Eyes Open in the Dark – Musée magazine review:

Written By Greer Valaquenta, Feb 12 2025

“At the heart of Hujar’s work is his distinctive approach to portraiture. He captured friends, fellow artists, and strangers from the streets of New York, often in intimate settings like his apartment studio or backstage at performances. Hujar emphasized the idiosyncrasies of his sitters, their individual qualities, and human sentience over their bodily form. He revealed moments of imperfect expression that communicated the inherent humanity of those in front of the lens. Hujar’s self-portraits often leaned toward the candid or subtly playful. However, there is one instance where he ventures into the more provocative and homoerotic territory that his contemporary Robert Mapplethorpe explored with unabashed intensity. “

“In addition to showcasing Hujar’s well-known lifetime prints, Eyes Open in the Dark features lesser-known works specially prepared by Gary Schneider, offering fresh insights into Hujar’s approach and deepening our understanding of his legacy. These prints, created in close collaboration with Hujar’s estate, reveal new dimensions of his artistry.”