Peter Hujar demonstrated the same fearlessness in his photography as he did in life. He documented his bohemian lifestyle in New York City in black and white portraits that captured his outsider circle of friends and lovers. Like Robert Mapplethorpe, Nan Goldin and others, Hujar’s work emerged as a particularly crucial vehicle for increasing lesbian and gay visibility. His photography was integral to the fight for LGBTQ rights during the 1960s but he didn't earn wider societal recognition until after his passing.
Hujar was born in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1934. Due to a difficult home life, he was navigating the streets of New York City on his own by the time he was 16 years old. Pursuing photography from a young age, Hujar attended the New York High School of Art and Design in 1953. At the same time, he apprenticed in commercial photography studios. By 1964, he was working as a chief assistant for photographer Harold Krieger.
At his own considerable financial expense, Hujar left the world of commercial photography in 1967 and decided to use his talents to support the burgeoning LGBTQ rights movement. He was present at the Stonewall riots in 1969, and his iconic photo Come out! was featured in a 1970 poster for the Gay Liberation Front. Hujar also took intimate photos of counterculture figures in Manhattan throughout the 1970s, from partying drag queens to queer intellectuals. Some of his most famous images were of his friend and lover David Wojnarowicz.
In the early 1980s, Hujar stepped into a mentor role to up-and-coming artists like Gary Schneider, Nan Goldin and Kiki Smith. While he felt that his own work was underappreciated, he was happy to champion the work of the next generation.
Hujar passed away from AIDS-related pneumonia in 1987 in New York City. His work was posthumously celebrated, and his first retrospective was held in 1994 at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.
Hujar's photographs have since been exhibited all over the United States and Europe. In 2020, Pace Gallery held an online exhibit called “Peter Hujar: Cruising Utopia,” which featured a selection of both his famous and lesser-known works.
Find original Peter Hujar photography on 1stDibs.
Wreck with Shattered Window
By Peter Hujar
Located in New York, NY
This early print of this image was made in 1980. It is titled, signed and stamped on verso, by the Executor of the Hujar Estate.
Silver Gelatin
Aerial View of the Rockefeller Center, 1939
By Margaret Bourke-White
Located in London, GB
Stamped with photographer's credit ink stamp, Time Inc. copyright ink stamp and numberic stamp on reverse Silver gelatin print, printed c. 1939 10 3/8 x 13 1/2 Margaret Bourke...
Silver Gelatin
David Bailey, 1965 (Terry O'Neill - Black and White Photography)
By Terry O'Neill
Located in London, GB
David Bailey, 1965 (Terry O'Neill - Black and White Photography) Silver Gelatin Print 16x20: £2,100 20x24: £2,700 30x40: £4,800 48x72: £12,000 Edition of 50 and 10 APs per size. D...
Silver Gelatin
Aerial View of Single Family Houses, Muncie, In
By Margaret Bourke-White
Located in London, GB
Stamped with photographer's credit, used in 'Life' May 10 1937 stamp, Time Inc. file stamp and Time Inc. copyright ink stamp on reverse Silver gelatin print, printed c. 1937 8 3/4 x 12 3/4 Margaret...
Silver Gelatin
Paul Newman, 1972 (Terry O'Neill - Black and White Photography)
By Terry O'Neill
Located in London, GB
Paul Newman, 1972 (Terry O'Neill - Black and White Photography) Silver Gelatin Print 16x20: £2,100 20x24: £2,700 30x40: £4,800 48x72: £12,000 Edition of 50 and 10 APs per size. Di...
Silver Gelatin
Raquel Welch, 1971 (Terry O'Neill - Black and White Photography)
By Terry O'Neill
Located in London, GB
Raquel Welch, 1971 (Terry O'Neill - Black and White Photography) Silver Gelatin Print 16x20: £2,100 20x24: £2,700 30x40: £4,800 48x72: £12,000 Edition of 50 and 10 APs per size. Digitally printed signature and edition number on bottom front border. Estate-stamped on reverse. American actress Raquel Welch on the Spanish set of the western ‘Hannie Caulder’, directed by Burt Kennedy, 1971. She is wearing a number 9 Chelsea Football...
Silver Gelatin
$2,887
H 20 in W 16 in
Bruce Springsteen, 1975 (Terry O'Neill - Black and White Photography)
By Terry O'Neill
Located in London, GB
Bruce Springsteen, 1975 (Terry O'Neill - Black and White Photography) Silver Gelatin Print 16x20: £2,100 20x24: £2,700 30x40: £4,800 48x72: £12,000 Edition of 50 and 10 APs per si...
