Through Positive Eyes features photography, stories, sculpture, and video created by people living with HIV/AIDS in 11 cities across the world. In each city, a photography and storytelling workshop is conducted, putting cameras in the hands of people most deeply affected by HIV. Combined, these works show a broad picture of the epidemic, organized around themes such as the Burden of Stigma, Stories My Body Tells Me, Alive and Well, and What Makes Me Laugh.  The images and stories range from everyday life to joy, grief, solitude, and resilience.

Through Positive Eyes is organized by the UCLA Art & Global Health Center and is co-curated by David Gere, Director, UCLA Art & Global Health Center, Professor of World Arts and Cultures at UCLA, and founder of MAKE ART/STOP AIDS; Carol Brown, independent curator; and Stan Pressner, exhibit designer. Project co-directors are David Gere and London-based South African photographer Gideon Mendel. Major funding is provided by the Herb Ritts Foundation.

This special exhibition highlights the work of six Seattle area artists with over 20 artistic interpretations of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s work with partners over the last 20 years. These artworks are organized into four themes that are key to the foundation’s work.

• Ensuring more children and young people survive and thrive


• Empowering the poorest, especially women and girls


• Combating infectious diseases that particularly affect the poorest


• Inspiring people to take action to change the world

Artists began creating their artworks for this exhibition in January 2020 just as COVID-19 was spreading throughout the world. This had a strong influence on their work.