Shan Kelley Tote

"LET'S HOLD EACH OTHER UNTIL IT'S ALL OVER"

These words are intended to serve as a message of hope that the AIDS crisis will one day end, yet they also confront the reality that optimism might seem of little consequence when faced with ongoing, present daily struggle. There is strength in community, in solidarity, in standing together not just to bear and temper a palpable sense of injustice, but to take action and overcome struggle and adversity in the movement against HIV /AIDS. - Shan Kelley

Shan Kelley (b. 1977) describes his practice as sitting somewhere amidst the slippage of intersections between art and activism. He notes "I have a fascination for language, and the manner in which identity is deconstructed, created and curated. After an HIV+ diagnosis in 2009 I became increasingly inspired to find my own voice within the context of disease and adversity, and push forward using art as action against apathy or surrender.”

Visual AIDS has been working with artists for over 27 years to raise AIDS awareness and provoke dialogues about HIV. Our Print+ Projects use a variety of mediums including posters, buttons, stickers, and tote bags as a creative and public way to share information and remind the world that AIDS IS NOT OVER.