In Loving Memory of Jess Curtis
Image Description: a black and white headshot of Jess, a man with a shock of white hair looking at the camera, smiling. Photo by Robbie Sweeny.
What is remembered, lives.
It is with great sadness and love that we share the tragic news that groundbreaking performance artist, Jess Curtis, died unexpectedly on March 11th, 2024 in San Francisco. Jess was doing what he loved, riding his bike in the Presidio with a close friend, when he suffered a heart incident. He passed quickly and was surrounded by friends at the hospital in the wake of his passing. Earlier that day, Jess had expressed profound gratitude for his wonderful life and cherished network of friends and peers.
Jess left an indelible mark on the art world through his boundless, embodied works sparking dialogue on accessibility, performance, and the power of body-based art. A passionate advocate, he nurtured emerging artists and fought for more equitable and accessible arts access.
To honor Jess's legacy of increasing arts accessibility and nurturing artists, please consider a donation in his memory to the Jess Curtis Memorial Fund. Your contribution directly funds programs that cultivate boundary-pushing, inclusive performance art - causes very close to Jess's heart. In Jess's own words, "What is remembered, lives." Let us celebrate this visionary's life by carrying forward his daring, compassionate vision.
We are working on an audio-described version of this video.