For Freedoms

For Freedoms was founded in 2016 by artists Hank Willis Thomas and Eric Gottesman (along with collaborators Michelle Woo and Wyatt Gallery) as a response to rising political polarization in the United States​. Named after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms,” the collective reimagines what those ideals mean today by placing art at the center of public dialogue. It began as the first artist-run Super PAC, using advertising spaces like billboards to prompt civic conversations rather than campaign slogans. Early on, For Freedoms launched town-hall meetings and gallery exhibitions exploring issues of freedom, justice, and civic identity​.

In 2018, For Freedoms organized the 50 State Initiative, billed as “the largest creative collaboration in US history,” which commissioned political art billboards in all 50 states ahead of the midterm elections. These billboards – bearing messages and imagery by diverse artists – invited communities nationwide to reflect on values like equality, voting, and representation. For Freedoms also engages the public through art installations, community workshops, and media campaigns, always aiming to deepen civic participation. By merging art and activism, the collective creates what co-founder Thomas calls “a decentralized space for connection,” empowering people to discuss and shape their democracy through creativity.