Jose Manuel Cruz Bio:

Jose Cruz is a Puerto Rican/Columbian Latino Artist. He has a unique style and loves working with color and all mediums. Mr. Cruz has been an Art Educator for over 20 years at all grade levels. He has been and advocate for the arts in education and enjoys bring art to the communities and at the same time bring his experiences as a professional exhibiting artist and photographer back to the classroom. 

Mr. Cruz graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Fine Arts in 1996 from New Jersey City University. In 1986 he started substitute teaching in the Newark Public Schools. It inspired him to pursue a career as an Art Educator.  
For 38 years he has exhibited his works in the United States and abroad. His most recent works are currently featured at the Delta Arts Center in Winston Salem, NC. He started with an exhibit at the Newark Museum’s Elementary Art Exhibits to Galleries within the NJ/NY area to the .

His influences as an artist is attributed to others which includes Professor Bernard, Eleta Caldwell, Mr. K, Russell Murray, Ben Jones, Keith Haring, Rascal, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Miro, Caldor, Peter Max, Gustav Klimt, Rafael A. Osuba and many others.