JR Creates Placards Featuring Eric Garner's Eyes Following Police Killing

On January 3, 2015, French artist JR shared an image on Twitter depicting the eyes of Eric Garner reproduced on a series of placards. Garner, an African American man, died after being placed in a chokehold by New York City police officers during an arrest for allegedly selling loose cigarettes. The artwork emerged amid growing national protests against police brutality and racial injustice, specifically following Garner's death on July 17, 2014. JR, known for his large-scale photographic interventions in public spaces, used his platform to visually memorialize Garner and contribute to the Black Lives Matter movement. The placards, held by individuals in the photograph, transform Garner's gaze into a collective public statement. The image was posted to the artist's Twitter account and subsequently featured on the art criticism website artcritical. This artistic response highlighted the power of portraiture in social justice advocacy, using a close-up of Garner's eyes to evoke empathy and demand accountability. The work circulated online as street protests continued across the United States, reinforcing art's role in documenting and challenging systemic violence.