Artist Statement

From The Bronx, Walter Cruz explores the intersections of art, design, music and architecture to better understand how Black and brown bodies activate and take up space. At the heart of Cruz’s artistic practice is a commitment to activism and community engagement.

The artist is the co-founder for Zeal; a Black artist-owned cooperative company that focuses on creating spaces for Black multidisciplinary artists to thrive. Cruz serves as a visual designer for the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI). He has earned an MFA degree from The Maryland Institute College of Art’s Mount Royal School of Art and earned his B.A in Architectural Studies from Hobart & William Smith Colleges. His work has been shown at galleries, museums and international art fairs, including, The New Art Dealers Fair NY Edition, The Museum of the City of New York, the Center for Political Graphics, Los Angeles, REGULARNORMAL Gallery, Band of Vices Gallery, Syracuse University and Longwood Gallery in The Bronx and beyond. Cruz has completed artist residencies and fellowships with The Laundromat Project and NurtureArt Gallery, and The Haystack Mountain School of Craft amongst others.