Silver Gelatin
$2,887
H 16 in W 20 in
Dietrich Curtain Call, 1975 (Terry O'Neill - Black and White Photography)
By Terry O'Neill
Located in London, GB
Dietrich Curtain Call, 1975 (Terry O'Neill - Black and White Photography)Silver Gelatin Print 16x20: £2,100 20x24: £2,700 30x40: £4,800 48x72: £12,000 Edition of 50 and 10 APs per...
Silver Gelatin
$6,500
H 25.99 in W 29.93 in D 0.4 in
The Lady and The Lion, Photography, Story teller, Hollywood
By Tyler Shields
Located in München, BY
Edition of 3 More sizes on request. A woman in a beautiful dress is sitting on a chair, beside her stands a lion male. Tyler Shields is an American Photographer, screenwriter, dire...
Silver Gelatin
Frank Sinatra, 1968 (Terry O'Neill - Black and White Photography)
By Terry O'Neill
Located in London, GB
Frank Sinatra, 1968 (Terry O'Neill - Black and White Photography) Silver Gelatin Print 16x20: £2,100 20x24: £2,700 30x40: £4,800 48x72: £12,000 Edition of 50 and 10 APs per size. ...
Silver Gelatin
Chuck Berry, 1986 (Terry O'Neill - Black and White Photography)
By Terry O'Neill
Located in London, GB
Chuck Berry, 1986 (Terry O'Neill - Black and White Photography) Silver Gelatin Print 16x20: £2,250 20x24: £3,000 30x40: £5,000 48x72: £12,000 Edition of 50 and 10 APs per size. Di...
Silver Gelatin
The Rolling Stones, TV Rehearsal, 1964 (Terry O'Neill)
By Terry O'Neill
Located in London, GB
The Rolling Stones, TV Rehearsal, 1964 (Terry O'Neill) Silver Gelatin Print 16x20: £2,100 20x24: £2,700 30x40: £4,800 48x72: £12,000 Edition of 50 and 10 APs per size. Digitally p...
Silver Gelatin
$2,887
H 16 in W 20 in
Sean Connery as Bond, 1971 (Terry O'Neill - Black and White Photography)
By Terry O'Neill
Located in London, GB
Sean Connery as Bond, 1971 (Terry O'Neill - Black and White Photography) Silver Gelatin Print 16x20: £2,100 20x24: £2,700 30x40: £4,800 48x72: £...
Silver Gelatin
New York: Sixth Avenue
By Peter Hujar
Located in New York, NY
This black and white photograph by Peter Hujar depicts a series of large skyscrapers in midtown Manhattan. New York: Sixth Avenue 1976 Signed in ink, verso Gelatin silver print 2...
Silver Gelatin
Clown’s Trunk (Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus)
By Peter Hujar
Located in New York, NY
Clown’s Trunk (Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus) 1973 Signed, verso Vintage gelatin silver print 18.75 x 16 inches, sheet 15.25 x 15.37...
Silver Gelatin
Hallway–Canal Street Pier
By Peter Hujar
Located in New York, NY
Hallway–Canal Street Pier 1983 Estate stamped in black ink, verso; also signed, titled, dated by estate in graphite, verso Vintage gelatin silver print ...
Silver Gelatin
Reggie's Dog: Bouche Walker
By Peter Hujar
Located in New York, NY
Peter Hujar Reggie's Dog: Bouche Walker, 1981 Gelatin silver print 14 3/4 x 14 3/4 inches (image) 19 3/4 x 16 inches (sheet) 22 3/4 x 22 3/4 inches (frame) Stamped by the artist's es...
Silver Gelatin
Portrait of Poet Anne Waldman
By Peter Hujar
Located in New York, NY
Vintage gelatin silver print Signed in black ink, l.r. 20 x 16 inches, sheet 15 x 15 inches, image This photograph is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City.
Silver Gelatin
David Wojnarowicz’s Wall Drawing at Pier 34
By Peter Hujar
Located in New York, NY
Vintage gelatin silver print Signed, verso Artist's studio stamp, verso This photograph is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. This is an image of the “Pier 34” show. Guerrilla art shows that took place in unused City of NY buildings such as the “Real Estate Show,” or the “Times Square Show” that was held in an abandoned massage parlor, are examples of art collectives creating alternatives to the staid, exclusionary spaces of museums and galleries. They took the concept a step further with shows that were intentionally disposable, often leaving the artwork behind to be destroyed with the condemned buildings. The “Pier 34” show, organized by David Wojnarowicz and Mike Bidlo...
Silver Gelatin