An Unprecedented Look at Renowned Photographer Peter Hujar’s New York in “Hujar:Contact”
The Morgan Library & Museum presents an exhibition devoted to the archival practice and artistic development of Peter Hujar (1934–1987), a pivotal figure in East Village photography. Drawing from the institution’s collection of over 5,700 contact sheets, the show displays more than 110 sheets alongside 20 enlargements, spanning Hujar’s entire career from his apprenticeship in the mid-1950s through his independent practice until his death. The exhibition emphasizes Hujar’s meticulous documentation method—begun at age 21 through numbered filing—which reveals his aesthetic decisions, cropping intentions, and editorial marks. His mature work (1974–1987) prioritizes portraiture with particular attention to the psychic presence and distinctiveness of subjects. The contact sheets function as visual records of a transforming social landscape, community, and historical moment across four decades of American cultural life.
Original article published on Hyperallergic — AI-generated summary. Visit the website to read the full article at the source. Image via Hyperallergic.
