Peter Hujar
| Peter Hujar | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 11, 1934 Trenton, New Jersey, United States |
| Died | November 26, 1987 (aged 53) New York City, New York, United States |
| Resting place | Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Valhalla, New York |
| Notable work | Candy Darling on Her Deathbed, 1973 |
| Website | http://peterhujararchive.com/ |
Peter Hujar (October 11, 1934 – November 26, 1987) was an American photographer best known for his black and white portraits.
Hujar was born in Trenton, New Jersey and abandoned by his parents as an infant, raised by his Ukrainian grandparents. He did not learn English until he started kindergarten. As an adolescent, he moved in with his mother, Rose Murphy, who was living in Manhattan. But the household was abusive and Hujar left to take care of himself as a teen.
He received his first camera in 1947 and attended the School of Industrial Art where he expressed interest in being a photographer. He was fortunate to encounter an encouraging teacher, the poet Daisy Aldan, and followed her advice of becoming a commercial photography apprentice.
As early as 1956, Hujar began taking photographs that showed signs of his particular style and point of view. After meeting artist Joseph Raffael, Hujar accompanied him on a Fulbright to Italy, where he took many photos. In 1963, Hujar secured his own Fulbright and returned to Italy where he explored and photographed the Palermo catacombs. On this trip, Hujar was accompanied by his lover Paul Thek who would be one of the important relationships of his life.
Back in New York, Hujar was part of the downtown art scene. He appeared in one of Andy Warhol's Screen Tests (which Warhol later included in a series called "The Thirteen Most Beautiful Boys"). He worked for a spell for successful commercial photographer Harold Krieger and shot for Harper's Bazaar and GQ. He moved in to his deceased friend Jackie Curtis's loft at 189 2nd Avenue. Hujar took many photos of his friends, combining many of them with his Palermo photos for a book called Portraits in Life and Death, published in 1976 by Da Capo Press. The introduction was written by his close friend Susan Sontag and her portrait appears in the book. Using the people in his life as subjects, Hujar took iconic photos of Sontag, Ethyl Eichelberger, Candy Darling, Divine, and his lover David Wojnarowicz. His photograph of Candy Darling on her deathbed in the hospital has been frequently reproduced.
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