Joaquín Cortés. Born in Barcelona, Spain in 1938. Joaquin Cortes travelled to Venezuela in 1954 where he initiates his work in publicity and photography. His first solo show is in 1965 at the prestigious Ateneo de Caracas. In 1970, Cortes travelled to New York where he meets Cornell Capa, who not only becomes his friend but also invites and sponsors his participation in the
Images of Concern exhibit. While in New York Cortes also meets Henri Cartier-Bresson, André Kertész and visits the studio of master Philippe Halsman. Upon his return to Caracas in 1972, Joaquín Cortés begins teaching and film production, making many documentary films. In the late seventies he also started the Foto Expresión photography school in Caracas. He returns to the USA in 1988, where he will teach at Long Island University in New York for three years. Upon his return to Caracas he is awarded many prizes, including the Venezuelan National Photography Prize in 2010, Best Documentary at the Huesca International Film Festival and in 2013 the Espiello at the International Ethnographic Festival in Spain. Joaquín Cortés has exhibited in the most important museums of Venezuela and in private galleries in United Kingdom, France, USA and Spain. His work is represented in important international film and photography collections and institutions such as the International Center of Photography, ICP, in New York.
