Upon first seeing the paintings of Hugh Steers, my mind went to Edward Hopper.  The color juxtapositions, the simplicity of his subject matter, but mostly, the way he distills a space in time down to its deeper essence.  One breaths with the moment when viewing his work.  Through images of playfulness, campiness and deep compassion, Steers’ paintings touch upon what it meant to be a gay man in the late ’80s and early ’90s in New York City.  He painted his Queer identity, and his identity through the AIDS crisis, which claimed him in 1995 at only 32 years old. In a 1992 interview he referred to his work as being in a category of American artists “whose work embodies a certain gorgeous bleakness.”

Hugh Steers’ estate is represented by Alexander Gray Associates at 508 West 26th Street in Manhattan.  If you rush over you can see a selection of his works before their group show, “Cadmus, Steers, Warhol” comes down at 5pm on July 20th.  Take the time.