Hugh Steers Papers
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Abstract
Hugh Auchincloss Steers (1962-1995) was an American painter who committed to representational painting and figuration throughout his career in order to address the impact of Queer identity and the AIDS crisis. The collection contains materials created and accumulated by Steers during his lifetime, and materials generated and managed by his estate after his death from AIDS-related complications in 1995. Materials include personal and business correspondence, notes, slides, transparencies, some personal photographs, resumes and CVs, artist statements, gallery invitations, business cards, price lists, invoices, receipts, lists of donated works, periodicals, press clippings, a pin, some exhibition catalogues, a poster, inventories, appraisals, Steers' official death certificate, a few short film reels from Steers' primary dealer Richard Anderson, and a video recording of Steers' memorial service.
Biographical Note
Hugh Auchincloss Steers (1962-1995) was an American painter whose artwork has been described as a combination of dreamlike allegory and figurative realism. Steers was born in Washington, D.C. and studied at Yale University, the Parsons School of Art and Design, and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Steers' artistic practice was inspired by notable figures in art history, such as El Greco, Pierre Bonnard, Edgar Degas as well as American artists like Edward Hopper, Jackson Pollock, and Franz Kline whom he believed created artwork that embodies a "gorgeous bleakness" and a "soft glow of brutality." Unlike his contemporaries, Steers committed to representational painting and figuration throughout his career, depicting - through a dramatic and colorful palette - a skewed use of perspective, a skillful depiction of light, and intimate, ambiguous scenes of isolated figures or couples that speak to issues of identify politics, mortality, eroticism, frailty, isolation, defiance, and compassion. Soon after Steers was diagnosed with HIV in 1987, he increasingly focused on AIDS as a subject matter, in particular the impact of queer identity and the AIDS crisis. During the last five years of his life, he introduced a fictive alter ego, a slender figure consistently cloaked in a white hospital gown. Steers passed away of AIDS-related complications in 1995 at the age of 32.
Steers received a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Fellowship grant in 1989, and his work has been exhibited at a number of galleries and museums across the United States and Italy, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the New Museum of Contemporary Art, the Denver Art Museum, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, and the Drawing Center in New York City. Steers' work can be found within the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Walker Art Center, and the Denver Art Museum, and a comprehensive monograph of his work was published by Visual AIDS in 2015.
Arrangement
The collection arrived partially arranged by the donor into four distinct series:
Series I. Correspondence
Series II. Gallery Materials
Series III Press Files
Series IV. Alexander Gray Associates/Estate of Hugh Steers Documents
The remaining materials, including slides, transparencies, and prints of the artist's work, were identified as Series V. Reproductions of Artwork.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains materials created by and accumulated by American painter Hugh Auchincloss Steers (1962-1995) during his lifetime, as well as materials generated and managed by the Estate of Hugh Steers after the artist's death of AIDS-related complications on March 1, 1995 in New York City. The collection contains personal and business correspondence, handwritten notes, reproductions of artwork (slides, transparencies, and prints), some personal photographs, resumes and CVs, artist statements, gallery invitations, business cards, price lists, invoices for both advertisements and artwork, shipping receipts, lists of gifted works, periodicals, press clippings, a pin, exhibition catalogues, a poster, inventories, appraisals, Steers' official death certificate, and a video recording on VHS of Steers' memorial service. The collection also includes film reels depicting Steers' artwork that the artist's primary dealer, Richard Anderson, likely used during a presentation about Steers' work on April 13, 1994.
Subjects
Organizations
Donors
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Audiovisual Access Policies and Procedures
Audiovisual materials have not been preserved and may not be available to researchers. Materials not yet digitized will need to have access copies made before they can be used. To request an access copy, or if you are unsure if an item has been digitized, please contact fales.library@nyu.edu with the collection's name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. A staff member will respond to you with further information.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection, created by Hugh Steers or the Estate of Hugh Steers, was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Hugh Steers Papers; MSS 511; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by the Burr Steers in June 2017. The accession number associated with this gift is 2017.182.
About this Guide
Processing Information
At the time of accessioning materials, which were partially arranged by the donor prior to donation, were rehoused in new, acid-free boxes. Original folders were retained when possible, and original binders housing slides, transparencies, and prints of Steers' artwork were replaced by acid-free folders and identified as Series V. Reproductions of Artowrk. Oversize periodicals and posters were rehoused in an oversize, acid-free file folder.
