David Antonio Cruz Work | Artist Statement & CV | Return to Artist List
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Artist Statement
A queer, unnamed, and diasporic space filled with shape-shifters, travelers, and performers is the realm where my work subsists. In many ways my upbringing set the stage for my artistic investigation of the interstitial and undefined spaces as I navigate between fixed points and undefined realms. In the thick of a lush dream forest, a noisy traffic-filled street, or the cold sterility of a vacant interior the characters in my work begin their performances, activating these worlds with a strange brew of love, frustration, multiplicity, fantasy, memory, and madness. I am interested in mapping out these constantly shifting psychological spaces of transformation between the real and the imagined, the flowers and the garbage, the grit and the grotesque, where physicality is erased and broken down.
A queer, unnamed, and diasporic space filled with shape-shifters, travelers, and performers is the realm where my work subsists. In many ways my upbringing set the stage for my artistic investigation of the interstitial and undefined spaces as I navigate between fixed points and undefined realms. In the thick of a lush dream forest, a noisy traffic-filled street, or the cold sterility of a vacant interior the characters in my work begin their performances, activating these worlds with a strange brew of love, frustration, multiplicity, fantasy, memory, and madness. I am interested in mapping out these constantly shifting psychological spaces of transformation between the real and the imagined, the flowers and the garbage, the grit and the grotesque, where physicality is erased and broken down.
CV
DAVID ANTONIO CRUZ
cruz.davidantonio@gmail.com
EDUCATION
2009 MFA, YALE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL of ART, New Haven, CT.
2006 SKOWHEGAN SCHOOL of PAINTING and SCULPTURE. Madison, ME.
1998 BFA, PRATT INSTITUTE, Painting. Brooklyn, NY.
SOLO/GROUP EXHIBITION/PERFORMANCES
2010 “Weaving In & Out, Tapestry. Harlem, NY. Painting/ Installation.
2009 ”Night of Performance/Videos”, Yale University Art Gallery. New Haven, CT. Video
2009 “Drawing the Line”, New Haven, Ct. Performance.
2008 “Between the air, the bark, and the green”, Centro de Estudios Puertorriquenos, Hunter College, New York, NY. Solo Show.
2008 “The Piano Piece”, Yale Summer School of Music and Art at Norfolk. Norfolk, CT. Performance.
2008 “How To Walk A Whore To The Lake”, Yale Summer School of Music and Art at Norfolk. Norfolk, CT. Performance.
2006 “Tropicalisms”, The Jersey City Museum, Jersey City, NJ. Group Show.
2006 “The (S) Files”, The Selected File, El Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR. Group show.
2006 “Artist in The Marketplace”, The Bronx Museum, Bronx, NY. Group Show.
2005 “The (S) Files”, The Selected Files, El Museo del Barrio, New York, NY. Biennial Exhibition. Group show.
2005 “Identity Crisis”, Haven Gallery, Bronx, NY. Group show.
2004 “Naked-In-Waiting”, Rush Gallery, New York, NY. Group show.
2002 “He Is Unclean”, Judson Memorial Church Performance Place, New York, NY. Performance.
2001 “Rush Gallery”, New York, NY. Group show.
1998 “Waiting”, Schafler Gallery, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY. Solo show.
SYMPOSIUMS
2005 An Insider Look. El Museo del Barrio, New York, NY.
2004 Concepts, Process, Materials. Rush Gallery. New York, NY.
AWARDS, GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Urban Artist Initiative Award. NY, NY. 2009- 2010.
Yale Summer School of Art at Norfolk Fellowship Award, Norfolk, Ct.
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture Fellowship Grant Award, Madison, ME
Artist in the Marketplace, Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, NY.
National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts Award, Miami, Fl.
Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Washington, D.C.
National Talent Search Scholarship, Pratt Institute. Brooklyn, NY.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Puerto Rican Queer Sexualities”. El Centro Journal. 2007. Cover.
Genocchio, Benjamin. “Coloring a Tropical Paradise”. New York Times. ( December 2006).
Bischoff, Dan. “Tropical Humor”, The Star Ledger. (October 2006).
