC artist Martin Wong, designer of the Just Say No to Drugs logo Ken Kendrick are among the trove of creative treasure on POBA's Art Lives online gallery.
Advertisement
"More than 30 years after HIV was first identified, it continues to affect all of us, every day,” said POBA developer Jennifer Cohen. “Besides the heartbreaking loss of life, there is the loss of the creative energy, vision, and talent of a whole generation lost to AIDS. While we can never know all of the great work these artists had ahead of them, we can and should celebrate the great work and stories they left behind.”The organizations contributing to the collection include DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS), LifeBEAT: Music Fights AIDS, and Visual AIDS.
Patrick Kelly, Heart Strings Dress 1988 (Courtesy of Philadelphia Museum of Art); Patrick Kelly, Black Dress with Bow Embellishments, 1988 (Courtesy of Philadelphia Museum of Art)
DIFFA Executive Director Johanna Osburn says, “So many of the design creatives who we lost to AIDS in the 80s and 90s shaped our lives today in ways we might not recognize. Art Lives gives DIFFA a chance to honor the enduring talent of visionaries of fashion, of spaces, and of important cultural images that might otherwise be left to the footnotes of design history.”Through technologocical advancements, these organizations can preserve the creativity of these lost artists for posterity sake. The gallery launched on December 1, 2015, World AIDS Day. Find a sample of work from the first seven immortalized in POBA's Art Lives collection.
Jim Terrell, Marshall Field's Chicago Design Rendering, Year Unknown (Courtesy of Debra Robusto)
Mel Cheren, Untitled 11, Year Unknown (courtesy of Colonial House Inn)
Ken Kendrick, Just Say No Just Say No, Year Unknown
POBA is funded by the James Kirk Bernard Foundation. See more images and learn more about the artists on POBA's website, and nominate your own greats here.
ONE EMAIL. ONE STORY. EVERY WEEK. SIGN UP FOR THE VICE NEWSLETTER.
By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content.
