Meet Pablo Cruz | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Pablo Cruz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Pablo, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
This is an excellent question and something I think about often, especially after wearing so many different hats throughout my life, whether it was working construction, customer service at some store, or even as a lab technician at a winery. You name it, I have probably worked in that industry; I guess I would say that it was a career that chose me, and I just followed. It’s been a creative endeavor that has taught me so much and has allowed me to connect with my family, community, and culture. All I can remember from my early days is that I knew I wanted to be an artist the day my late grandfather gave me one of his cameras; the moment I had it in my hands was the moment that I knew that is what I wanted to do, and just that and nothing more.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art career started a bit later in my life. Art making was something I always admired but never considered myself any good at because my knowledge about art was narrow, and I didn’t have many reference points. It wasn’t until the age of twenty-one that I jumped headlong into seeking it as a career; this urge came to me when my late grandfather gifted me my very first camera; since then, I have not looked back, with this in focus (no pun intended) I decided to go back to school. It was a slow endeavor, as I also had to work a full-time job while going to school, and it took me several years to finish at a community college as I often had to move from state to state or, at times, drop out for financial reasons. Community College took me longer than most, but through hard work and sheer stubbornness; I built enough units to transfer to a University slowly, though it took me six and a half years to share. I don’t think I would have been successful and be where I am now without the professors who encouraged me to move forward and helped me build a strong foundation. At age twenty-seven, I started to attend the University of Arizona, where I got a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art with a Minor in Art History. During my time at the U of A, I honed my skills, and with my strong foundation, I found my voice, the artist I wanted to be, and the topics I wanted to explore, and it prepared me for graduate school, where I am furthering my career. I learned from this lengthy process that stubbornness can sometimes pay off; you must continue regardless of how tough it can be. Through my practice, I explore the Mexican-American identity and how its history, politics, culture, and how La Frontera (the Border) shapes my community; this is how I would best describe my work.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As a graduate student, I don’t go out much, but if I had the free time to take a little trip or vacation, I would want to explore Dallas a bit more because I have only been to the area around the Dallas Museum of Art. So, I would have to google some places.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shout out Jenni Cholula, Amy Nava Ruiz, and Jose Narvaez. Who I met at the University of North Texas and who made me feel at home in the photography department as a graduate student who is far from home. It was such a delight seeing their work grow, and just being around them made graduate school more enjoyable. And though two of them have graduated, I look forward to seeing what they do next.

Another shoutout I would like to give another shoutout to Bailey Weiss and Veronica Ibarguengoitia, who have supported and encouraged me throughout my first year as a graduate student. I look forward to growing and working alongside my dear colleagues.

Instagram: @pablo.a_cruz

Image Credits
All images were made by myself and a camera.