Artist Statement
Catherine Cruz is a French-American abstract artist who works with collage and mixed media. Informed by more than twenty-five years of experience in the design world, she takes inspiration from a unique perspective, which spans architecture, interior design, and sustainability.
She is driven by curiosity and the visceral need to experiment. In her abstract art practice, she has found paper and paint to be both simple and complex materials that can be manipulated in many ways. She grew up in an environment where the juxtaposition of old and new architecture creates a beautiful tension. In her current art, she sees the textures representing the old and the collage elements representing the new. Her art is informed by the passing of time and the effect of the natural elements on the built environment, which creates beauty and complexity in distressed and weathered surfaces.
Her abstract vocabulary is based on intuitive mark making, lines and forms, as well as the exploration of visual and tactile texture, and a good understanding of color. Her art-making process is very intuitive and explorative and she enjoys creating multi-layered surfaces because it is an exercise of trust, patience, and perseverance.
Biography
Catherine was born in Mante-la-Jolie, France, and moved the United States in 1987 to attend college. She received a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design (Cum Laude) from Florida State University in 1993 and had a successful career as residential and commercial interior designer for 20 years, followed by a second career and the creation of her own business as LEED-accredited green building consultant working with international architectural firms in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, New York, and Houston.
She lives in Sebastopol, CA, with her family, and stays in Valence, France, every year where she hosts art retreats for groups. She created Be You Art Studio and launched her creative workshops in 2018 and she has led numerous art classes for children and adults for both in France and the USA. Her passion is to encourage others to unleash their creativity, experiment with materials, and connect with their imagination.
She participates in Sonoma County’s Art Trails Open Studios every Fall, a juried event comprised of over 120 artists, and she teaches and volunteers at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts.
Current and Upcoming Exhibitions
Fulton Crossing, Fulton, California, December 2024 to March 2025
Healdsburg Center for the Arts, Healdsburg, California
French Collection on view at Mandibule restaurant, Alixan, France, June to September 2024
Past Exhibitions
Art Trails Open Studios Oct 2024
“Haven”, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA, Aug. 15 to Sept. 22, 2024
“Visual Prompts”, Sebastopol Gallery, Sebastopol, CA, April 2 to June 2, 2024
“Roshambo”, Graton Gallery, Graton, CA, May to June 2024
“Renewal” at the gallery of the Healdsburg Center for the Arts, April 11 to May 19, 2024
Art Trails Open Studios Sept-Oct 2023
Solo Show, La Maison Nugues, Romans-sur-Isère, France, June 2023
Santa Rosa Arts Center, members show March 3 to April 2, 2023
Healdsburg Center for the Arts, members show “Red”, February 2 to March 12, 2023
Healdsburg Center for the Arts, members show “Blue”, January 5-29, 2023
Sebastopol Center for the Arts, members show exhibition, December 3-30, 2022
Petaluma Arts Center, Art to Go Wall and Boutique, ongoing November 2022
Art Trails Open Studios, Sebastopol, California, September 24-25 and October 1-2, 2022
Sebastopol Center for the Arts, juried group exhibition “Abstract 2022”, June 18 to July 24, 2022, Merit Award for “Crossroads”
Penny MacNaughton Gallery, Art Escape, Sonoma, California - non-juried group exhibition “Embedded”, June 3 to July 8, 2022
Santa Rosa Arts Center, non-juried group show, “Upcycled”, June 3 to July 30, 2022
Healdsburg Center for the Arts, Healdsburg, California, Miniatures Exhibition, May 6 to June 19, 2022
Graton Gallery and Sebastopol Center for the Arts LIVE art showcase, Graton, California, April 22 to May 29, 2022
Penny MacNaughton Gallery, Art Escape, Sonoma, California - “Loose Ends” Group Exhibition, April 9 to May 20, 2022
La Boutique Laurent, Valence, France - January to March 2022
Penny MacNaughton Gallery, Art Escape, Sonoma, California - “Altered Ancestors” Group Exhibition, December 2021 to January 2022
Members Exhibition, Petaluma Arts Center, Petaluma, California - November 13 to December 18, 2021
Holiday Gift Market, Healdsburg Center for the Arts, Healdsburg, California - November to December 2021
San Mateo County Arts Commission, Redwood City, California - “Women’s View 2020” Group Exhibition, March to June 2020
SMPNS Holiday Show and Sale, San Mateo, California - December 2019
Be You Art Studio, Open Studio, San Mateo, California - November 2019
