Age, Biography and Wiki

Diego Cortez (James Allan Curtis) was born on 30 September, 1946 in Geneva, Illinois, U.S., is an American filmmaker and art curator (1946–2021). Discover Diego Cortez's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 74 years old?

Popular As James Allan Curtis
Occupation N/A
Age 74 years old
Zodiac Sign Libra
Born 30 September 1946
Birthday 30 September
Birthplace Geneva, Illinois, U.S.
Date of death 21 June, 2021
Died Place Burlington, North Carolina, U.S.
Nationality United States

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 30 September. He is a member of famous filmmaker with the age 74 years old group.

Diego Cortez Height, Weight & Measurements

At 74 years old, Diego Cortez height not available right now. We will update Diego Cortez's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
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Dating & Relationship status

He is currently single. He is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, He has no children.

Family
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Diego Cortez Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Diego Cortez worth at the age of 74 years old? Diego Cortez’s income source is mostly from being a successful filmmaker. He is from United States. We have estimated Diego Cortez's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income filmmaker

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Timeline

1946

James Allan Curtis (September 30, 1946 – June 21, 2021), known professionally as Diego Cortez, was an American filmmaker and art curator closely associated with the no wave period in New York City.

Cortez was the co-founder of the Mudd Club, and he curated the influential post-punk art show New York/New Wave, which brought the then aspiring artist Jean-Michel Basquiat to fame.

Cortez was born James Allan Curtis on September 30, 1946, in Geneva, Illinois, to Jean (née Ham) and Allan Curtis.

His mother was a manicurist while his father was a warehouse manager at a steel company.

Curtis grew up in the nearby town of Wheaton, Illinois.

1970

In the late 1970s, the avant-garde music and art movement called No Wave came about in the downtown region of the city.

1973

He graduated with a bachelor's degree from the Illinois State University and received a master's degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1973.

He studied performance art as well as film and video production at the institute with teachers including Avant-garde filmmaker Stan Brakhage and the Korean-American filmmaker Nam June Paik.

Curtis adopted the pseudonym Diego Cortez in 1973 while moving to New York City as a tribute to the Hispanic neighborhood of Chicago where he had lived.

Cortez moved to New York City in 1973, where he worked as a studio assistant to conceptual artist Dennis Oppenheim and later with designer and performance artist Vito Acconci.

He went on to embed himself in the music and arts scene in the city while holding multiple jobs including working as a security guard at the Museum of Modern Art.

He also performed with Avant-garde artist Hermann Nitsch and was a founding member of the New York-based artists group Colab.

1978

In 1978, he co-founded the Mudd Club, a nightclub in the Tribeca neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, with Steve Maas and punk artist and music manager Anya Phillips.

During this period, he also performed with artists Kathy Acker and Laurie Anderson, directed music videos for rock bands Talking Heads and Blondie, and organized showings of works by the singer and songwriter Patti Smith.

He also wrote the book Private Elvis, containing photographs of American singer and actor Elvis Presley during Presley's time with the army, that he found in West Germany.

Cortez was the NYC production advisor to Brian Eno on the no wave record No New York (1978) which was released by Island Records.

1981

In 1981, Cortez curated the group exhibition New York/New Wave to showcase a new generation of artists in the downtown art scene.

The show was held at the P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, now known as MoMA PS1, in Long Island City, Queens.

1982

In 1982, Basquiat introduced Cortez to his then-girlfriend Madonna, who invited Cortez to be her manager, but he declined to focus on curating art shows.

He later declined an offer from Larry Gagosian for a directorship at his gallery.

Cortez continued to work as an art agent and curator, working with Brian Eno, and on the Luciano Benetton and Frederick Roos collections.

During the latter part of his career he was unsuccessful in trying to start a museum in Puerto Rico.

2000

It was a massive exhibition featuring over 100 artists including Andy Warhol, David Byrne, William S. Burroughs, Robert Mapplethorpe, Nan Goldin, Keith Haring, Fab Five Freddy, Futura 2000, and Ann Magnuson.

The show brought Jean-Michel Basquiat to fame by attracting the attention of art dealers such as Annina Nosei and Bruno Bischofberger.

2012

Cortez was a member of the authentication committee for the estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, which ceased operation in 2012.

Cortez died from kidney failure at the age of 74 on June 20, 2021, in Burlington, North Carolina.

Cortez had been in hospice while living in nearby Saxapahaw, North Carolina.

A tribute to Diego Cortez was published in The Brooklyn Rail in October 2021.

2014

He released an album, Traumdeutung, in 2014, which was an eclectic mix of music and sounds of his snoring.