Jerome Caja Death
Jerome passed away on November 3, 1995 at the age of 37 in San Francisco, California, USA. Jerome's cause of death was aids (related complications).
When did Jerome Caja die?
November 3, 1995How did Jerome Caja die? What was the cause of death?
Aids (related complications)How old was Jerome Caja when died?
37Where did Jerome Caja die? What was the location of death?
San Francisco, California, USA
Jerome Caja Birthday and Date of Death
Jerome Caja was born on January 20, 1958 and died on November 3, 1995. Jerome was 37 years old at the time of death.
Birthday: January 20, 1958
Date of Death: November 3, 1995
Age at Death: 37
Jerome Caja - Biography
Jerome Caja (1958-1995) was an American mixed-media painter and Queercore performance artist in San Francisco, California in the 1980s and early 1990s.
In the late 1980s, Caja became a well-known artistic personality within the radical gay scene in San Francisco. Caja performed as a drag queen and go-go dancer in San Francisco's queer punk nightclubs, where his performance art has been described as "post-apocalyptic deconstructive drag." In one Easter performance at Club Uranus, Caja in drag performed an elaborate reenactment of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
Caja began by producing ceramic sculptures and then he moved on to create paintings. Caja crafted miniature mixed-media artworks which he created from everyday materials, especially those used by drag queens such as nail polish, sequins, lace and glitter. Caja was a fan of makeup even before he was diagnosed with AIDS, so he transferred his own affection for makeup straight into his artistic work. Many of Caja's works were influenced by Catholic iconography and satirized Christian morality. Professor of Communication Fred Turner described Caja's paintings as "fragments of a private allegory -- often dizzyingly grotesque, but also glorious, gentle and sad." While in his other artwork, he tried to express his own fearlessness.
According to Caja, he tested positive for HIV around 1989 and began to show symptoms of sickness around 1992. Caja as well suffered from CMV retinitis as result of the diagnosis. In August and September 1995, the Archives of American Art recorded an oral history interview with Caja. He died of AIDS in San Francisco on November 3, 1995. His memorial service was held at the Hole in the Wall gay bar in South of Market, San Francisco.
