Agosto Machado - Performer, Artist, Activist and Witness, is best known for his work with Ellen Stewart's La Mama ETC, and his associations with Jack Smith, Mario Montez, Jackie Curtis, John Vaccaro, Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling, Marsha P Johnson, Ronald and Harvey Tavel, Ethyl Eichelberger and Peter Hujar.

Agosto Machado came into being in New York City in 1959. He took his last name from China Machado, the first asian model to appear on the cover of a major American fashion magazine. From the early 1970s, until his death on March 21, 2026, he made the East Village his home. His apartment, known as "The Forbidden City", was a treasure trove of art and historical memorabilia. He was present at the Stonewall Riots in 1969 and was a member of the Gay Rights organization G.A.A. (Gay Activists Alliance) with Jim Owles, Marty Robinson, Vito Russo, Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P Johnson among others . He participated in many of the "zaps" (protests) that G.A.A. organized, including a protest in Albany to stop the NY Board of Educations discrimination of Gay Teachers. He traveled to Washington DC with the group, helping collect the signatures needed for Frank Kameny to become the first openly Gay person to run for the United States Congress. Agosto was on the committee that found the Firehouse in Soho that became the permanent home for the organization. He proudly carried a banner for G.A.A. in the first New York Gay Pride March on June 28th, 1970.

In the early 1960s Agosto met Jack Smith and the Tavel Brothers (Ronald and Harvey), all of whom were experimenting with film and forms of theater that later became known as performance art. He participated in early Jack Smith happenings and was photographed and filmed by Smith. It was during this time that he became friends with Mario Montez who was a muse to both Jack Smith and Andy Warhol. Judson Church Agosto met Hibiscus (George Harris) and the Harris family while participating in shows at the Judson Church. Hibiscus later moved to San Francisco and co founded the legendary drag troupe the Cockettes. Agosto traveled back and forth from New York to San Francisco throughout the decade, joining the Cockettes onstage with the rest of the audience for their Palace Theater extravaganzas. During an early trip to San Francisco, Agosto met Cockette Rumi Missabu and continued to perform with him until Rumi’s death in 2024. When the Cockettes made their New York debut in November 1971, they added Agosto to their production of Pearls Over Shanghai. After Hibiscus left the Cockettes he formed the Angels of Light and had shows in San Francisco. When Hibiscus returned to New York, Agosto performed in East Coast Angels of Light shows.

On January 14th, 1967 he was present in Golden Gate Park when Allen Ginsberg chanted mantras at the "Human be in" that took place there.

During his early years in NYC Agosto became a fan of grand opera attending many performances at the Old Met Opera in Times Square and later in Lincoln Center, often with standing room tickets. He met many of his favorite artists and collected their autographs. The larger than life theatrical style of classical opera was an influence on him and many downtown artists including Charles Ludlum.

Playhouse of the Ridiculous was founded in the mid 1960s with John Vaccaro as director and Ronald Tavel writing some of the early plays. Agosto was invited to become a member of this troupe. An early production was "The Life of Juanita Castro" featuring Agosto in the title role. He performed this character in several incarnations of the show. It was through the play house that Agosto first met the legendary Penny Arcade.

Warhol Superstar Jackie Curtis cast Agosto, along with Mario Montez and Candy Darling, in Vain Victory performed at La Mama ETC on May 26, 1971. Agosto was soon one of Ellen Stewarts "babies" and began a long term relationship with that theater. Besides La Mama and Judson Church, he has performed at many downtown venues including Theater for the New City, PS 122,Gene Frankel Theatre, Saint Mark's Churchand Participant Gallery.

Here is a partial list of playwrights that Agosto has worked with:

For 10 years he appeared together with Ethyl Eichelberger in Eichelbergers Women of History" shows. They performed at venues throughout the city including The Performing Garage, Chandelier, 8BC , S.N.A.F.U., P.S.122 and The Pyramid Club where they also danced on the bar. Agosto was in the original production of Ethyl Eichelbergers "Hamlette" staring Black Eyed Susan and Tabboo!