Repository
I. Correspondence, 1994-2001, undated, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
This series consists of correspondence between Hugh Steers, friends, his estate, galleries, museums, and collectors. The correspondence dates from 1994 and 2001 and contains personal and business correspondence. The latter consists of correspondence between Steers and/or his estate and galleries, museums, and collectors.
Blank Postcards, undated, inclusive
Correspondence: 1994, circa 1994, inclusive
Correspondence from Museums, Galleries, Collectors about Steers, circa 1994, inclusive
Correspondence 1994, 1994
Correspondence: Cards/Letters Regarding his Works, 1994-1995, inclusive
Correspondence: Exhibitions and Consignments, circa 1994-1997, inclusive
Correspondence: 1995, circa 1995, inclusive
Correspondence: Gifts and Donated Works, circa 1995, inclusive
Correspondence: 1996, circa 1996, inclusive
Correspondence: 1997, circa 1997, inclusive
Correspondence: 1998, circa 1998, inclusive
Correspondence: 1999, circa 1999, inclusive
Correspondence: 2000, circa 2000-2001, inclusive
Correspondence: Miscellaneous, undated, inclusive
Letters: Auchincloss, Louis and "Aunt Janet", 1981-1993, inclusive
Letters: Auchincloss Straight Steers, Nina Gore, undated, inclusive
Letter: Cadmus, Paul, 1991
Letter: Franklin D. Israel, 1992
Letters: Gallery Show Invites, 1987-1988, inclusive
Letters: George, Carl M., circa 1986-1994, inclusive
Letters: Hyon MI OH, circa 1989-1993, inclusive
Letter: Janowitz, Dorris, circa 1987, inclusive
Letters: John, 1983-1984, inclusive
Letters: Kennedy Onassis, Jacqueline, circa 1987-1994, inclusive
Letters: Love, circa 1981-1984, inclusive
Letter: Merrill, 1994
Letters: Ross, circa 1984-1993, inclusive
Letters: Steers, Burr, undated, inclusive
Letters: Steers, David, 1995
Letters: Steers, Newton, Jr., circa 1985-1992, inclusive
Letters: "UNCLM" and Ivan Steers, circa 1989-1991, inclusive
Letters: Unidentified, undated, inclusive
Letters: Unsent, undated, inclusive
Letters: Whitney, Wheelock; Abbeville Press, circa 1992-1994, inclusive
II. Gallery Materials, 1985-2003, undated, inclusive
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Extent
Scope and Contents
This series documents Steers's professional life and work through gallery invitations, business cards, price lists, invoices for both advertisements and artwork, shipping receipts, resumes and CVs, artist statements, and exhibition catalogues. Materials date from 1985 and 2003.
Midtown Payson Galleries: Statements of Accounts, 1988-1993, inclusive
Midtown Galleries: Hugh Steers, "Flaws of Hospitality", circa 1990, inclusive
Community Health Project: Physician Referral List, 1990
Invoices/ Price Lists, circa 1992, inclusive
Sales and Consignments, circa 1992-1993, inclusive
Invoices/ Price Lists, circa 1993, inclusive
Hugh Steers: Statements, circa 1993-2002, inclusive
Invoices and Consignments, 1993-1998, inclusive
Price Lists, Sales, Work Lists, 1993-1994, inclusive
Visual AIDS Film Reels, 1994
Exhibition Related, Etc., 1994
Hugh Steers: Personal Statements, Notes, Grant Proposals, Projects, Letter to Editor, 1994
Paid to Hugh's Statement [Price Lists?], circa 1994, inclusive
Sales and Consignments, circa 1994, inclusive
Invoices/1994, circa 1994, inclusive
Inventory and Sales at Midtown Payson Galleries, Inc., circa 1995, inclusive
Hugh Steers Invoices 1995, circa 1995, inclusive
Lithographs -- Price list, Letter, Etc., circa 1995-1996, inclusive
Expenses, circa 1995-1996, inclusive
Sales P/A '96/'97 (Hugh Steers), circa 1996-1997, inclusive
Hugh Steers -- Invoices 1998, 1999, 2000; Correspondence 2000, circa 1998-2000, inclusive
Envelopes and Booklets: A-K, circa 2000, inclusive
Envelopes and Booklets: L-M, circa 2000, inclusive
Envelopes and Booklets: P-R, circa 2000, inclusive
Purchasers, Sales, [Adam CU3ENOVIC(?)], 2000
Sales/Inquiries from Collectors: McCall [McSweeney], Simpson, Epstein, and Bertolucci, Straight, and Swandson, circa 2000-2003, inclusive
Info Copies [Price list and Gallery Layout for "Hugh Steers: Early Works"], undated, inclusive
Hugh Steers Resume/ CV/ Statement, undated, inclusive
III. Press Files, 1988-2005, undated, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
This series consists of periodicals and press clippings with articles about Steers and his work. Materials date from 1988 to 2005.
