Leo Tanguma 

Leo Tanguma, well-known Chicano muralist, originated from Texas and moved to Colorado in 1983.  His mural themes have focused on the Chicano struggle for civil rights, celebrating Chicano culture, woman’s issues, the environment, police brutality, the African-American struggle for civil rights, and the struggle against gang violence.

He is best known in Houston for his mural Rebirth of Our Nationality, a 240’ long by 18’ high mural that he painted in 1972 -1973 with the assistance of students and other artists. In Rebirth of Our Nationality, Leo Tanguma depicted the Mexican-American Community rediscovering its cultural and historical identity.  With Leo Tanguma acting as a consultant, Gonzo247, internationally-known Houston graffiti artist, beautifully re-created this mural in 2017 – 2018. 

Leo Tanguma has produced many murals in Denver and throughout the United States.  Over a four month period during 1988 to 1989,  Leo Tanguma painted The Torch of Quetzalcoatl at the Denver Art Museum.  In this mural, like in his works in Houston, the Mexican-American community rediscovers the beauty and dignity of its culture and history.  It drew thousands of visitors during its exhibit at the Denver Art Museum and subsequently was exhibited at the Sangre de Cristo Art Center in Pueblo, the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe and other venues. 

Perhaps his most widely known murals are located at Denver International Airport and were completed in 1995.  In these murals Tanguma painted young children in folkloric or national costumes of many countries.  By depicting children for countries all over the world, Tanguma sought to represent Humanity.  In Peace and Harmony with Nature portrays the destruction of the environment, and its future rehabilitation. In Children of the World Dream of Peace, Leo Tanguma painted a giant war figure looming over sleeping children from the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, dreaming of peace, while other children from many nations come bringing their swords to be beaten into plowshares. 

 From 1998 – 2000, Leo Tanguma painted The Life and Times of Dr. Martin Candelaria, 1897 – 1996, commissioned by the University of Northern Colorado (UNC).  In this mural Leo Tanguma painted about the life of UNC’s first Hispanic-American professor, who was a greatly respected professor and community leader. 

Finally, some of his artwork was displayed in April 2019 at the Smithsonian’s Latino Art Now Conference at the Magnolia Gallery in Houston.  This conference was attended by artists, educators and arts managers from throughout the United States.