EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso icon and artist Hal Marcus has died at the age of 74, according to an obituary sent out on behalf of his family.
He died early Sunday morning, April 12, “artfully and peacefully in his unique home, surrounded by family, friends and his art collection,” the obituary said.
Hal Marcus at work in his studio. Courtesy Sunset Parlor.
Marcus was well-known for his bright colorful images that captured the bi-cultural nature of his beloved El Paso.
“From his colorful flowered shirts to his signature natty hats, Hal set the tone for El Paso’s artistic scene. He and his children embodied the hearts of harlequins devoted to mastering a range of skills using custom costumes, belly-dancing, stilt-walking, fire and swords, snakes and mermaids, and musical instruments from drums to trumpet to delight audiences and lighten the burdens of daily life,” his obit said.
“Hal was a prolific visual artist, producing miniatures to massive paintings depicting the distinctive elements of our region in his joyous and fanciful style. Devoted to interfaith, universal harmony, Hal loaned, sold and donated paintings and stained-glass installations to local churches, synagogues and many public facilities. Hal has received countless prestigious commissions and awards, including induction in the El Paso Artists Hall of Fame, for his generosity in the community, contributing to causes of hundreds of non-profits through his ever-popular artwork,” his obit added.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 13 at the B’Nai Zion Cemetery, 3915 Gateway West.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made toward the establishment of a Hal Marcus Art Museum at 1319 N. Oregon, scheduled tentatively to open in late 2027.
Here is a brief biography as it appears on his gallery’s website.
“A native-born El Pasoan, Hal has been painting for over 50 years and established the Hal Marcus Gallery in 1996. A driving force on the art scene, Hal Marcus is an El Paso Artist Hall of Fame inductee, co-founder of the Early El Paso Art Collectors Organization, has served on the advisory board of the El Paso Museum of Art, and is consistently voted Best Artist by local media polls. Many of Hal’s large scale works of art are located in public buildings in El Paso including City Hall, UTEP and the Chamizal National Memorial.”
He was also well-known for meeting with members of the public at his studio where he painted daily, welcoming them and treating them like long-lost friends or family. He would show visitors around his studio, giving them a guided tour that left them often feeling like they had a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Marcus is preceded in death by his grandparents, Halfon and Latife Marcus who immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island in 1921 from Aleppo, Syria; his parents, Morris M. and Rena Shabot Marcus.
He is survived by his sisters, Shirleen Askenazi and Lillian Slovik, and brothers, Meyer Marcus and Clement Marcus; his first wife Judith Ann Marcus; his daughters Leilainia and Nicole Adelaide, his son, Marco; and his wife of 25 years, Patricia Medici.
“Hal Marcus was a beloved son, brother, husband, father, friend, mentor and overall wonderful human being. He will live in the hearts of everyone he met for eternity,” his obit said.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.