Cruz is a leading wood stain artist, creating works on two and three dimensional premium wood substrates, one and a half hours north of Philadelphia PA. In this work there is a reverence for the tree and a conscious-awareness. Cruz has coined this quality in her work as, "Wàsayū™”. Inspired by Japanese perspectives that contrast to the western view of beauty. 'Wàsayū' means, "profound grace in obscured transient beauty".

Born in 1972 in the South Bronx, moved around the United States before settling in New Jersey 
in 1996. At the age of six began drawing in a realist style. Innately drawn to tools and wood finishes, she began working with them at age ten.

In 1994, Cruz put herself through school, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, before moving to northern New Jersey. The following decade, working in a more illustrative style with mixed media.

Between 1996 and 2006 I found myself repeatedly buying earth-tone tubes of paint that I didn’t need. I could not explain this, nor the fact that since 1993 all of my mental visuals appeared to me in ‘Sepia’ tone.

The aftermath of 9/11 brought economic hardship and change. The two-year experience that followed was the catalyst in further exploration in monochromatics, that had begun eight years earlier. She tapped into the relevance of how the pairing-down of things illuminates and stimulates connection. This powerful discovery fueled new work, rebuilding her life while continuing to paint.

With a dedicated studio, in 2013 Cruz organically transitioned to wood stain, recognizing that this was the medium that had been calling since age ten. Focusing on similar-hues improved upon light, shadow and form. This birthed her development of original methods and techniques, GrainStain Arts^®.

In 2017, a solo exhibition with Cruz's signature approach was held at ArtsQuest in Bethlehem PA. Consisting of fourteen portraits, the show dealt with issues of community and the amazing giving capacity of the human spirit. It was featured on the front page of a local newspaper and an NPR radio interview.

Life has taught me the blessing of ‘non-attachment’. I remain open to creativity as a whole. My works on paper are very much part of the tree and art relationship. Creativity is meant to be boundless.

Cruz continues to work in her New Jersey studio along the Delaware river.

Curriculum Vitae Highlights

Bachelor of Fine Arts
Paier College of Art Inc - 1994
Hamden, Conn.

2018  Group Show, “THAT - The Hunterdon Art Tour”,
           Hunterdon Art Museum, Clinton NJ

2017  Solo Exhibition, “the new BLACK —VOLUNTEERISM”,
           Alvin H. Butz Gallery at ArtsQuest's SteelStacks, Bethlehem PA
           Traveling exhibition that gives testament to the amazing giving capacity
           of the human spirit. Using art and narrative, it explores the unseen
           rewards TO the volunteer.

2015  Solo Project. Habitat for Humanity, "First Light"
           Habitat of the Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem PA
           Utilitarian table and fine art work. Reconstruction of a pocket door into a table.
           The bloom on the face is the flower 'from' the cactus painted on the underside.

2014  Group Show, “The Art of the Flower Exhibition”,
           Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia PA

2014  Group Show, “To Plaid or Not to Plaid”, 
           The Gallery at St. John's, Easton PA

2014  Group Show*, “Member's Art Exhibition”,
           Artsbridge Group, Lambertville NJ

2007  Solo Exhibition, “The Open Door"
           Paula at Rigoletto, Weehawken NJ

1994  Group Show, “Alumni Show"
          Paier College of Art, Hamden CT

1992  Public Art Project. Collaborative.
          City of Meriden, Meriden CT
           Design and concept development of an 11’ wooden archway of an annual public
            community event. As well as life-size reproduction of wooden storybook
            characters for children’s reading area.


*The piece entered in this show was a monochromatic brown work. It sold within fifteen minutes of the show's opening.