Blood Mirror

In 2014, artist Jordan Eagles enlisted a group of 9 extraordinary gay, polysexual, and/or transgender men, each with a unique life story, to donate their blood to the sculpture Blood Mirror in protest of the FDA’s ban. The blood in this sculpture has been encased in resin and is fully preserved, ensuring that the organic material will not change over time.

In 2016, 50 PrEP advocates gathered in protest to donate their blood to Blood Mirror. Each individual donated a tube of blood – 50 tubes equals a full pint, the amount in a standard blood donation — which was collected into the “community pint”. This blood was preserved inside Blood Mirror. The FDA’s current 1-year deferral policy continues to stigmatize gay and bisexual men without accounting for PrEP, condoms, and other safe-sex practices that can greatly reduce the risk of HIV infection.

Viewers can enter Blood Mirror and see themselves reflected through the blood of these 59 preserved donations. A totem of science and equality, Blood Mirror is an archive of the donors’ blood that confronts the 33-year history of the FDA’s ban and current discriminatory policy.

Filmmaker and activist Leo Herrera documented these blood donations, the voices of these men, and the creation of Blood Mirror in 2 short films.

Blood Mirror Sculpture

Blood Mirror, 2015-present
84 x 28 x 28" 59 human blood donations from LGBTQ advocates, preserved in UV resin. Installation view, American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, Washington, DC (2015)
Sculpture Katzen Art Center
Blood Mirror, 2015-present
84 x 28 x 28" 59 human blood donations from LGBTQ advocates, preserved in UV resin. Installation view, Trinity Church Wall Street, New York, NY
Photo by The Dusty Rebel
Blood Mirror, 2015-present
84 x 28 x 28" 59 human blood donations from LGBTQ advocates, preserved in UV resin. Installation view, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham, AL (2017)
PHOTO BY SHEILA PREE BRIGHT

Blood Mirror community pint


artist & filmmaker

JORDAN EAGLES

Jordan Eagles is a New York-based artist who has garnered public and critical attention for his dynamic and meticulous processes of working with blood. Through his experimental, inventive process, he encases the blood in plexiglass and UV resin, which permanently retains the organic material’s natural colors, patterns, and textures. The materials and luminosity in his body of work relate to themes of mortality, spirituality, science, and equality. Learn More

LEO HERRERA

Leo Herrera is a Mexican-born, New York-based filmmaker, visual artist, and LGBT advocate. His viral clips, art films, and music videos have gathered over half a million views, and his advocacy work has focused on PrEP, HIV criminalization and stigma, and the preservation of gay history. Learn More

Blood Mirror—9 LGBT Advocates Protest FDA Ban on Gay Blood Donors

Blood Mirror The First 9 Men

Oliver Anene
LGBT activist from Nigeria with political asylum in New York City
Blue Bayer
Jewelry designer, polysexual, biological father of two
Howard Grossman, M.D., HIV specialist
Former director of the American Academy of HIV Medicine, one of the first physicians to see cases of AIDS in the U.S. and Medical Advisor for Blood Mirror
Kelsey Louie, CEO, GMHC
Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC)–the world’s first and leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and advocacy
Reverend John Moody
89-year old, openly gay priest, Trinity Church Wall Street
Loren Rice
Artist, activist, transgender man, married to Ethan Rice, also a transgender man, for 7 years
Ty Spicha
Gay man whose identical twin brother is straight, and thus eligible to donate blood
Lawrence D. Mass, M.D.,
Co-founder of GMHC, wrote the first press reports on AIDS in early 80s.
CPT Anthony Woods
Served two terms in Iraq, discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (reinstated to service in 2014), Obama White House Fellow, 2009 Congressional candidate.