Agosto created and performed several solo shows including "Babbling in a Garden", "Babbling with Joe" 1988 and Babbling with Imelda" (as Imelda Marcos) 1989. These performances embodied Agosto's passionate philosophy that everyone is capable of creating art and that an artist is self defining.

In 2003, he assisted Chris Capp and Michael Arian to create and produce the LaMama Coffeehouse Chronicles . This important interactive program presented personal oral accounts of the artists who worked at La Mama from its founding in 1961 through the present day.

Also a prolific photographer, Agosto kept a record of his life and contemporaries through the years. He used this archive of snapshots in ongoing art projects and installations. A notable continuing project were his self portrait art cards created to commemorate the new year. Contemporary artist and teacher Thomas Lanigan Schmidt invited Agosto to be a guest Artist at Skowhegan in 1993 and to give lectures at the School of Visual Arts . He had a long time creative relationship with artists Santiago-Hoge and collaborated with them in 1996 on a full room installation for "Home is Where The Art Is", a show at the National Arts Club curated by Mr Lanigan Schmidt

Besides the artists previously mentioned, among Agosto's creative family are Sheyla Baykal, Lavinia Co-op, Ken Angel Davis, Alexis Del Lago Tim Gault, John Edward Heys, Elizabeth Kley, LuLu LoLo, Billy Lux, Minette, Joan Marie Moossy, Michael Opedisano, Everret Quinton, Peggy Shaw and Lois Weaver , Carmelita Tropicana, Ela Troyano and Holly Woodlawn.

As a long time participant and witness to the downtown art scene, Agosto was great source of information to filmmakers and writers interested in the East Village. Mario Montez and Agosto were featured on international panels and festivals celebrating the life and art of Jack Smith. He appeared in "Superstar in a House Dress" (The Jackie Curtis story) by Craig Highberger 2004, "Beautiful Darling" (about Candy Darling) by Jeramiah Newton 2010, "Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis" by Mary Jordan 2006, " Pay It No Mind' (about Marsha P Johnson) by Michael Kasino 2012, and "In Search of Avery Willard" by Cary Kehayan 2012. He was interviewed and quoted in "The Village" a history of Greenwich Village by John Strausbaugh and “Candy Darling: Dreamer, Icon, Superstar” by Cynthia Carr. He also appears in the groundbreaking documentary "An American Family" 1973.

Agosto's unique style and ever changing looks made him a natural model for artists and photographers. Artists Chris Tannerr, Stephen Tashjian, Mark Tambella and Felix Plaza have all painted portraits of Agosto. Tashjian's painting can be seen in his art book "Tabboo! The Art of Stephen Tashjian" (Damiani Publishing).

Photographers who have made portraits of Agosto include:

Yolanda Andrade
Marianne Barcelona
Shayla Baykel
Allen Frame
Nan Goldin
Michael Harwood
Don Herron
Peter Hujar
Billy Lux
Alice O'Malley
Steven Menendez
Bobby Miller
Uzi Parnes
Clayton Patterson
Jack Pierson
Santiago-Hoge
Rick Shupper
Gail Thacker
Arthur Tress
Jean Claude Vasseux

In 2023 Agosto was “discovered” by the Gordon Robichaux gallery in New York as a visual artist for the memorial alters he created in his studio apartment using mementos collected thoughout his life. His artwork has been featured in group exhibitions at The Museum of Modern Art, Greene Naftali, White Columns, the New York City AIDS Memorial, Candice Madey, and the FLAG Art Foundation in New York, and The Bunker Artspace in West Palm Beach, Florida. In 2026, Machado presented a solo exhibition at Maureen Paley in London. He has had profiles published in The New York Times, Frieze, Artforum, The New Yorker, The Art Newspaper, New York Magazine, The Brooklyn Rail, The Paris Review, CANDY, ODDA, ARTnews, Wallpaper*, Dazed, Paper, Artnet, L’Officiel, and apartamento. A publication dedicated to his life and community is forthcoming from the Center for Art, Research and Alliances (CARA).

"We are all tainted by our time" - Agosto Machado