El Paso artist Mario Colin dies
An El Paso artist whose murals have added color to the El Paso landscape for decades died last week leaving behind a wife.
Mario Colin, who was born in 1959 in Juarez, died Oct. 5.
He’s best known for his depiction of the Virgen De Guadalupe. He painted his first mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe outside at Esparza’s Grocery in collaboration with the late Chuck Zavala in 1987. That mural can still be seen today at 2900 Piedras.
Another popular mural of the Virgen De Guadalupe includes as 25-foot mural across from the Ysleta mission. The mural grabbed the attention of local national medical and has appeared periodicals, art books, calendars, many newspaper articles, and in photographs exhibited in the El Paso Art Museum and galleries.
Due to decay and wear-and-tear, the mural had to be restored. With help from the community, including those who donated money and some who helped re-plaster the wall of the century-old adobe building, Colin was able to repainted the mural
Colin lived his entire life in the Five Points area of Central El Paso. He attended Houston Elementary and Austin High School. He has painted over 40 pieces of public art, many of which have become landmarks.
The rosary and memorial will be from 5 to 9p.m. Thursday at Mission Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Colin is survived by his wife, Donna Snyder; his sisters Ruth Colin Price, Margie Roberts, and Emma Coln; his brothers Pete Coln and Humberto Coln; and many nephews and nieces who cherished him.
