RALEIGH, N.C. — A Durham artist and teacher uses his paint brush to channel his roots and show off what's special about his blend of cultural heritage.
What You Need To Know
Jose Manuel Cruz, a professional artist for more than 25 years, creates art that reflects his Puerto Rican and Colombian identity
He takes inspiration from his childhood growing up in Newark, New Jersey in a multi-cultural household
Cruz is a middle school arts teacher in Durham, but finds time to draw or paint in his home studio whenever he can
Jose Manuel Cruz has been drawing since 3rd grade. Cruz, who is born to Puerto Rican and Colombian parents, refers to himself as Afro-Latino. But says it’s not something he thinks about. It’s who he is and what he creates.
“When the work finally is done, I get to see those aspects of a lot of different cultures, whether it’s African-American, whether it’s Latino, whether it’s Aztec, whether it’s pre-Colombian,” Cruz said. “It’s in my work. I guess it’s in my blood.”
According to the latest U.S. Census data, there are 1.2 million people in the U.S. who identify as Hispanic and Black, and the actual number is likely much greater than that.
Cruz, a professional artist for more than 25 years, has had his work featured at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Before starting a new piece, he lets his creative side flow naturally.
“I don’t know exactly what I’m gonna do yet. Actually, it’s up here and not up here,” Cruz said, pointing to his head. “I know that’s kind of crazy, but that’s just me.”
Cruz says he’s always thinking about a face, one that doesn’t necessarily have to be symmetrical.
“One eye can be bigger than the other or the nose, you know, we breathe through our nose, so a lot of my noses are big, and maybe that has to do with our culture.”
He also takes inspiration from his childhood growing up in Newark, New Jersey.
“I just love the afro, and all the hair,” he said.
One piece, which he painted in 2011 and is now a part of his personal collection, was inspired by his mother and sister at the hair salon. It represents women of mixed heritage, Black and Latina.
Cruz is also a middle school arts teacher. Sometimes his wife will catch him working in his home studio until 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning, knowing that he has to be out of the house at 6 A.M. to get to work.
“We’re blessed,” Cruz said. “And we try to keep each other in check. And try to keep it moving. You know? Look out for each other. She’s like my biggest supporter. Her and my daughters, of course.”
Cruz and his wife, who is Black, have been married for 23 years. The couple says they face racism even from within their own communities. Cruz says he wants minorities no matter what race they are, Black, Latino or mixed, to support and uplift one another.