In the summer of 2019, Equity Gallery staged “1984”, a retrospective of the life works of New York based painter, set designer, and installation artist Huck Snyder (1954-1993) who was perhaps best known for his collaborations with his former partner, the performance artist John Kelly. The latter productions often comprised the artist’s singular works for exhibition, as well as stage backdrops, set props and costumes.

Exemplary among the works borrowed for the exhibition were pieces from “Circus” which was staged at La Mama Galleria and the Brooklyn Bridge Anchorage. For the Sept. 1987 issue of Artforum, John Murrow wrote, “From Pablo Picasso’s striking, painted decor for Parade to Alexander Calder’s toylike sculpture circus, the Big Top has been raided by visual artists in this century for colorful, “low” subject matter on which to exercise “high” art techniques, with a perfunctory nod to the circus-as-a-metaphor-for-life conceit to provide an implicit philosophical rationale. In Circus, visual artist Huck Snyder and a squad of collaborators created a performance-art revue on circus themes, based on an ’80s club/cabaret sensibility of multiplying ideas and modes of performance that are thoroughly compatible with the concept of fun.”

A rare piece from “Circus”, pictured above, has surfaced for sale. The piece measures 30 x 35 x 3 inches. It presents material and stylistic choices characteristically typical of Synder’s oeuvre. The base image is painted on paper and superimposed with 2 layers of painted glass. The elaborate gold-painted frame is artist-made. The imagery evinces a working style that is restless, and at times furiously intense with rapid brushwork, bold blocks of color. and scintillating line drawing. There is slight damage at the bottom of the frame, otherwise the work is in very good condition. It is signed and dated: HS 8.18.1987.   It can be viewed as part of The City Opera Thrift Shop’s annual art sale.  It is being offered at $9500. Buyer inquiries can be made to info@nyartistsequity.org

Michael Gormley

Executive Director

New York Artists Equity Association