Joe Cruz | Its Nice That

#Issue No.4 Joe Cruz Eric Cahan Brecht Evens Bill Durgan Lucas Balock Mark Mulroney Luis Gispert George Lois Lawrence Weiner Asger Carlsen Kate MacGarry Martino Gamper Francis Upritchard Mikey Please Marion Deuchars Xavier Antin Assemble Romulo Celdran Dallas Clayton Quentin Dupieux William Goldsmith Anna-Wili Highfield Ill Studio Tom Phillips Eske Rex; Brian Nuda Rosch Paul Wackers Ann Woo Federico Yankelevich

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Joe Cruz is a visual artist, he graduated from Norwich School of Art in 2010, and is now based in London with an animated, refreshing and distinguished style. Exploring his very own interpretation of found imagery, Joe brings nostalgic black and white photography to life with an overlapping ice cream palette of scribbles and artistic scrawl.

Expressive and striking, forgotten photos are given another chance to shine, with twists of crayon and pops of zesty colour adorning their surface. There is something endearing about these simple compositions, a winning formula of complimentary contrasting, that works excellently every time.

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JOE CRUZ Visual Artist -3Joe Cruz

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The work of London-based illustrator Joe Cruz never ceases to excite with his

Finding these photographs has become a part of the illustrator’s process, “I enjoy

signature oil pastel markings adorning black and white photographs to create a

researching, my interest in art history can fuel new experiments allowing the work to

wonderful communion.

develop,” he explains. “I am constantly on the lookout and sort through lots of material

His personal work is as bold as ever, but it’s great to see more of Joe’s creations in a

to find something that appeals to me.”

commercial context. Most recently his images graced The Sunday Times Magazine

While Joe has established a style for himself, it’s his penchant for experimentation that

in their feature on Harper Lee’s new novel Go Set A Watchman and Whistles has

allows him to embrace change and other ways of working. “A large part of my work

also cottoned on to his magic.

is play.

Joe’s extensive use of found imagery adds to the freshness of his work as he takes an

I get bored and am very fidgety so all the experimenting goes hand-in-hand with my

already existing object and re-appropriates it in a stark and accessible way.

research to drive my practise.” Expressive and beautiful, the vivid shades and dialogue created build an energy that’s hard to ignore.

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‘His is a style that literally dances off the page.’

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Illustrator Joe Cruz has been trawling charity shops, old photography journals and the

The work is very much process driven and hands on, and I make creative choices based

internet for inspiration in a bid to celebrate beauty.

on feelings and inspirations in that moment.

Originally from Tottenham in north London, he completed his BA in graphic design in

” Particularly drawn to strong women, he says: “I am trying to create a new aesthetic

Norwich before landing himself in Hertfordshire.

to embrace the feeling of youth in our generation, as well as representing the diversity

“My main materials are a photocopier and chalk pastels,” he tells us of his process of

in race, culture, religion and sexuality. I’m very drawn to portraiture. Visual influences

reappropriating found imagery into the brightly coloured reincarnations. “Over time

include religious icons, pop art and tribal decorations.”

I source images until I have a number visuals that appeal to me.

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JOE CRUZ

Joe Cruz Eric Cahan Brecht Evens Bill Durgan Lucas Balock Mark Mulroney Luis Gispert George Lois Lawrence Weiner Asger Carlsen Kate MacGarry Martino Gamper Francis Upritchard Mikey Please Marion Deuchars Xavier AntinAssemble Romulo Celdran Dallas Clayton Quentin Dupieux William Goldsmith Anna-Wili Highfield Ill Studio Tom Phillips Eske Rex; Brian Nuda Rosch Paul Wackers Ann Woo Federico Yankelevich

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JOE CRUZ