MAC Cosmetics Releases Keith Haring Polygon NFTs with ConsenSys

By Kate Irwin

MAC Cosmetics is partnering with ConsenSys to release NFTs on the Ethereum sidechain Polygon that use art by the late Keith Haring to support HIV/AIDS-impacted youth. The collection consists of 5,275 NFTs of three types at different price points and rarities. 

The Keith Haring red NFTs will cost $25, and up to 5,000 will be minted. The blue NFTs will cost $150, and up to 250 will be minted. The yellow NFTs will be $1,000 each, and up to 25 will be minted. All three are animated illustrations that combine Haring’s art style with MAC lipsticks, using assets licensed by the Keith Haring Foundation.

Keith Haring was an American artist who rose to fame during New York’s graffiti art subculture in the 1980s. When he was diagnosed with HIV in 1987, he began creating art to spread awareness about the disease. He died in 1990.

The NFTs—unique blockchain tokens that signify ownership over an asset like a piece of digital art—will be released on ConsenSys’ new NFT platform, which, unsurprisingly, is being called ConsenSys NFT.

Johnna Powell, global co-head of ConsenSys NFT, told Decrypt in an interview that the NFT launch is “100% give-back,” meaning that the entire purchase price of each NFT goes to the MAC Viva Glam charity. (But MAC will also pay ConsenSys a fee per NFT sold.)

“Our primary motivation with ConsenSys NFT is to bring the next tens of millions of users to MetaMask,” Powell said. On April 10, the MAC and Keith Haring NFTs will be available to purchase using a credit card, and the NFTs will be delivered to the buyer's MetaMask wallet.

All proceeds from the mint or primary sales will go to MAC Viva Glam, a nonprofit fund formed in 1994 that provides assistance to HIV/AIDS organizations. Since its founding, it’s raised over $500 million for 1,800 different non-profits. Proceeds from these NFT sales will go to the Larkin Street Youth Services, Jasmyn, and the Ali Forney Center.

Powell confirmed that 2.5% of all secondary OpenSea sales from the NFT collection will go directly to the Keith Haring Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving the artist’s work, legacy, and providing care for those affected by AIDS.

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