Pasadena’s ArtCenter College of Design Alumnus Medar de la Cruz Wins Pulitzer Prize for Illustrated Journalism

Medar de la Cruz, a 2016 graduate of Pasadena’s ArtCenter College of Design, has been awarded the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Illustrated Journalism.

Now Brooklyn-based, the artist’s winning piece, “The Diary of a Rikers Island Library Worker,” was his first submission to The New Yorker and depicts his experiences delivering books to incarcerated people at New York City’s largest jail complex.

According to ArtCenter College of Design, “Medar’s love for literature was apparent during his time at ArtCenter — on campus he served as a library student worker + Zine assistant, off campus he worked at La Pintoresca Library in Pasadena.” This passion, cultivated in Pasadena, along with his experiences growing up in various U.S. cities and visits to the Dominican Republic, significantly influenced his Pulitzer-winning work.

De la Cruz’s evocative drawings and captions humanize the prisoners and staff at Rikers Island through their shared desire for books. As stated by ArtCenter, “His evocative drawings and captions humanize the prisoners and staff through their hunger for books — and earned the 31-year-old a #Pulitzer Prize.” His illustrations, featuring bold lines in constant movement influenced by comics and animation, capture the diverse talents and stories of the inmates, emphasizing the transformative power of art and literature.

The Pulitzer Board recognized de la Cruz’s powerful imagery and its ability to bring attention to the often-overlooked human aspects of the incarcerated population. His achievement highlights not only his artistic skill but also his dedication to using art as a tool for social commentary and change, values fostered during his time at ArtCenter.

“The Diary of a Rikers Island Library Worker” challenges public perceptions of incarceration, shedding light on the conditions and experiences within the prison’s walls. By focusing on the inmates’ and staff’s desire for intellectual engagement and creative expression, de la Cruz underscores the importance of access to literature and art as sources of hope, education, and rehabilitation.

Apart from his illustration work, de la Cruz works as a jail-and-prison-services assistant for the Brooklyn Public Library and teaches visual communications at community workshops in New York City. He is currently working on a graphic novel about his experiences on Rikers Island.

De la Cruz’s work may be seen here.