Nic Cruz

Your works are rich in narrative and symbolism. Can you walk us through the story or meaning behind one of your recent pieces?

“Summer’s Sour Spell” (2024) is a painting that transforms my grandparents’ pool and backyard into a surreal landscape, teeming with plants, insects, fruits, and undulating water. While the imagery may appear disparate at first glance, each element is intricately tied to specific memories of the backyard and reflects my evolving perception as I transitioned into adulthood. The artwork explores themes of maintenance, the preservation of beauty, and the inevitable march of decay. In my childhood, the backyard was a vibrant oasis, boasting towering philodendrons, exotic birds of paradise, and citrus trees laden with lemons and oranges, all centered around a sparkling blue pool. This Eden-like setting demanded constant care to maintain its pristine appearance. My grandfather, the primary caretaker, allowed me to assist him in this labor of love—testing the pool’s pH, skimming debris, and harvesting fallen fruit. Interwoven with these memories is a whimsical anecdote shared by my mother and grandmother. The painting features a hand wielding scissors, poised to cut a lock of hair—a nod to an incident where my grandmother chased my mother around the pool, determined to finish a haircut. This image serves a dual purpose, mirroring the pruning and maintenance required to keep the yard in its prime. Another vignette shows my mother sunbathing poolside, a testament to her desire to maintain her tan while my grandfather and I swam. As my grandfather’s health declined in his final years, succumbing to the ravages of dementia, the backyard began to mirror his deterioration. The once-lush grass withered and was replaced by rocks. The pool, no longer pristine, became a repository for insects and debris. This decay is symbolized in the painting by seemingly perfect citrus fruits that, when turned over, reveal hidden mold—a metaphor I’ve explored in my poetry as well. “Summer’s Sour Spell” is an homage to the idealized version of the backyard that exists now only in memory. It stands as a testament to the relentless effort required to maintain such beauty and serves as a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of perfection. Through this work, I’ve immortalized not just a place, but the love and labor that went into its creation and upkeep.

Nic Cruz | Figure | 2022

How does your background in performance and sound production influence your visual art practice?

During my undergraduate studies at UC Irvine, I deliberately stepped out of my comfort zone by enrolling in a performance art class, despite my primary focus on drawing and painting. This decision was driven by a desire to expand my artistic horizons and gain a deeper understanding of performance as a medium. The unique circumstances of the pandemic necessitated a shift to pre-recorded performances, which unexpectedly opened up a new realm of creative possibilities. This transition to digital presentation introduced me to video editing, where I discovered techniques such as superimposing footage to create ethereal, dreamlike imagery and manipulating color saturation to its fullest potential. Moreover, my background in music naturally led me to explore the auditory aspects of performance. I began experimenting with sound composition, often repurposing and looping snippets from original audio tracks to create unique soundscapes. These performance classes bolstered my confidence as a performer and helped fortify my aesthetic inclinations. I gravitate towards bold colors, surreal imagery, and visual collage to construct meaning. This newfound understanding of my artistic voice has become integral to my creative toolkit. As I progress to my master’s degree, I continue to delve into the intricate relationships between performance, sound, and visual art. My recent exhibition, “4,” exemplifies this interdisciplinary approach. The show combined a series of paintings with narrative poetry, providing a rich backstory to the visual elements. In homage to my late grandfather, a puppeteer, I incorporated a puppet performance, adding another layer to the visual narrative of the exhibition. This experience has reinforced my commitment to exploring the intersection of various artistic media. I am particularly intrigued by how different forms of expression can interact and harmonize on a sensory level. I aim for future projects to create immersive experiences that engage multiple senses and challenge traditional artistic categorizations.

Nic Cruz | Interior Of Corazon | 2023

Nature, Romantic literature, and the unconscious mind are central to your work. How do you weave these inspirations together in a single piece?

My creative process is deeply rooted in direct engagement with nature. I find solace and inspiration in forest hikes and park walks, where I immerse myself in my surroundings. These visual encounters serve multiple purposes: they may become backdrops for future artworks, subjects for plein air studies, or simply moments of pure appreciation. The organic structures and natural pathways I observe in these environments profoundly influence the composition of my pieces. I approach my work with a sensibility akin to Romantic literature, romanticizing both nature and everyday moments to infuse my art with depth and richness. By employing vibrant colors and exaggerated depth, I invite viewers to delve deeper into each painting, encouraging a close examination of the intricate details. This results in an unhurried, contemplative viewing experience, allowing for moments of reflection and a natural rhythm of exploration. The realm of the unconscious, particularly dreams, often serves as a wellspring of inspiration for my scenarios. For instance, my apocalyptic piece “Figure 5” (2022) emerged from a vivid dream of a world-ending event—I found myself the last person on a burning planet, witnessing mass exodus via rocket ships and the solar system’s demise to a black hole. While extreme, this dreamscape provided the perfect backdrop to explore themes of apocalypse and isolation. These three elements—nature, Romantic sensibilities, and the unconscious mind—are vehicles for my creative process. They guide me in conceptualizing new pieces, and their combination opens up exciting possibilities for the evolution of my work. By interweaving these influences, I strive to create art that is not only visually captivating but also emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating, inviting viewers into a world where reality, imagination, and the subconscious converge.

