Recorded in: New York, NY
Episode Length: 36:35
Air Date: March 25, 2021
Produced by: Jordan Weitzman
Edited by: Ellen Payne Smith
In 1987, at the height of the AIDS crisis, Peter Hujar, at the age of 53, passed away. His work, which was largely unknown at the time except to friends and small cult following, is now considered to be one of the richest bodies of work amongst 20th century photography. After a long debate over who he was gonna leave his archive to, he decided on his close friend, Stephen Koch. The decision was controversial amongst friends of Hujar’s, and in a famous exchange, Koch recounts Hujar telling him “You’re no good, but you’re the best I’ve got.” In this conversation, I talk with Koch about his career as a celebrated author, teacher and executor of the Peter Hujar’s estate, which has managed for almost 35 years.
Stephen Koch, 1969 by Peter Hujar
Self-Portrait and Paul Thek by Peter Hujar, two portraits which hang in Stephen Koch’s office
Links
https://harpers.org/archive/2018/05/the-pictures/