Cal State LA University Library acquires The Manuel Gomez Cruz Artwork Collection

LOS ANGELES - The University Library's Special Collections and Archives at Cal State LA has recently acquired The Manuel Gomez Cruz Artwork Collection, expanding the university's East LA Archives and preserving the legacy of a pioneering Chicano artist whose work helped shape the Chicano Art Movement in East Los Angeles.

The collection is currently on display in the Special Collections and Archives room located in the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, Palmer Wing, Room 2079, on the Cal State LA campus.

"The Manuel Gomez Cruz Artwork Collection documents the work of a Chicano artist that formed part of the Chicano Art Movement in East LA," said Azalea Camacho, head of Special Collections and Archives at Cal State LA. "His collection is a great addition to the East LA Archives. It is a great honor to have his work here at Cal State LA and available to our students and the campus community."

The collection features original artwork, photographic records, and print materials documenting Cruz's career and foundational contributions to the Chicano Art Movement. Among the materials are a copy of the 1980-81 publication A Chicano Christmas Story, the "Cholito and Artist" coloring book, and the "Barrio Flag" screenprint.

"The archive also documents the Cinco Puntos mural, a critique of American militarism," Camacho added. "It includes a large metal sculpture of an Indigenous man in chains that was originally bolted to the top of the mural."

Born Aug. 2, 1931, in the Boyle Heights neighborhood, Cruz overcame poverty, instability, and limited formal education to become a self-taught artist, musician, and writer whose work reflected the struggles and resilience of the Chicano community. Through murals, sculptures, music, and written works, Cruz chronicled the social and political realities of East Los Angeles during a transformative era in American history.

Cruz collaborated with several influential Chicano art spaces throughout Los Angeles, including the Mechicano Art Center in Highland Park, Self Help Graphics in East Los Angeles, El Centro Joaquin Murrieta Art Center in East Los Angeles, All Nations in Boyle Heights, and Social and Public Art Resource Center in Venice Beach.

His work later appeared in publications and media productions, including Lowrider Magazine and the French documentary Mur Murs.

Beyond his artistic contributions, Cruz was an entrepreneur, community advocate, and mentor whose life and work embodied cultural pride and resistance. His often-repeated phrase, "Never forget you are Azteca. Viva Chicano Power," reflected his enduring commitment to identity and social justice.

The Manuel Gomez Cruz Artwork Collection is open to students, faculty, researchers, and community members interested in exploring the history of Chicano art and culture in Los Angeles.

The East LA Archives at Cal State LA documents the lives and events of a historical community central to the social, political, and cultural history of the Chicano/Latino community in the United States. The archive collects, preserves, displays, and disseminates documents, artifacts, and other materials related to the social and political life of the East Los Angeles region.

The archive currently includes the Boyle Heights Collection, Carlos Montes Papers, David Sandoval Papers, Gloria Arellanes Papers, InterCity Struggle Collection, Jose R. Figueroa Collection, and The East Los Angeles Community Union (TELACU) collection.

To donate to the East LA Archives or support the University Library, visit the library's giving webpage. For more information, contact Azalea Camacho at [email protected].

California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 22,000 students and has more than 260,000 distinguished alumni.