002. David Wojnarowicz

On the AIDS crisis + the death of the one-tribe nation

Peter Hujar (1934–1987), David Wojnarowicz, 1981. Gelatin silver print: sheet, 19 13/16 × 15 7/8 in. (50.3 × 40.3 cm); image, 14 3/4 × 14 13/16 in. (37.5 × 37.6 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase with funds from the Photography Committee 93.76. © The Peter Hujar Archive.

Introduction

David Wojnarowicz [Voy-na-RO-vich] was a fiery & highly influential queer multimedia artist, writer, and political activist known for his deeply personal and provocative style.

David’s body of work fought against systems of oppression, most notably against government inaction during the height of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. Wojnarowicz, and other queer artists of his time fought back against censorship of their work, further highlighting the importance of queer, outsider, and subversive art in challenging violent hegemonic powers.