Magazines: A&U, QW [Gore Vidal], 1992-2005, inclusive
Magazines: Body Positive, circa 1992, inclusive
Magazines: Out, Poz, circa 1996-2000, inclusive
M/E/A/N/I/N/G Issue #16, 1994
Press Clippings: Originals, circa 1988-1993, inclusive
Press Clippings: Original, 1992-2000, inclusive
Press, undated, inclusive
Press-related Files and Photographs, 1993-1994, inclusive
Xerox Press Clippings, circa 1990-2000, inclusive
IV. Alexander Gray Associates / Estate of Hugh Steers Documents, 1994-2000, undated, inclusive
Extent
Extent
Scope and Contents
This series consists of materials documenting the end of Steers's life, his funeral, and his estate. Materials include inventories, appraisals, Steers' official death certificate, and a video recording on VHS of Steers' memorial service, and letters sent to Steers while in the hospital. Materials date from 1994 to 2000.
Alexander Gray Associates List, undated, inclusive
Alexander Gray Associates- Steers List; N/Dates List, undated, inclusive
Appraisal and Inventory of Estate 1995, 2004, circa 1995, 2004, inclusive
Condolence Cards/Letters, Hospital Interview, circa 1995, inclusive
Correspondence: Estate, circa 1995-1996, inclusive
Death Certificate, 1995
Estate Documents 1996/ Correspondence, circa 1996, inclusive
Estate Evaluation, circa 1995, inclusive
Inventory of Apartment, HS Project, Xerox Photos, 1 Slide, undated, inclusive
Inventories: Estate, 1995
Inventory/Estate, circa 1994-1996
Jay Swanson's Correspondence, Sales, Photos, undated
Jay Swanson: Transparencies 4x5, undated
Justin Spring, Essay, circa 1995, inclusive
Memorial, Memorial Correspondence, Notes, circa 1995, inclusive
Memorial Service Transcripts, circa 1995, inclusive
Memorial Service: VHS About Steers, circa 1995, inclusive
Museum Exhibit Projects, circa 1998, inclusive
Projects '96, circa 1996, inclusive
Project 2000, circa 2000, inclusive
Sketchbooks, passport, artist statements, undated, inclusive
Steers Collectors in VA Database, All Estates and Collections, Inventory, undated, inclusive
Xerox and Originals Obituary Clippings, circa 1995, inclusive
V. Reproductions of Artwork, 1983-2000, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
This series contains reproductions of Steers's artwork, in slides, transparencies, and prints. Material in this series dates from 1983 to 2000.
Hugh Steers: Reproductions of Artwork, 1983-1989, inclusive
Hugh Steers: Reproductions of Artwork, 1984-1987, inclusive
Hugh Steers: Reproductions of Artwork, 1987-2000, inclusive
Hugh Steers: Drawings and Lithographs, 1986-1994, inclusive
Hugh Steers: Reproductions of Artwork, 1986-1988, inclusive
Hugh Steers: Reproductions of Artwork, 1988-1989, inclusive
Hugh Steers: Reproductions of Artwork, 1988-1991, inclusive
Hugh Steers: Reproductions of Artwork, 1989-1994, inclusive
Hugh Steers: Reproductions of Artwork, 1989
Hugh Steers: Sold Works on Canvas, 1990-1992, inclusive
Hugh Steers: Sold Works on Canvas, 1991-1992, inclusive
Hugh Steers: Biographical, 1993
Hugh Steers: Biographical, 1993-1994, inclusive
Hugh Steers: Reproductions of Artwork, 1994
Hugh Steers: Reproductions of Artwork, 1986-1994, inclusive
Hugh Steers: Photographs, 1995
VI. Jay Swanson/Visual AIDS Materials, 1994
Extent
Scope and Contents
This series contains material collected for the creation of a Visual AIDS database on Steers and his work. Material in the collection dates from 1994.
Jay Swanson/Visual AIDS Materials, 1994
Extent
Scope and Contents
This series consists of film reels depicting Steers's artwork that the artist's primary dealer, Richard Anderson, likely used during a presentation about Steers' work on April 13, 1994.
