Born in La Línea de la Concepción, Spain, José Cruz Herrera developed a career that spanned multiple continents, including significant periods of residence and work in Uruguay, Argentina, and France. He eventually settled in Casablanca, Morocco, which became a central influence on his artistic output.

His practice focused primarily on genre painting and landscape art, capturing the distinct atmosphere and daily life of his surroundings. His work is characterized by a traditional approach to composition and a keen interest in the regional aesthetics of the places he inhabited.

Today, his legacy is maintained through the Museo Cruz Herrera in his birthplace, which houses a substantial collection of his paintings. His work remains a point of reference for the artistic history of the regions where he lived and worked throughout his career.