Emilia Cruz (she/her/hers)
Cruz is a first-generation Mexican-American artist born in San Diego, CA in 1993. She moved to Simi Valley at the age of three but spent most of her childhood weekends traveling back and forth to visit family in Tijuana, Baja California, MX. Her love for art started at a young age as did her exposure to adversity. Her motivation to create inspirational pieces of art stemmed from the colorism she viewed through people of her skin tone being depicted as villains in television and movies.
Though she was aware of art school while in high school, she didn't apply until after having attended Moorpark College. She is now currently enrolled in the Illustration program at Art Center College of Design working towards a BFA in Illustration. Her pieces centers around women of color, using her favorite mediums oil and acrylic paint for vibrancy in her figurative work. She teaches art classes for kids at Plaza de la Raza’s Performing and Visual Arts school located in Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, CA. She was recently commissioned by CNN en Español for Proyecto Ser Humano (Humanity Project) and for a Netflix series called Gente-fied.
Exhibitions:
Self-Help Graphics, Los Angeles, CA, 2020 Vision: Prophecy Manifested, March 2020, curated by Mujeres de Maiz
Montana Shop LA, Los Angeles, CA, Ladies First, February 2020
Tonalli Studio, Los Angeles, CA, Corazón de Melón, February 2020
Centro de Artes, San Antonio, TX, Xicanx, New Visions, February 2020, curated by Dos Mestizx
Avenue 50 Studio, Los Angeles, CA, Mujer: Rights, February 2020
South Pasadena City Hall Galleries, So Pas, CA, Entrelazadas, January 2020, curated by 11:11 A Creative Collective
City Hall Gallery, Pacoima, CA, Fuerza De La Mujer, November 2019 curated by 11:11 A Creative Collective
ChimMaya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, Arte Pare La Gente, October 2019
La Bodega Gallery, San Diego, CA, Perfect 10 Group Show, October 2019
ChimMaya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, September Group Show, September 2019
Tonalli Studio, Los Angeles, CA, Entering the Goddess Portal, August 2019
La Bodega Gallery, San Diego, CA, Friducha, Frida Inspired Art Show, July 2019
ChimMaya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, Primavera, May 2019
Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery, Seattle, Washington, Chingonas Art Exhibition, May 2019
MCAU Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, We Are Many, March 2019
La Bodega Gallery, San Diego, CA, Chicana: Liberated and Empowered, March 2019
Self Help Graphics & Arts, Los Angeles, CA, Mujeres de Maiz Annual Art Exhibit, March 2019
Tonalli Studio, Los Angeles, CA, Light Flying Backwards, March 2019
ChimMaya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, 13th Annual Open House, December 2018
ChimMaya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, Las Hijas de La Luna y del Sol, Solo Exhibit, November 2018
ChimMaya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, Frida y Los Muertos, October 2018
Angel City Brewery, Los Angeles, CA, Stories of the Neighborhood, October 2018 curated by Ms.Yellow
ChimMaya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, Autumn Group Show, September 2018
Kaleidoscope Kollective, Los Angeles, CA, That Brown Skin Magia, September 2018
Avenue 50 Studio, Los Angeles, CA, Mis Cuentos, Solo Exhibit, July 2018
ChimMaya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, 13th Year Anniversary, July 2018
La Bodega Gallery, San Diego, CA, Frida Kahlo Art Show, July 2018
SPARC, Venice, CA, When She Rises, July 2018
ChimMaya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, I Am Not a Label, April 2018
La Bodega Gallery, San Diego, CA, Chicana: Magia de Mujer, March 2018
Plaza de la Raza, Los Angeles, CA, Viva la Muxer, March 2018 curated by Las Fotos Project
Artwork:
I found this piece particularly interesting because it is Cruz's own take on one of Frida Kahlos most famous work. It represents the binary category women in Latinx culture are forced to choose between. Either a free, independent woman considered promiscuous or well-mannered, traditional and submissive lady. Cruz maintains the idea Kahlo had buy having the one heart attached to the submissiveness being broken while the other is full.
A very prominent work of Cruz's, this piece garnered much attention and support from audiences that related to the experience of colorism. She used her younger sister to pose for her in this piece, which speaks on the lack of representation seen for girls of color within popular items such as toys.
I am glad we were able to do this project/assignment because I was able to learn about many new artists! Im especially glad I was able to learn about Emilia Cruz. Her art is both beautiful and powerful in the way Cruz's message is relayed and how it is visually depicted.
ReplyDeleteI have lived in Simi Valley ever since I immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 5 and it's just awesome to think that someone else from this seemingly unknown city was able to leave the bubble that encompasses the city and make an impact in the Chicanx art community. Having also gone to Moorpark College for two years before transferring to UCLA, I was also unaware of the possibilities and options in careers, much like Emilia Cruz. It's amazing how far she has come in her career and it's inspiring.
I believe her art, especially the artwork right above titled "Am I Too Dark," should be widely appreciated.