On November 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM, we am excited to invite you to join us at Fort Lauderdale’s Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library (SNMAL) for the launch of a powerful new art-inspired historical exhibition: “Death by AIDS – Eternity Through Art.” This exhibition reflects on the brilliant creative minds lost during the peak of the AIDS epidemic and showcases the extraordinary works they created before their lives were tragically cut short.

When looking back at that era, it is clear how deeply the epidemic shaped our history. As Robert Kesten, Stonewall National Museum’s President and CEO, noted when discussing the upcoming exhibition:

“During the AIDS crisis our community found its footing and political voice. The medical world was pushed to find answers to unsolvable problems, and we would be confronted with the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives of mostly young men who would never reach their potential. Today there are medications and treatments giving millions around the world a chance to live full lives, only to be threatened by callous and cruel governments who would deny individuals access to healthcare and medications that allow them to be productive and engaged members of society. And today, many more of those people are women as this contagion reaches around the world.”

While the exhibit highlights the broader impact and works from many talented individuals our community lost, it also places a special, intimate focus on the work of a single artist. He was an immigrant and a passionate young painter starting out his life in Miami. He possessed immense talent and promise, but HIV and AIDS took his life far too early. Through this exhibition, we turn back the clock to give him—and the entire generation of artists he represents—the visibility they so richly deserve. Their art endures, speaking directly to all of us today.

The “Death by AIDS – Eternity Through Art” exhibition is generously sponsored by CAN Community Health, an organization dedicated to providing specialized medical care, testing, and STI prevention services across the nation. If you would like to attend the opening reception on November 20, you can register through the event registration page.