1987—AIDS CRISIS | The David Wojnarowicz Foundation

Wind (For Peter Hujar), 1987. Acrylic and collaged paper on Masonite, 72 x 96 in.

Wind (For Peter Hujar), 1987. Acrylic and collaged paper on Masonite, 72 x 96 in.

David’s friend and mentor, photographer Peter Hujar, is diagnosed with and dies of AIDS within the year. David also loses his friends Iolo Carew and Keith Davis to the disease.

He shows his work in ten exhibits around the world including “The Four Elements” show at Gracie Mansion which does not sell. By year’s end, his partner. Tom Rauffenbart, tests positive for HIV.

Explore the images below to learn more about David’s life in 1987.

Stencil on Peter Hujar's January 8, 1987 AIDS diagnosis letter from The David Wojnarowicz Papers in the Downtown Collection of Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University

1987 January 2: Peter Hujar Tests HIV+

Tommy’s Illness/Mexico City, 1987.

January 10 1987: Opens Mexican Diaries Show

Das Reingold: New York Schism 1987

1987: Das Reingold: New York Schism

March 12 1987: ACT UP founded

First HIV/AIDS antiretroviral drug, AZT

1987: First AIDS Treatment, AZT, Introduced

New York Times article on first ACT UP demonstration, March 24, 1987

March 24 1987: ACT UP Demonstrates on Wall Street

Iolo Carew, 1980. Silver Gelatin Print, 11x14 in.

1987: Iolo Carew dies of AIDS

1987 David films Around Clown with Steven Doughton

David Wojnarowicz in St John US Virgin Islands (date unknown). Courtesy Tom Rauffenbart.

April 1987: Travels to the Caribbean with Tom

1987 blood test

1987 April: First HIV Blood Test developed

1987: Untitled (After Fire)

Granfury poster, 1987. Courtesy New York Public Library digital collection.

MAY 31 1987: Reagan First Addresses AIDS Publicly

AIDS Memorial Quilt panel 1987

June 1987: AIDS Memorial Quilt Begun

July 26, 1987 New York Times article on protest of Cardinal O'Connor appointment

JULY 26 1987: 300 protest PresidentIal Commission on AIDS

Nan Goldin, Keith Davis at home, NYC, 1985. Courtesy the artist, Copyright: Nan Goldin.

July 27 1987: Keith Davis dies of AIDS, age 33

Untitled (pig skull) 1987

1987: Untitled (Pig Scull)

Invitation for David Wojnarowicz Exhibit "The Four Elements", Gracie Mansion Gallery, 1987

September 17 1987: Opens The Four Elements Show

CDC PSA on AIDS 1987

September 30 1987: CDC launches first AIDS PSA

"Control [Jesse Helms]" 1989 by Gran Fury (artists' collective). Courtesy Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library Digital Collections.

October 1987: U.S. Senate Promotes Abstinence

1987: Das Reingold: New York Schism

Michael Brensen review, "the Four Elements," Gracie Mansion Gallery, NYTimes, October 26, 1987

October 2 1987: The New York Times reviews “The Four Elements” show

Peter Hujar, Self-Portrait Jumping (1), 1974. Silver gelatin print. © 2022 The Peter Hujar Archive / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

October 11 1987: Peter Hujar Celebrates Last Birthday

A Fire in My Belly (Film In Progress), 1986-1987. Super 8mm film, black-and-white and color, silent, 13:06 min. and 7 min.

1987: Fire in My Belly

”Something from Sleep II” 1987-1988

1987: Something from Sleep II

Something from Sleep III (For Tom Rauffenbart) 1989

December 1987: Tom Rauffenbart Tests HIV+

Peter Hujar's loft at 189 2nd Avenue and 12th Street, New York, NY

December 20 1987: Hujar Memorial held at 2nd Ave Loft

Peter Hujar, Self-Portrait 1975. Gelatin silver print © 2022 The Peter Hujar Archive / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

December 26 1987: David’s mentor Peter Hujar dies of AIDS, age 53