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The Cruz-Diez Foundation Board of Directors has announced with excitement and gratitude that after six years acting as both Executive Director and President of the Board, Adriana Cruz will step down from managing the day-to-day operations of the organization to focus on her role as President of the Board of Directors, starting June 30, 2021.
Adriana Cruz said in a statement: “It has been the honor of my life to lead the Cruz-Diez Foundation during my father’s later years, having the opportunity to work closely with him in solidifying the organization that is called to be the steward of his legacy. Following my father’s passing in 2019, we have been preparing the organization to assume this important role and thus ensure its impact for generations to come. I am proud of the many achievements the foundation has accomplished during my tenure, for which I have to thank my team, along with the family and the studios. I am committed to continue supporting my father’s life's work by focusing on my duties as President of the Board.”
Since 2015, Adriana has played a critical role in the growth and success of the organization. Under her leadership, CDF supported over 90 international exhibitions in 26 countries featuring the work of Cruz-Diez; produced 14 publications independently as well as in collaboration with partnering organizations; founded CDF’s Learning Lab, spearheaded the efforts for the production of a catalogue raisonné; and expanded the foundation’s collection to over 800 pieces. “We want to thank Adriana for the many accomplishments of the CDF during her tenure, and her continued commitment and dedication to the foundation,” said Brad Bucher, in representation of the Board of Directors.
Effective July 1, 2021, Valeria Cordero Reyes and Carlota Perez-Appelbaum from the consulting company Active Culture, will step in as Interim Co-Executive Directors. Valeria and Carlota bring to the foundation over 30 years of combined experience working with private collections and nonprofit organizations, a fundamental belief in the importance of preserving creative legacies and a profound commitment to the role artists’ foundations can play in expanding cultural conversations.
Since 2005, the Cruz-Diez Foundation has served as the cultural institution responsible for sharing and protecting Carlos Cruz-Diez’s legacy with a special focus on educational programs. In this new phase of the foundation, Carlota and Valeria will work closely with Adriana and the Board, the Cruz-Diez family and CDF’s team to strengthen the CDF’s operations and programs, as well as expanding the organization’s reach and visibility.
About Valeria Cordero Reyes:
Valeria brings 17 years of experience designing and nurturing a wide variety of international cultural and philanthropic programs. Working with nonprofit organizations and private clients, her approach has created new audiences and advanced clients’ missions while maximizing resources and amplifying impact. Valeria’s main areas of expertise include fundraising strategies and nonprofit compliance.
About Carlota Perez-Appelbaum:
For more than 16 years, Carlota has worked as an arts professional, curating and managing art collections for international clients and creating impactful cultural programs. She has led and played an integral part in a wide variety of projects that have contributed to the research, understanding, distribution, and appreciation of art and culture. Carlota’s unique background results in a deep understanding of the art market, a strong belief in academic research and a fundamental commitment to expanding the cultural conversation.
About the Cruz-Diez Foundation:
Founded in 2005 by Carlos Cruz-Diez and his family, the mission of the Cruz-Diez Foundation is to foster the study and appreciation of Cruz-Diez’s life and work. This is done through research, exhibitions, and educational programs worldwide. The Cruz-Diez Foundation is a US tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization.
Media contact:
Shantal Menéndez Argüello, Communications Coordinator, press [at] cruz-diezfoundation.org
