Painted image of green circles with blue, purple, and yellow stripes and dots on a peach background with red stripes and yellow squiggles. 

This hand painted button was created by an unknown artist and found in a closet in Wicker Park, Chicago. 

Illustration of blue, orange, pink, and green stick figures with black motion lines around them. Two of the figures' heads are drawn as male gender symbols linked together, while the other two figures heads' are drawn as female gender symbols linked together. Yellow background with a white border. 

"Untitled" is an illustration from one of the best-known artists from the 20th century, Keith Haring. Keith Allen Haring (May 4, 1958 – February 16, 1990) was an artist and social activist from Pennsylvania whose work was influenced by the New York City street culture and graffiti art of the 1980s. A 1997 Vanity Fair article states that "some of his most characteristic imagery involved figures twirling around and playing together, happy but never aimless." Since Haring's early death from AIDS-related illness in 1990, images he created that speak about racism, drug addiction, AIDS awareness and tolerance have become iconic. "Untitled" was created to promote NYC Heritage of Pride. It is an organization that advocates for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender equality and awareness. The dancing figures with male and female symbols has been used as the logo for Heritage of Pride.

Illustration of a group of intertwined black outlined figures on a white background. Red text wraps all the way around the illustration. 

"Party of Life" is an illustration from one of the best-known artists from the 20th century, Keith Haring. Keith Allen Haring (May 4, 1958 – February 16, 1990) was an artist and social activist from Pennsylvania whose work was influenced by the New York City street culture and graffiti art of the 1980s. A 1997 Vanity Fair article states that "some of his most characteristic imagery involved figures twirling around and playing together, happy but never aimless." Since Haring's early death from AIDS-related illness in 1990, images he created that speak about racism, drug addiction, AIDS awareness and tolerance have become iconic.

This button was used as a ticket to attend Haring's "Party of Life" event in 1985, which was an exhibit of Haring's art. The image represents Haring's feeling upon arriving in New York City. Growing up as a gay man in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, Haring felt the need to find a place where he has the freedom to express his creativity and artistry. New York gave him such liberation. When asked about the movement in his figures, Haring indicated in an interview that he felt the city was dancing and he needed the join "the dance."

Black and white illustration of a man with large feet leaning back with his foot thrust forward. Black text on an orange background. 

The restaurant G.I. Joe's, appropriates the famous "Keep on Truckin'" image from a comic by American artist and cartoonist Robert Crumb. The "Keep on Truckin" cartoon was published in the first issue of Zap Comics in 1968. It was based on lyrics from the Blind Boy Fuller song "Truckin' My Blues Away" and became associated with the hippie movement in the 1960s. The copyright of the image has been widely violated and the image is often reproduced without permission.

Abstract design of a white and black geometric shape on a green background. 

This illustration is part of a series of buttons that were distributed at the Park Place Gallery in New York, the first art gallery in SoHo. According to an Art in America article, they were given out during the opening show in 1966 at a party for the Rolling Stones at the Scene discotheque. The designs were created by different artists including Dean Fleming, Tony Magar, Tamara Melcher, Patsy Krebs, and Steve Vasey. According to Fleming, the colorful geometric designs encourage the viewer to interpret the art in their own way.

Cartoon illustration of a face with narrowed eyebrows and a red tongue sticking out on a green background. 

This cartoon face illustration of a tongue out is part of a series of buttons by an unknown artist. The faces are intended to elicit lighthearted humor and depict exaggerated features or expressions to elicit laughs. This series was created at Colonial Sales, a greeting card and stationary shop in Massachusetts.

Painted image of overlapping light green, dark green, pink, and purple brush strokes. 

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Abstract design of a yellow diamond shape, two black shapes and two red shapes. 

This illustration is part of a series of buttons that were distributed at the Park Place Gallery in New York, the first art gallery in SoHo. According to an Art in America article, they were given out during the opening show in 1966 at a party for the Rolling Stones at the Scene discotheque. The buttons were designed by different artists including Dean Fleming, Tony Magar, Tamara Melcher, Patsy Krebs, and Steve Vasey. According to Fleming, the colorful geometric designs encourage the viewer to interpret the art in their own way. 

Black and white illustration of two figures slouching on chairs with their feet up on a table. Artist's signature is underneath the table with black text centered below the image.

This illustration was created by cartoonist Herb Gardner. Herb Gardner (December 28, 1934 – September 25, 2003) was born in New York and studied at Antioch college. While at Antioch, he developed the comic strip "The Nebbishes" which became very famous in the 1950s. The Nebbishes characters (depicted here) were marketed on everything from coffee mugs to ashtrays. Besides being a cartoonist, Herb Gardner was also a musician, novelist, and playwright.

Color illustration of an old man with glasses with two children behind him and a white rabbit in front of him. Black and red text on a yellow background with a blue border. 

Foxy Grandpa was a popular comic strip by cartoonist Carl E. Schultze (May 25, 1866 – January 18, 1939). Schultze drew his comics under the pseudonym Bunny, his childhood nickname, usually accompanied by a drawing of a rabbit. Foxy Grandpa was one of the earliest popular newspaper comic strips, which later became a stage play.