Nic Cruz | Phantom Limbs | 2024

Do you approach your installations and paintings differently in terms of process or intention?

While my installations and painting series share many commonalities in their creative processes, their intended outcomes and viewer experiences diverge significantly. For my painting series, I envision a collection of thematically interconnected images that coexist within a unified visual language. This cohesion is achieved through consistent use of media across the paintings, deliberate repetition of symbolic elements, and recurring stylistic motifs. Each painting within the series is crafted to stand as an independent, aesthetically complete work, engaging viewers even when standalone. In these two-dimensional pieces, my focus is primarily on overall composition and design, creating a harmonious balance that captivates the eye and invites contemplation. In contrast, my installations represent an expansion into three-dimensional space, challenging me to consider how audiences might physically navigate and interact with the work. These immersive environments demand a greater emphasis on rhythm and multisensory engagement. Unlike the contained nature of individual paintings, installations offer a more fluid, experiential encounter with art. They invite viewers to become active participants, their movements and choices becoming integral to the piece itself. In essence, my paintings create windows into carefully composed visual worlds, while my installations construct entire environments that envelop and engage the viewer on multiple sensory levels. Both approaches, though distinct, stem from my overarching artistic vision to extend audience experience past the norm and highlight the surreal.

Nic Cruz | Sunlight Farms | 2023

You’re currently pursuing an MFA at CalArts. How has graduate school shaped or challenged your artistic voice?

My experience in graduate school at CalArts has been transformative, exposing me to a vibrant tapestry of contemporary artists. Engaging with peers, faculty, and visiting guest artists has been a wellspring of inspiration. Each individual brings a unique perspective to their practice, creating a rich, diverse artistic ecosystem within the school. At CalArts, excellence is not just encouraged; it’s expected. The institution challenges us to constantly push boundaries, experiment, and venture beyond our comfort zones. A hallmark of the CalArts experience is its emphasis on interdisciplinary arts, where traditional boundaries between practices are intentionally blurred. This approach is exemplified in the composition of our classes, where students from various majors—art, photography, dance, acting, critical studies, and more—come together, fostering a melting pot of ideas and perspectives. The critiques at CalArts are particularly valuable. The diversity of interpretations I receive for my work provides profound insights into my own artistic practice, pushing me to see my creations through multiple lenses. One of the most significant personal revelations I’ve had is recognizing my ambitious nature when it comes to project vision. I’ve learned the value of focusing my energy on fewer elements, rather than spreading myself too thin. This approach often yields more impactful and refined results. The CalArts experience is more than just an education; it’s an immersion into a dynamic, ever-evolving artistic community. This environment not only nurtures individual growth but also fosters a spirit of innovation that prepares us to make meaningful contributions to the contemporary art world.

Nic Cruz | Wooden Clacks And Glassy Clicks | 2024

As a young artist working across so many disciplines, how do you choose which medium best fits each idea?

Like my grandfather, I find myself drawn to the role of a Renaissance artist, embracing the versatility of a jack-of-all-trades. The diverse artistic mediums I employ are akin to different tongues, each with its unique ability to express ideas. Just as certain concepts are more eloquently conveyed in specific spoken languages, some artistic visions translate more effectively through particular media. My choice of medium is often guided by what ignites my passion in the moment. Currently, I’m building a visual catalogue of plein air landscapes in sketchbook form. This project not only satisfies my current artistic inclination but also serves as a stepping stone toward my aspiration of publishing children’s books, allowing me to explore and master the book format. The inherent “spirit” of each medium plays a crucial role in my creative process, harmonizing with the themes and emotions I aim to convey. When I seek to capture the ethereal quality of a dreamy landscape, I turn to oils, leveraging their natural propensity for blending and softening borders. For pieces that demand movement and dynamism, transcending static display, I harness the kinetic energy of video and animation. My artistic journey is one of continuous exploration and learning. I constantly seek to expand my repertoire of art-making techniques and media, viewing each new skill as an addition to my artistic vocabulary. This perpetual growth enriches my creative expression, allowing me to select the most appropriate “language” for each artistic statement I wish to make.

Nic Cruz | Summer S Sour Spell | 2024

What does “belonging” mean to you in today’s turbulent world, and how do you hope your work creates space for that?

To me, the essence of belonging is the profound sense of security one feels within a given space. I firmly believe that authenticity—simply being oneself—should be the only prerequisite for acceptance and inclusion. Through my art, I aspire to create a welcoming atmosphere that resonates with my audience, fostering a sense of community and shared experience. In a world often overshadowed by discord and pain, I see my artistic practice as a beacon of support and solace. My work aims to counterbalance the overwhelming negativity by cultivating an environment of empathy and understanding. I strive to create pieces that speak to the human experience, offering comfort to those in need. My goal is to create a space where people from diverse backgrounds can find common ground, sparking meaningful dialogues and forging lasting bonds. I envision my art as a catalyst for building inclusive communities—spaces where individuals feel valued, heard, and understood. Through carefully crafted visual narratives and immersive experiences, I aim to encourage viewers to explore their identities, share their stories, and connect with others on a deeper level. My artistic mission is to contribute to a more compassionate and interconnected world.