“Las Mariposas, rooted in the Vivarium Meconium Laboratory (VML), merges art, science, and conservation. Engaging with butterflies and their metamorphosis, it produces monumental paintings from natural pigments, symbolizing transformation and resilience. Expanding to Tulsa, the project features immersive installations and pollinator gardens to support endangered species. Through workshops, community engagement, and collaborations with conservation groups, it deepens connections to urban biodiversity, blending heritage with ecological awareness. ”
INTERDISCIPLINARY, SCIENCE
FRANKY CRUZ
Born in 1984 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Franky Cruz is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice seamlessly blends painting, sculpture, installation, and scientific inquiry. Based in Miami, Cruz received his BFA in Painting from the New World School of the Arts in 2011.
Cruz’s work lies at the intersection of art, nature, and science, with a focus on ecological sustainability, transformation, and collaboration with living systems. Notable projects include the monumental sculpture Between Destiny and a Hard Place in Miami and the immersive Vivarium Meconium Dome Lab at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden for Art in Public Places. These works showcase his innovative integration of natural processes, particularly through collaboration with butterflies and the use of their metamorphic secretions as a medium for creating abstract paintings.
Cruz has exhibited widely, including solo exhibitions at Locust Projects in Miami and group shows such as Monarchs at MOCA North Miami and the 2020 South Florida Cultural Consortium Exhibition at NSU Museum of Art, curated by Bonnie Clearwater. His works are featured in prominent public and private collections, attesting to his growing influence in contemporary art.
A recipient of several prestigious awards, including the South Florida Cultural Consortium, Oolite Arts Ellies Creator Award, and The WaveMaker grant, Cruz has also participated in residencies such as the Home Base Project in Berlin, AIRIE: Artists in Residence in Everglades, and NSU Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale’s Research and Development residency. Now embarking on the Tulsa Artist Fellowship, Cruz continues to expand his innovative practice, merging art and science to foster ecological awareness and community engagement.
