"Being an artist is simply the vehicle I use to travel down my true path, which is to learn to love unconditionally." - Jerry Foster
Jerry Foster (aka Rio Cruz) was quirky and enigmatic, contemplative and playful, introverted and bold. He was a self-taught artist and former university professor of Latin American Literature (PhD) who at age 37, gave up a conventional life to devote himself to living full time as an artist. In his words:
Being an artist has allowed me enormous freedom to act and go in directions outside the constraints of all institutions or conventions and to follow my heart as indicated to me by the promptings of my spirit.
His art style was vibrant, colorful and full of life. He was influenced by his childhood love of bright colors with black outline, cartoons and the work of Reg Manning, as well as an affinity for travel, architecture and street scenes.
His early artworks were detailed pen and ink drawings of scenes where he lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. After Jerry moved to Northern California, his work expanded into large scale paintings using watercolor and brightly colored acrylics with pen and ink details. His art combined nostalgia, satire, fantasy and humor. In many ways, his art was an extroverted expression of his rich, private inner world.
For over 30 years, he followed his joy and creative passion, showing his original paintings and selling lithographs and prints of his art at street art festivals throughout California and the West. Because he didn't want to sell his original paintings, he accumulated a vast collection of originals that became his legacy.
As an artist, Jerry was motivated by love. He wrote,
An artist is someone who works out of love for what he is doing, someone who puts her soul, his being, all their attention into the work. Someone who works authentically, honestly, trying to do the best she is capable of, to give a true view of what is loved. Anyone who puts this authentic effort, this joy, this honesty into their work, is working from love and is an artist. Love gets infused into the work. Conversely, if someone is working only to produce money or fame, to astound or impress or for any ulterior motive other than love for the work, then that work will be dull and lifeless, devoid of the spark that gives it force. It can't be faked.
In addition to his art, his heart led him into sanctuary work with refugees, NDE studies, hospice volunteer work, and advocating against circumcision in favor of children's rights.
Jerry died on April 12, 2026 after a short and sudden bout with cancer and just shy of his 86th birthday. This site is a celebration of his passionate, colorful life through his art. A legacy of the people, places and ideas that inspired him. Enjoy!
"It's never too late to have a happy childhood."
—TOM ROBBINS, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
