David Wojnarowicz
David Wojnarowicz was an influential American artist, activist, and writer born in 1954 in Red Bank, New Jersey. His tumultuous childhood, marked by abuse and neglect, led him to drop out of high school at sixteen and live on the streets of New York City. Wojnarowicz’s artistic journey began in the East Village, where he explored various forms of expression, including painting, photography, and writing. He gained notoriety for his thought-provoking art, particularly his photography series such as Ant Series and Sex Series, and for his poignant commentary on social issues.
During the 1980s, following the death of his close friend and mentor Peter Hujar from AIDS, Wojnarowicz became increasingly vocal about the government's neglect of the AIDS crisis, using his art to confront homophobia and societal indifference. His works often combined visual art with powerful text, capturing the urgency of the AIDS epidemic and advocating for change. In addition to his artistic endeavors, he authored a memoir titled *Seven Miles a Second*, presented in comic book format. Wojnarowicz's legacy endures as a pivotal figure in the intersection of art and activism, remembered for his unflinching moral outrage and impact on public discourse regarding AIDS and LGBTQ+ rights. He passed away from AIDS in 1992 at the age of thirty-seven.
On this Page
Subject Terms
David Wojnarowicz
- Born: September 14, 1954
- Birthplace: Red Bank, New Jersey
- Died: July 22, 1992
- Place of death: New York, New York
Biography
Artist, activist, and writer David Wojnarowicz was born in 1954 in Red Bank, New Jersey. A victim of child abuse and neglect, Wojnarowicz dropped out of high school by the time he was sixteen. Within a year, he was living in the streets of New York City and hustling in Times Square as a means to earn money. He hitchhiked several times across the United States and lived for months in San Francisco. In 1978, Wojnarowicz returned to New York City and settled in New York’s East Village.
Wojnarowicz turned to art in order to find an outlet for his frustration, anger, and restless spirit. He experimented with several art forms, including painting, music, photography, writing, and graphics. Eventually, he received critical acclaim for his achievements in photography and writing.
In the early 1980’s, Wojnarowicz performed in the punk rock band 3 Teens Kill 4. His first stencils were street advertisements for the band’s performances. He then began painting large murals on New York City’s westside piers. These murals attracted the attention of Peter Hujar, an East Village photographer. Hujar became an influential role model in Wojnarowicz’s life and helped him focus his artistic talent. With Hujar’s help, Wojnarowicz began displaying his artwork in window fronts throughout East Village. Eventually, as Wojnarowicz’s reputation grew, he became featured in several artistic magazines. In 1985, he had a major exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Throughout the 1980’s, Wojnarowicz produced complex paintings, sculptures, and numerous photographic works. His most noted work in photography was his series titled Ant Series and Sex Series. In 1988, Peter Hujar, Wojnarowicz’s confidant and close friend, died of AIDS. At the time of his death, Wojnarowicz discovered that he was HIV-positive. From that point on, he began an attack on the American government’s method of dealing with AIDS victims.
As he grew closer to death, Wojnarowicz’s art reflected his personal rage toward homophobia and the media’s attitude toward AIDS. In an effort to call attention to the media community and federal government’s indifference to the health issues of gay men, Wojnarowicz began combining his painted and photographic images with pointed, angry text. He produced works such as What Is This Little Guy’s Job in This World (1990) and In the Shadow of Forward Motion (1992). These works served to capture the public’s attention to the plight of the AIDS epidemic and helped to bring about many changes in the health industry and governmental policies toward AIDS victims.
Shortly before his death, Wojnarowicz collaborated with James Romberger and Marguerite Van Cook in writing a personal memoir titled Seven Miles a Second (1996). This work was written in the form of a comic book. In 1992, at the age of thirty-seven, David Wojnarowicz died of AIDS. He is recognized as one of the first American gay artists to demonstrate moral outrage in his artwork.