Peter Hujar shot the artists, drag queens, writers and animals of downtown New York with a stillness that still feels electric, and this Morgan show gets behind the famous prints to the contact sheets where he made his choices. Seeing the frames he rejected next to the ones he printed reveals the eye behind the icon. If you care about photography, queer history or the lost downtown of the 1970s and '80s, this is an unusually intimate look at how a master worked.
What to expect
Expect contact sheets paired with finished prints, letting you trace Hujar's editing eye frame by frame. The mood is intimate and analytical, a window into process rather than a greatest-hits hang. A focused, rewarding show for photography devotees.
Good to know
- The 6 to 33rd Street, near Madison Avenue and 36th Street
- Combine with the Morgan's tarot show on the same ticket
- Bring patience for close looking — contact sheets reward it
- Quieter than the big museums, even in summer
- Best for photography and downtown-New-York history fans
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Common questions
What makes this show different?
It centers on Hujar's contact sheets, revealing his editing process rather than only the finished prints.
Is it included with admission?
Yes, it's covered by general Morgan Library admission.
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