Opening Night Reception: Fri, November 20, 2026 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Exhibition Dates: Nov. 20, 2026 – Dec. 19, 2026
Special Gallery Hours Wed-Sat, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM or by Appt.
Free Admission
This two person exhibition brings together the work of Isveydi Moreno and Luz Estrella Cruz in an exploration of place, memory, and belonging. Through painting, collage, artist books, paper-based processes, found ephemera, and mixed media installations, both artists examine how personal and collective histories are carried through objects, images, and cultural narratives.
Drawing from familial histories, migration, community archives, and everyday materials, the exhibition considers how identity is shaped by the places we inhabit and the stories we inherit. Together, the artists create a space where memory becomes tangible, inviting viewers to reflect on their own connections to home, ancestry, and the evolving landscapes that define who we are.
Originally from New Jersey, Luz Estrella Cruz is a Dominican-American interdisciplinary artist and writer based in Miami, FL with a focus in artist books through collage, sculpture, and poetry. They received their undergraduate degree in Africana Studies with minors in film and creative writing and have been a practicing artist for two years. Their work has been featured in class anthologies, collaborative zines, and Xaviera Simmons’s public art project Reading Works. In 2021, they were awarded the first Summer Research Grant from the University of Miami’s newly established Global Black Studies department to further their research into community archives of Miami art history.
Isveydi Moreno: This thesis explores the tension between belonging and aspiration among first-generation Latino students navigating higher education. Through a series of surreal and symbolic paintings inspired by memories, transformation, and cultural imagery, I visualize the emotional negotiation between personal identity and societal expectations. Rather than portraying “The Dream” as a singular goal, my work reimagines it as a space where belonging is continually shaped, questioned, and redefined. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Tanya Arguiniga, Tony Ortega, and Yvette Mayorga, I build upon their use of storytelling, surrealism, and materiality to express complex cultural experiences. My series aims to honor the quiet strength, displacement, and emotional transformation that define these journeys.