Dunphy, John. “Fall Colors”, The Jersey Journal (Fall 2006).
Bischoff, Dan. “Tropical Touches”, The Star Ledger. (October 2006).
Genocchio, Benjamin. “For Hopeful Artist, the Search to be Themselves” New York Times. (April 2006).
Quigley, Ryan. “Hitting the Mark”. NY Arts Magazine. 2006.
“Artist In the Marketplace”. The Bronx Museum of Art Catalogue. 2006.
“The Bronx Museum.” Time Out New York Magazine, (March 2006).
“Taylor Companies’ Presidental Scholars in the Visual Arts Collection”. Taylor Companies Catalogue. 2006.
“El Museo del Barrio.” Time Out New York Magazine, (August 2005).
“The (S) Files, The Selected Files.” El Museo Del Barrio’s Biennial Catalogue. 2005.
“El Museo’s 4th Bienal.” Daily News, (August, 2005).
“ Exposicion de Artistas Latinos, Exhibition of Lation Artist.” El Nuevo Hudson, (September 2005).
Williams, Sarah. “Crossing Cultures.”The Brownsville Herald, (September 2005).
Dederko, Dean. “Identity as a Very Personal Statement.” GayCity News: Volume4, Issue 24(June 2005).
Merino, Juan Fernando. “Arte Y Cultura.” El Diaro; August 21 2005: 28-29.
davidantoniocruz.com
DAVID ANTONIO CRUZ
cruz.davidantonio@gmail.com
EDUCATION
2009 MFA, YALE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL of ART, New Haven, CT.
2006 SKOWHEGAN SCHOOL of PAINTING and SCULPTURE. Madison, ME.
1998 BFA, PRATT INSTITUTE, Painting. Brooklyn, NY.
SOLO/GROUP EXHIBITION/PERFORMANCES
2010 “Weaving In & Out, Tapestry. Harlem, NY. Painting/ Installation.
2009 ”Night of Performance/Videos”, Yale University Art Gallery. New Haven, CT. Video
2009 “Drawing the Line”, New Haven, Ct. Performance.
2008 “Between the air, the bark, and the green”, Centro de Estudios Puertorriquenos, Hunter College, New York, NY. Solo Show.
2008 “The Piano Piece”, Yale Summer School of Music and Art at Norfolk. Norfolk, CT. Performance.
2008 “How To Walk A Whore To The Lake”, Yale Summer School of Music and Art at Norfolk. Norfolk, CT. Performance.
2006 “Tropicalisms”, The Jersey City Museum, Jersey City, NJ. Group Show.
2006 “The (S) Files”, The Selected File, El Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR. Group show.
2006 “Artist in The Marketplace”, The Bronx Museum, Bronx, NY. Group Show.
2005 “The (S) Files”, The Selected Files, El Museo del Barrio, New York, NY. Biennial Exhibition. Group show.
2005 “Identity Crisis”, Haven Gallery, Bronx, NY. Group show.
2004 “Naked-In-Waiting”, Rush Gallery, New York, NY. Group show.
2002 “He Is Unclean”, Judson Memorial Church Performance Place, New York, NY. Performance.
2001 “Rush Gallery”, New York, NY. Group show.
1998 “Waiting”, Schafler Gallery, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY. Solo show.
SYMPOSIUMS
2005 An Insider Look. El Museo del Barrio, New York, NY.
2004 Concepts, Process, Materials. Rush Gallery. New York, NY.
AWARDS, GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Urban Artist Initiative Award. NY, NY. 2009- 2010.
Yale Summer School of Art at Norfolk Fellowship Award, Norfolk, Ct.
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture Fellowship Grant Award, Madison, ME
Artist in the Marketplace, Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, NY.
National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts Award, Miami, Fl.
Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Washington, D.C.
National Talent Search Scholarship, Pratt Institute. Brooklyn, NY.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Puerto Rican Queer Sexualities”. El Centro Journal. 2007. Cover.
Genocchio, Benjamin. “Coloring a Tropical Paradise”. New York Times. ( December 2006).
