David Cruz (b.2002) is currently studying at The University of Texas at Arlington

-I see part of myself as an amalgamation of the gaudy, tacky, kitschy things I love: big jewelry, the smell of floral perfumes, and bright, clashing colors. A part of me is chic and a part of me is ugly. Like a good grandma sweater paired with a big purse full of napkins and crunchy old candy wrappers. It’s the side of me that was raised by the women I grew up around as a child.​

I grew up watching melodramatic novelas, overhearing juicy family gossip, learning the ideal way to style a unicorn glitter crop top with low rise jeans and worn-down sneakers, how to get the most out of a 20-dollar budget, and how to make a quick family meal with minimal ingredients.​

With crude humor and plenty of self-loathing, my work is shaped by my struggles with hyper-sexuality, the pressure to embody an idealized “queer” image, internalized homophobia, intimacy, and the desire to improve my self image. I use materials like beads, expanding foam, fabrics, and chalk pastels to imitate some of these sensations I was so familiar with while growing up. As I age it all grows increasingly hazy, so by using these familiar tacky fabrics or cheap plastic beads I get a small dose of nostalgia. In the end, I mold and shape these items into figurative images that mimic the visions in my head. Through my work, I look to create a space for personal catharsis and to reflect on the broader complexities of identity. Ultimately, I hope to find a sense of inner peace.​