We Will Kiss Again – Pedro Reyes creates billboards for NYC's Essential Workers

25 May 2020

Pedro Reyes is among thirty-five artists and designers who have made works to display across digital screens throughout New York City, Boston, and Chicago in recognition of the continued service of essential workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Organized by Times Square Arts, For Freedoms and Poster House the public art campaign aims to “encourage a sense of community and pride among New Yorkers, and give artists the opportunity to express their gratitude and optimism through the power of art.”

The contemporary artists were invited to contribute to the project, “Messages for the City,” after a group of graphic designers, including Ola Baldych, Milton Glaser, Mirko Ilić, Emily Oberman, Paul Sahre, Paula Scher, and Zipeng Zhu, created and installed works honoring doctors, grocers, delivery people, and other essential workers across New York City’s five boroughs in April. Other artists include Carrie Mae Weems, Christine Sun Kim, Duke Riley, Jenny Holzer, and Xaviera Simmons.

“Art asks us to pause, to take a moment to consider what is in front of us,” For Freedoms said in a statement. “We hope that this project will further encourage us to pause, consider and appreciate those whose jobs are essential, who return to their nightly hospital shifts or daily customer service responsibilities, to guarantee that we are taken care of through this pandemic and beyond.”

As an extension of this campaign and in solidarity with New York’s nearly 2 million immigrant workers, Times Square Arts, For Freedoms, and Poster House also launched a new limited edition, and sold out, benefit print by Pedro Reyes, produced by Brooklyn Editions. Net proceeds from the sales of Reyes’ print will be donated to The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), the advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York. In response to this crisis, NYIC has launched the #NYunitedFund to help ensure the health and safety of New York’s immigrants on the frontlines.

Image: Pedro Reyes, We Will Kiss Again, 2020, Times Square, New York