These Public Health Illustrations by Jack Davis Are My Current Fascination

Upon arrival at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport this week I noticed a whole slew of 3/4-scale illustrations of people demonstrating proper public health practices. The cardboard cutout-style pieces had a familiar and anachronistic feel— vaguely 70s, full of a whimsy that had been common in public communications but has fallen out of favor.

I was in a hurry to get on the MARTA, but upon my return to Terminal T this morning, I wanted to document as many of the sculptures as I could. It turns out that the artist was Atlanta’s own Jack Davis, and that he was familiar to me because his work was in every issue of MAD magazine that I had ever read.

All hail Jack Davis.

Person with Atlanta Braves cap and sports equipment sneezes into the crook of their arm in an illustrated public health sculpture by Jack Davis

Child in backpack and sneakers holding a “HERO Comics” magazine and sneezing into the crux of his arm.

Child with bow in hair standing on suitcase and lathering up hands with soap in a cleaning motion.

Woman with long dark hair, red blouse, pink sneakers, and suitcase washing hands with lather.

Man with ipod and guitar sneezes into the crook of his arm in an illustrated public health sculpture by Jack Davis

Man with briefcase and wingtips sneezes into crook of arm.