Herb Ritts Foundation
Herb Ritts | Allies & Icons
In Celebration of STORIES: The AIDS Monument in West Hollywood
ONE Archive Gallery | 626 N Robertson Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
November 13 through December 21, 2025
Exhibition Reception at ONE Archive Gallery: Thursday, November 13th
ONE Archive Gallery
Opening reception, Thursday, November 13th at 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
On view through Sunday, December 21, 2025
626 N Robertson Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Hours: Thursday - Sunday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
FREE
STORIES | AIDS Monument
Opening Ceremony, Sunday, November 16th at 4:30 p.m.
West Hollywood Park
625 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Hours: Monday - Sunday, 6 a.m. to midnight.
FREE
https://aidsmonument.org/visit/
In conjunction with the long-awaited unveiling of STORIES: The AIDS Monument in West Hollywood, The Herb Ritts Foundation, in partnership with Fahey/Klein Gallery, and ONE Archive Gallery, is proud to present Herb Ritts: Allies & Icons – an intimate exhibition of Herb Ritts’ photographs that honor the activists, artists, and cultural leaders who transformed the global fight against AIDS.
Herb Ritts (1952–2002) is one of the most celebrated photographers of the late 20th century and early 21st century. His approach to the medium was always fresh and bold, while simultaneously capturing the strength and vulnerability of his subjects. With his clean modernist style, bold contrasts, and sculptural forms, Ritts transformed his subjects into enduring icons. In the spirit of the AIDS Monument itself, the photographs on view remember, celebrate, and educate with portraits of those that confronted one of history’s greatest crises.
This exhibition, Herb Ritts: Allies & Icons, brings together striking black & white portraits of the cultural figures who stood 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 subject used their voice, fame, and influence to fight stigma, support research, and bring compassion to a world gripped by fear.
“Herb photographed the icons of his time. The notorious, the edgy, the culturally significant, and in doing so, gave us a visual record of an era marked by both beauty and profound loss. He sought not just to portray but to reveal, coaxing from his subjects a vulnerability that could disarm and a power that could inspire.”
David Fahey, founder of Fahey/Klein Gallery and co-curator of Herb Ritts: Allies & Icons.
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). The Monument, designed by artist Daniel Tobin, honors the lives lost, the survivors, and the communities and caregivers who fought tirelessly for dignity, treatment, and remembrance.
Ritts himself lived with AIDS and was a steadfast supporter of amfAR, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, Project Angel Food, APLA, and was a charter member for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. He used his platform to shift the narrative from silence to compassion, contributing books such as Duo and Notorious to raise significant funds for AIDS research and awareness.
The exhibition is presented in partnership with the Herb Ritts Foundation and coincides with the public dedication of STORIES: The AIDS Monument on November 16, 2025, at West Hollywood Park, followed by a community celebration at The Abbey.
For more information about STORIES | The Foundation for the AIDS Monument, please visit:
Press Photographs & Press Materials are available on request.