Peter Hujar: Night

Hujar’s sometimes playful, often bleak photographs of New York after sunset show revelers of the nightlife and a decaying urban landscape, all wrapped in a velvety blackness broken only by street lamps, fluorescent building windows, and the camera’s flash.

A black and white photograph of two people in a car wearing hats and masks, one leans out of the window with a cigarette in their mouth, the other peers in the same direction from the steering wheel

Black-and-white photograph of an empty street with marquees and tinsel arches spanning the road

Black-and-white photograph of thin bare trees lit up with a camera flash at night

Black and white photograph of the exterior of a gas station during early morning hours

Black and white photograph of shirtless man dressed in flashy clothes sitting on car

Black-and-white photograph of city buildings with lighted windows above a glowing street

Black-and-white photograph of a shuttered garage door painted with NO PARKING and single car parked in an adjacent driveway on a cobbled street

Black and white photograph of a man leaning against a tree in a park at night

Black-and-white photograph of city buildings lit up from inside standing above a parking lot

Black and white photograph of a person with curly hair, lipstick, and pearl necklace with a lily flower tucked behind one ear

Peter Hujar: Night

Peter HujarBoys in Car, Halloween

1978 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarSan Gennaro Street Fair at Dawn (I)

1976

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarTrees with Flash, New Jersey

1975

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarExxon Station

1976

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarBoy in Plastic Pants

1978 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet)

Peter HujarNight, Downtown

1976 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarNo Parking

1976 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarGary Schneider in Stuyvesant Park

1981

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarNight Skyline and Parking Lots

1976

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarDrag Queen With Flower, Halloween

1980

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of a seated dog in the artists studio

Peter Hujar: Animals

To Hujar, who grew up on a farm, animals and people were of equal interest. His photographs of dogs, horses, and cows seem to convey a mutual recognition between photographer and subject, a sort of calm acknowledgement.

Black and white photograph of three sheep on hill — Peter Hujar, Sheep, Pennsylvania, 1969 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a seated dog with a wrinkled face and coat — Peter Hujar, Will: Char-Pei (I), 1985 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a dark horse chewing on a wooden fencepost with a pasture in the background — Peter Hujar, Horse, Warwick, R.I., 1979

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

A black and white photograph of a older black dog laying down on a light colored blanket, looking off to the side — Peter Hujar, Clarissa Dalrymple’s Dog, Kirsten, 1985

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter Hujar, Cat in Snow, Germantown, 1982

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of a shaggy haired cow outdoors — Peter Hujar, Shaggy Cow (I), 1985

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of a snake on corner of blanket covered table — Peter Hujar, Skippy (Boa Constrictor), 1985

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of two cows with white faces standing sideways with their heads turned to the viewer — Peter Hujar, Butch and Buster, 1978 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of a seated dog — Peter Hujar, Bouche Walker (Reggie’s Dog), 1981

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a foal in a harness following its mother's tail — Peter Hujar, Colt with Mother, Italy, 1975

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarBeauregard’s Dog Pilar

1983

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarSheep, Pennsylvania

1969 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarWill: Char-Pei (I)

1985 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarHorse, Warwick, R.I.

1979

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarClarissa Dalrymple’s Dog, Kirsten

1985

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarCat in Snow, Germantown

1982

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarShaggy Cow (I)

1985

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarSkippy (Boa Constrictor)

1985

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarButch and Buster

1978 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarBouche Walker (Reggie’s Dog)

1981

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarColt with Mother, Italy

1975

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white vertical photograph of a standing man wearing a jock strap.

Peter Hujar: Portraits

The composed portraits of lovers, friends, and artists of New York’s Downtown milieu, often photographed in Hujar’s own loft, capture each sitter in an unrestrained moment of openness and connection.

Black-and-white photograph of Fran Lebowitz reclining on a couch. — Peter Hujar, Fran Lebowitz, 1975

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a seated man with a mustache wearing only suspenders and jeans — Peter Hujar, Nickey from Bloolips (II), 1980

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of an older woman in a black-and-white patterned jacket standing in front of pinned-back floral curtains — Peter Hujar, Diana Vreeland (IV), 1975

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a seated nude man leaning forward to suck his big toe — Peter Hujar, Daniel Schook Sucking Toe, 1981 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a woman with long curly hair in a dark wooly shawl seated sideways with her chin on her hand — Peter Hujar, Madeline Kahn, 1981

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a person with long wiry black hair and heavy jewelry and make up with one hand behind their head — Peter Hujar, Cockette Goldie Glitters, 1971

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of a man smoking a cigar while lying down — Peter Hujar, Chuck Gretsch (with Cigar), 1981

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white nighttime photograph of a man leaning on a car roof. — Peter Hujar, Richie, 1985

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of two older men seated side-by-side with their hands in their laps — Peter Hujar, Merce Cunningham and John Cage Seated, 1986

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of an infant lying on his stomach on a blanketed surface — Peter Hujar, Baby John McClellan, 1981

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarSelf-Portrait Standing

1980 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarFran Lebowitz

1975

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarNickey from Bloolips (II)

1980

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarDiana Vreeland (IV)

1975

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarDaniel Schook Sucking Toe

1981 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarMadeline Kahn

1981

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarCockette Goldie Glitters

1971

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarChuck Gretsch (with Cigar)

1981

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarRichie

1985

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarMerce Cunningham and John Cage Seated

1986

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarBaby John McClellan

1981

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of ocean waves crashing onto the beach

Peter Hujar: Cityscapes & Landscapes

Studies of New York’s towering buildings, crumbling neighborhoods, and eerily beautiful landfills, and the meditative flow of rivers and seas.

Black-and-white photograph of a stepped high-rise building from below — Peter Hujar, Rockefeller Center, 1976

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a car parked on a cobbled street next to a brick building — Peter Hujar, Parked Car, Brooklyn, 1976

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a wave moving from left to right and the trail of white water following it — Peter Hujar, Surface of the Sea, Sperlonga, 1963

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of two bridges spanning a river between two cityscapes — Peter Hujar, View from the World Trade Center, 1979

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of city buildings and rooftops from a higher vantage point — Peter Hujar, New York Roofs From Above, 1976

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of an abandoned car in a lot with trees and shrubs next to apartment building — Peter Hujar, Car, Brooklyn, 1976

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of white water and a wave crashing on the seashore — Peter Hujar, Wave, Jones Beach (I), 1979

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarBeach, East Hampton, Christmas

1976

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarRockefeller Center

1976

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarParked Car, Brooklyn

1976

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarSurface of the Sea, Sperlonga

1963

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarView from the World Trade Center

1979

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarNew York Roofs From Above

1976

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarCar, Brooklyn

1976

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarWave, Jones Beach (I)

1979

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of preserved skeletons dressed in shrouds and gowns in two rows

Peter Hujar: Catacombs

The artist photographed the Palermo Catacombs during a 1963 trip to Italy with Paul Thek. The artist’s first monograph, Portraits in Life and Death (published 1976), juxtaposes several of these images with portraits of writers and artists from Hujar’s social circle.