Bischoff, Dan. “Tropical Humor”, The Star Ledger. (October 2006).
Dunphy, John. “Fall Colors”, The Jersey Journal (Fall 2006).
Bischoff, Dan. “Tropical Touches”, The Star Ledger. (October 2006).
Genocchio, Benjamin. “For Hopeful Artist, the Search to be Themselves” New York Times. (April 2006).
Quigley, Ryan. “Hitting the Mark”. NY Arts Magazine. 2006.
“Artist In the Marketplace”. The Bronx Museum of Art Catalogue. 2006.
“The Bronx Museum.” Time Out New York Magazine, (March 2006).
“Taylor Companies’ Presidental Scholars in the Visual Arts Collection”. Taylor Companies Catalogue. 2006.
“El Museo del Barrio.” Time Out New York Magazine, (August 2005).
“The (S) Files, The Selected Files.” El Museo Del Barrio’s Biennial Catalogue. 2005.
“El Museo’s 4th Bienal.” Daily News, (August, 2005).
“ Exposicion de Artistas Latinos, Exhibition of Lation Artist.” El Nuevo Hudson, (September 2005).
Williams, Sarah. “Crossing Cultures.”The Brownsville Herald, (September 2005).
Dederko, Dean. “Identity as a Very Personal Statement.” GayCity News: Volume4, Issue 24(June 2005).
Merino, Juan Fernando. “Arte Y Cultura.” El Diaro; August 21 2005: 28-29.
davidantoniocruz.com
Crossingtheblueline, the no returns project, 2010.Production still.
Crossingtheblueline, the no returns project, 2010.3 minute, Double channel video. Video still.
Work in progress, part 2 of 4.
Costume design and production by David A. Cruz
Music composer: Andrea Janev
Contains footage of Lolita Lebron, the leader of a group of Puerto Rican nationalists who attacked the United States House of Representatives in 1954.
Crossingtheblueline, the no returns project, 2010.3 minute, Double channel video. Video still.
Work in progress, part 2 of 4.
Costume design and production by David A. Cruz
Crossingtheblueline, the no returns project, 2010.3 minute, Double channel video. Video still.
Work in progress, part 2 of 4.
Costume design and production by David A. Cruz
Cinderellabackitup,don’tmakemekillmycoco, 2010.5 minute video. Video Still.
Costume design and production by David A. Cruz*
Contains audio samples of ” Cinderella”, “Snow White”, and “Paris is Burning”.
Cinderellabackitup,don’tmakemekillmycoco, 2010.5 minute video. Video Still.
Costume design and production by David A. Cruz*
Cinderellabackitup,don’tmakemekillmycoco, 2010.5 minute video. Video Still.
Costume design and production by David A. Cruz*
Cinderellabackitup,don’tmakemekillmycoco, 2010.5 minute video. Video Still.
Costume design and production by David A. Cruz*
Candyboyit’sonlycastleburning, 2010.Oil and enamel paint on wood panel.
4x6 feet.
Flybabygirlfly. 2010.Oil and enamel on wood panel.
4x4 feet.
anecho,billylosthishead, 2009.Oil and enamel on canvas.
6x9 feet.
Goldenwasteland, 2010Oil, enamel, and gold leaf on a wood panel.
34 x 20 inches.
Thoseboyswannahave fun, 20103 minute video. Video Still. Performance singing “Girls (boys) just want to have fun”.
Contains re-recorded footage of the Vietnam war, go-go dancers, boys fighting, voguing, western movies, Lolita Lebron, La Lupe, military footage, and multiple films.
Thoseboyswannahave fun, 20103 minute video. Video Still.
Performance singing “Girls (boys) just want to have fun”.
Re-recorded footage of Marlon Brando in A StreetCar Named Desire/satellite footage of a car bombing.
Thoseboyswannahave fun, 20103 minute video. Video Still.
Performance singing “Girls (boys) just want to have fun”.
Thoseboyswannahave fun, 20103 minute video. Video Still. Performance singing “Girls (boys) just want to have fun”.
Re-recorded footage of La Lupe performing “Cualquiera (Anyone)”, WAPA TV.