Created in collaboration with ACT UP, this poster by Keith Haring uses his emblematic cartoon figures and declarative text to recall the already famous Silence=Death poster, updating it with new motifs while still including the pink triangle and the key phrase. Recalling comic-book imagery, the three yellow figures—miming the expression “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”—represent denial and censorship. Haring’s visual style—bold outlines, a limited range of colors, and kinetic forms—is instantly accessible. Paired with slogans in all caps, the composition merges street art with activist urgency, translating complex issues of government inaction, media silence, and public fear into a graphic demand for attention and accountability. The image appeared widely at ACT UP protests, on placards, and in community spaces. Despite being just months from his death in early 1990, Haring remained directly involved in AIDS activism, continuing to produce and donate artwork like this poster for campaigns, fundraisers, and protests. In 1989, Haring established the Keith Haring Foundation to manage his estate and ensure his work continued to serve charitable causes, especially HIV/AIDS education and support. He assigned full rights to his name and artwork to the foundation, which oversees all licensing and directs proceeds to nonprofits aligned with his priorities. The foundation’s structure and mission reflect Haring’s explicit intent that his body of work should remain an instrument of activism not commercial exploitation.
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