10/14/2026
“The pose will find itself.”
For San Antonio-based artist Cruz Ortiz, portraiture can begin with a simple conversation, allowing a moment to unfold naturally rather than asking someone to hold a perfect pose.
In this interview, Cruz Ortiz (CRUZ ORTIZ) and Connie Arismendi (Connie Arismendi), a model and fellow artist, share how conversation and time spent together shape the portrait-making process.
In “Collection Conversations: Cruz Ortiz and the Modern Portrait,” Cruz’s contemporary portraits are paired with historic portraits from the McNay’s collection, bringing artists and subjects from different eras into conversation.
Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel. Link in bio.
See “Collection Conversations: Cruz Ortiz and the Modern Portrait” at the McNay Art Museum, on view now through March 17, 2027.