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.
Peter Hujar, "Diane B. in Jean-Charles de Castelbajac Monkey Dress", 1987
By Peter Hujar
Located in Catonvielle, FR
Peter Hujar (1934-1987), original bromoil silver print titled "Diane B. in Jean-Charles de Castelbajac Monkey Dress", dated 1984, printed in 1987. Signed and...
Paper
$4,250
H 10 in W 8 in D 0.2 in
Bruce Weber Original Signed Photographs of Michael Stipe Los Angeles, 1987 Rare
By Bruce Weber
Located in West Hartford, CT
Rare set of original Bruce Weber photographs - not prints. These have provenance on back as detailed in photo suite below. The photos were taken by Mr. Weber in Los Angeles in 1987 a...
Paper
Paloma Picasso In a Karl Lagerfeld Dress, Signed by Helmut Newton
By Helmut Newton
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
Silver Gelatin Print Signed & Numbered in blue pencil verso Along with copy right stamps and the negative number written in regular pencil Sheet size: 15.8 x 12 Image size: 14.25 x...
Paper
1960, Photography Jean Ribière
By Jean Ribière
Located in Perpignan, FR
Staircase of the futuristic Royan Cathedral, circa 1960 100 x 100 cm / limited and numbered edition n°1/12 Digigraphy print on textured cotton fineart paper 320 gr. Certification: Signed and numbered by hand. Frame: Black wood Colour: Black and white Jean Ribière...
Paper
$471Sale Price|20% Off
H 35.04 in W 25.2 in D 0.2 in
GIANNI VERSACE Poster created by Mimmo Rotella for Mostra Dialogue du Mode, 1987
By Mimmo Rotella, Gianni Versace
Located in Milano, IT
Rara Locandina by Gianni Versace created by Mimmo Rotella for the exhibition held at the Palais Galliera, Musèe de la Mode et du Costume, in Paris. 198...
Paper
Vintage Photograph of Robert Mapplethorpe, 1987, NYC
By Jeannette Montgomery Barron
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Original vintage photograph taken by Jeannette Montgomery Barron of American photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in NYC, 1987. Vintage gelatin silver print. Framed. Image: 13 × 13 in...
Other
Public Appearances 1987-1991, Snowdon (Book)
Located in North Yorkshire, GB
This is a wonderful collection of photographs taken by Lord Snowdon, who was one of the great portrait photographers of the 20th century. International fi...
Paper
Self-Portrait 1987 by Paul Blanca, Modern Photography on Paper
By Paul Blanca
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Paul Blanca, 1958- 2021 Dutch Photographer is probably best known for his Self-Portrait Work form the 80's. Often compared to Robert Maplethorpe. Maplet...
Paper
Vintage Photograph of David McDermott & Peter McGough, 1989, NYC
By Jeannette Montgomery Barron
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Original vintage photograph taken by Jeannette Montgomery Barron of artists David McDermott and Peter McGough in NYC, 1989. Vintage silver gelatin print. Framed. Image: 13 × 13 in...
Other
1970 Photography Jean Ribière
By Jean Ribière
Located in Perpignan, FR
Façade of the "honeycomb" building in Chamonix, circa 1970. 100 x 100 cm / limited and numbered edition n°1/12 Digigraphy print on textured cotton fineart paper 320 gr. Certification: Signed and numbered by hand. Frame: Black wood Color: Black and white Jean Ribière...
Paper
$325
H 25 in W 25 in D 1 in
Photographic Portrait Young Hasidic Boy w/ Mask in the style of Diane Arbus
By Diane Arbus
Located in Rochester, NY
A beautiful black and white photographic portrait of young hasidic boy wearing black fedora w/ ominous looking mask hanging from his neck. In the style of Diane Arbus. Photo was pro...
Plexiglass, Wood, Paper
Charles Lindbergh - Vintage photograph signed
By Charles Lindbergh
Located in New York, NY
Photograph Signed
ORIGINAL VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPH SIGNED BY CHARLES LINDBERGH.
Photograph of a young Lindbergh sitting at h...
"Midsummer Snowstorm" Digital Photo by Peter Liversidge
Located in London, London
"Midsummer Snowstorm" 2009 By Peter Liversidge Digital photographic print. Edition 4 of 7. Image size 25 x 33.5 cm. Labelled.
Paper