The Mustangs Of Los Colinas

Artist Robert GlenPresentation by Jarrett Martin

Written Description

The Mustangs of Los Colinas, a “breathtakingly realistic bronze sculpture of nine wild mustangs

galloping across a granite stream, these mustangs are one and a half times life sized making them the

largest equestrian sculpture in the world.”

Artist: Robert Glen

Commissioned: Summer 1976

Completed September 1984

The mold was made in Nairobi while the work was cast at the

Morris Singer Foundry at Basingstoke, England

Subject matter The basic subject

matter is Nine mustangs crossing a granite

stream. However, the piece is meant to

express much more than that. It is meant to

encapsulate the “distinctive spirit and way of life of people

who are committed to the freedoms of action,

initiative and expression.”

Describe•Material was bronze and had a smooth texture

•Clearly this piece has a high amount of motion, all of the Mustangs are in the middle of “action poses”•The mass was incredible easily standing 8-9 feet in

the air.

AnalysisThe piece and the

corresponding museum was arranged in stages corresponding to the

developmental stages of the Mustangs

1. Small scale models

2. ½-life-size models

3. Fiberglass molds

4. And Finally the Foundry

Similarities and Emphasis

In the Mustang museum there are various

similarities between the pieces. Most prominently they all are bronze cast

and each piece has to do with African animals or Culture (Like a warrior)

Clearly the mustangs are the point if emphasis, but

they do so collectively. No single mustang sticks

out above the rest.

Interpretation• Expressive Quality:

The work has a real feeling of adventure and gusto behind it. It is hard to look at the mustangs and not feel the pioneering spirit.

• This work reminded me of other depictions of mustangs in movies but also other powerful groups of animal like stampeding antelope.

Real World Relation

The sculpture relates to the world because of its subject and setting. It’s

the an industrial complex. Its as if it is a monument to the past and a nod to the industrialization to come. The Mustangs at Los Colinas are perfect symbols of the race our

country has taken toward industrialization.

Differences and Comparisons

I fell like the whole piece is quite the spectacle there is nothing I would have done different if I

was the artist. The mustangs are the perfect size but not too big. I

had seen them from a far several times, it was a different

experience seeing them up close.

Compare: this piece can be compared to other equestrian

statues like the Statue of Henry IV in Paris. However those are so

unoriginal, most include a military man mounting the

horse, these mustangs are not driven by man but by the free

Texan spirit.

Originality and Criterion• Is it original?Although horses are common artistic subjects not only is

this the largest equestrian sculpture but that way in which it portrays the horses is pretty original too. They aren't in classic poses but the beak the plain in full stampede mode.

I would judge this piece on:1. Size2. Skill Used3. Composition4. Spacing

Works Cited• All information and quotes are cited from the

Mustangs at Los Colinas Visitor Pamphlet.