Objet d’Art: Don’t Fuck With Us

Every month, Interview picks an artist- or designer-created object that straddles the line between aesthetics and function. Subdued tastes need not apply.

In the wake of Women’s History Month, Marilyn Minter is continuing her campaign to rally support for Planned Parenthood. The New York-based artist was honored yesterday at the nonprofit’s annual spring luncheon, following her initiative last month to design and produce a button touting the PP logo and a clear message: “Don’t Fuck with Us, Don’t Fuck Without Us. “I found a photo of the button on social media and decided to have some of my own printed because I couldn’t find a place to buy them—I looked everywhere online, and confirmed that they weren’t official PP merch,” she explains. “The first batch I had printed flew out of my studio because everyone who saw one wanted one, so I kept making more.”

Minter found a way for the buttons to directly benefit PP when a gallerist with the esteemed Lower East Side project space Shoot the Lobster commented on the one Minter was wearing. “I offered mine to her because I had loads more back at my studio. She was so exited…we devised a plan to sell through Shoot the Lobster and give all the proceeds to Planned Parenthood.”

At the luncheon, Minter also announced she would be selling a limited edition portrait of Miley Cyrus, taken at Minter’s studio. Next month, with Marc Jacobs, she will debut tee shirts featuring other images she took of Cyrus, all to raise money for the organization.

In the meantime, the button remains the most succinct, easy, and economical way to show one’s support. “Everyone on the subway says, ‘I want one,'” says Minter. “I just continue to hand them out!”

MARILYN MINTER’S PLANNED PARENTHOOD BUTTON IS AVAILABLE THROUGH SHOOT THE LOBSTER’S ONLINE STORE. MINTER’S PORTRAIT OF MILEY CYRUS, TITLED MILEY, IS AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH ARTSY.

Objet d’Art runs every month. For more, click here.