Diego Cortez

Diego Cortez, 1980's

Diego Cortez, 2003

Diego Cortez, born as James Curtis in 1946, is an influential character of the 1980’s New York art movement. Curator at large, he has been the instigator of several significant art exhibitions, one of them being the New York, New Wave exhibition at PS.1 in 1981, where he showcased works from Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Stephen Sprouse, Kathy Acker, Robert Mapplethorpe, and many more.

Though mainly known for his role as curator/gallerist and for helping several artists break through in the arts field, Cortez has also been working as actor, musician, director, manager, producer, lecturer, author, etc. He has also co-founded the Mudd Club in 1978 with Steve Mass and Anya Phillips.

He is currently still alive, and still working in art, collaborating with museums and galleries.