An Unprecedented Look at Renowned Photographer Peter Hujar’s New York in “Hujar:Contact”

The exhibition "Hujar:Contact" presents an extensive exploration of the life, career, and artistic development of acclaimed photographer Peter Hujar. Featuring over 110 contact sheets and 20 enlarged images from the Morgan Library and Museum's extensive collection, which comprises more than 5,700 contact sheets from Hujar's entire career, the showcase offers a comprehensive look at the artist's journey.

Peter Hujar, born in 1934 and passing away in 1987, initiated the practice of filing contact sheets with unique job numbers at the tender age of 21. This habit enabled him to monitor his growth over the years, transitioning from a studio assistant for two decades (1955-1967), experimenting with various forms of work, to a freelance professional in fashion, music, and advertising during the late 1960s.

During his mature period (1974-1987), Hujar emerged as an independent and influential artist in the vibrant East Village neighborhood.

Many of the contact sheets bear markings indicating Hujar's thoughts on cropping and printing, providing an insight into his creative process and the decisions that ultimately led to the enlargements he chose. The intense, interactive nature of his portrait work is vividly depicted in the contact sheets, which serve as intimate pictorial narratives, revealing the essence of his focus and the distinct personality of each subject.

As Hujar matured and navigated the social changes of the 1950s through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, his contact sheets tell a nuanced story of a lifetime, a community, and an era. The Morgan Library and Museum's exhibition provides a window into the life and work of Peter Hujar, allowing visitors to witness the evolution of the influential photographer and the world he captured through his lens. For more information, visit themorgan.org.