The Herb Ritts Foundation, in partnership with Fahey/Klein Gallery and Gallery ONE, is presenting "Herb Ritts: Allies & Icons," an intimate exhibition of photographs that pays tribute to activists, artists, and cultural figures who helped transform the global fight against AIDS. The exhibition coincides with the highly anticipated inauguration of STORIES: The AIDS Monument in West Hollywood.
Herb Ritts (1952-2002) was one of the most celebrated photographers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. His approach to the medium was always fresh and bold, capturing both the strength and vulnerability of his subjects. With his clean modernist style, striking contrasts, and sculptural forms, Ritts transformed his subjects into enduring icons.
In the spirit of the AIDS Monument itself, the exhibited photographs remember, celebrate, and transmit the stories of those who faced one of history's greatest crises. "Herb Ritts: Allies & Icons" brings together striking black and white portraits of cultural personalities who found themselves at the forefront of AIDS activism, including Elizabeth Taylor, Elton John, Magic Johnson, Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Sharon Stone, Tina Turner, Keith Haring, and many others. Each of these figures used their voice, fame, and influence in the fight against stigmatization and to support research with compassionate momentum in a world gripped by fear.
"Herb photographed the icons of his era. The provocative, the bold, the defining figures of culture, and in doing so, he left us with a visual testimony of an era marked by both beauty and profound loss," said David Fahey, founder of Fahey/Klein Gallery and co-curator of "Herb Ritts: Allies & Icons." "He didn't just seek to show, but to reveal. He knew how to bring out in his subjects a vulnerability that could disarm and a power that could inspire."
The exhibition coincides with the dedication of STORIES: The AIDS Monument, a collaboration between the City of West Hollywood and the Foundation for the AIDS Monument (FAM). Designed by artist Daniel Tobin, the Monument honors the lives lost, survivors, as well as the communities and caregivers who fought tirelessly for dignity, treatments, and memory.
Ritts himself lived with AIDS and consistently supported amfAR, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, Project Angel Food, APLA, and was a founding member of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. He used his celebrity status to change the narrative from silence to compassion, notably publishing works such as "Duo" and "Notorious" to raise substantial funds for research and awareness.
The exhibition is presented in partnership with the Herb Ritts Foundation and coincides with the public dedication ceremony of STORIES: The AIDS Monument on November 16, 2025, at West Hollywood Park, followed by a community celebration at The Abbey. "Herb Ritts: Allies & Icons" will run from November 13 to December 21, 2025, at One Gallery located at 626 N Robertson Blvd. in West Hollywood. The AIDS Monument opening ceremony will take place on Sunday, November 16th at West Hollywood Park, located at 625 N San Vicente Blvd, with free admission and hours from Monday to Sunday, 6 AM to midnight.
