Steers Art

Hugh Steers was a prominent American figurative painter who received his training at Yale University, Parsons School of Design, and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. His practice utilized figurative realism and dreamlike allegory to navigate the complexities of queer life. His work remains a vital record of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, capturing the quiet, domestic moments and the emotional weight of those living through the crisis. Steers was awarded a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Fellowship in 1989 before his passing at age 32. Today, his paintings are preserved in the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Walker Art Center. His legacy continues through significant exhibitions at institutions like David Zwirner and the Grey Art Gallery, recognized for a poignant portrayal of intimacy and the physical toll of illness.