About

I have always loved to draw and bring my ideas to life with just a pencil and a piece of paper. I started around the age of seven or eight, inspired by my older brother Alberto—may he rest in peace—who passed away in 1989 at just 21 years old. He could draw cartoons effortlessly, and watching him made me want to create art of my own.

As my love for drawing grew, I started experimenting with brushes and acrylic paints. One of my first projects was painting a pair of jeans with my nickname and a B-Boy design. I wore them around my neighborhood, where my peers encouraged me, and soon neighbors began asking me to create artwork for them.

Around that time, some close friends from my housing project—also creatives—formed a group to make art, music, and dance (breakdancing). Living about 30 minutes from the Bronx meant we visited NYC often and soaked in the rising Hip Hop culture. Movies like Wild Style, Beat Street, and Flashdance fueled our inspiration.

In the ’90s, my friends and I were commissioned for several mural projects throughout our city. Eventually, they launched a clothing company, and after some time working with them, I branched off to pursue my own creative goals.

In the 2000s, I continued to expand creatively—designing graphics for clothing, custom-painting furniture, and working on new murals. I was hired by my former employer to paint a conference-room mural and later by the New York Knicks to paint kid-sized chairs and overalls for the Knicks City Kids. I kept creating custom furniture pieces until my wife and I decided to start a family, and I shifted my focus toward that new chapter.

Last year 2024, the urge to create returned. I bought a drawing pad and a pencil, and after fifteen years away from painting and designing, I feel humbled, excited, and full of ideas. I’m motivated now more than ever to continue my creative journey here on my website, The ART of SWEEP.

Edwin SWEEP Cruz

Early 80s posing with my graffiti painted jeans at my residence 261 Ely Ave.

Middle school days early 80s sporting my custom painted leather vest.

Mid 90s UNITY mural that I painted & donated to my old middle school.

Early 90s at the unveiling of my commissioned painting 'Spotlight' from Art Under the Bridge project (Kevin Bowler, pictured in back, lifelong friend and early supreme supporter of my art).

Early 90s posing in front of a collaborative graffiti mural Reality Rules!

Me & lifelong friend/artist collaborator JAHMANE of Reality Rules mural done back in 90s. Recent discussions in 2025 have begun with site developers for refreshing / repainting our mural. Look out for the Reality Rules revamp in Spring 2026!