Barbara Kruger Asks, “WHO IS HOUSED WHEN MONEY TALKS?” in New L.A. Mural

In six words, famed artist distills essence of nationwide housing crisis

Internationally renowned feminist artist tackles issues of homelessness and affordable housing in her latest work; Mural appears on headquarters of AHF’s Housing Is A Human Right advocacy group and its Healthy Housing Foundation in prime—and gentrifying—Sunset Boulevard location in Hollywood, CA

Internationally renowned conceptual artist Barbara Kruger distilled the essence of the housing crisis in the U.S. in a new word text mural: "WHO IS HOUSED WHEN MONEY TALKS?" created pro bono for the advocacy group Housing is a Human Right. The mural is on Sunset Blvd. in a rapidly gentrifying section of Hollywood, California.

LOS ANGELES--()--Housing Is A Human Right (HHR), the housing advocacy division of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and leading sponsor of the Rental Affordability Act campaign, is honored to become home to the latest mural by legendary artist Barbara Kruger.

Kruger is perhaps best known to Angelenos for her iconic red and white word text mural Untitled (Questions) on the MOCA Geffen Contemporary building in Little Tokyo in Downtown Los Angeles, or through her provocative work housed within LACMA’s elevator shaft – Untitled (Shafted).

Her newest mural was installed on the Sunset-facing side of the Housing Is A Human Right Offices (and Rental Affordability Act campaign headquarters) early this year. The 28-foot by 50-foot mural features Kruger’s trademark style of provocative text – in this case posing the question, “WHO IS HOUSED WHEN MONEY TALKS?”

Kruger is no stranger to using her artwork as a vehicle to speak truth to power on issues of justice – from reproductive choice to the prison industrial complex, Kruger has never shied away from the controversy that comes with questioning the status quo. Now, in the midst of the homeless crisis, Kruger turns her unflinching eye to the roles money and power play in determining who is housed and who is not.

“We are honored to become home to a piece of Los Angeles art history and grateful to Barbara Kruger for using her work to amplify the important issue of the affordable housing crisis,” said René Christian Moya, Director of Housing Is a Human Right. "We need to do more to protect vulnerable communities and to build the housing we need. This will continue to be difficult for us to do as long as money talks."

Kruger donated this work Housing Is A Human Right completely free of charge.

The Rental Affordability Act is sponsored by Homeowners and Tenants United with funding from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

Learn more at https://www.rentcontrolnow.org/

Contacts

Ged Kenslea
Senior Director of Communications, AIDS Healthcare Foundation
gedk@aidshealth.org
323.791.5526

Jacqueline Burbank
Grassroots Director, Rental Affordability Act Campaign
jacqueline.burbank@aidshealth.org
323.208.1505

Release Summary

Barbara Kruger Asks, “WHO IS HOUSED WHEN MONEY TALKS?” in New L.A. Mural: In six words, famed artist distills essence of nationwide housing crisis

Contacts

Ged Kenslea
Senior Director of Communications, AIDS Healthcare Foundation
gedk@aidshealth.org
323.791.5526

Jacqueline Burbank
Grassroots Director, Rental Affordability Act Campaign
jacqueline.burbank@aidshealth.org
323.208.1505