EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — Segundo Barrio is marking a new chapter in its decades-long mural tradition with the restoration of an iconic 1975 work and the unveiling of a new mural a few blocks away.
The restored mural, Quetzalcoatl, was originally painted in 1975 on the Better Business Bureau building by Arturo “Tury” Avalos and fellow artists known as the Muralistas del Barrio, Gabriel Ortega, Pablo Schaffino and Pascual Ramírez. Avalos was 18 years old at the time.
Speaking to KFOX14/CBS4 on Thursday, Avalos said the Aztec-inspired geometric design became a symbol of pride and resistance during a period when the neighborhood faced pressure from urban development. Fifty-one years later, Avalos said the mural is being restored to preserve its place in Segundo Barrio’s cultural history for future generations.
“This mural basically was in honor of the people who live here and the housing crisis. To remind people that Segundo Barrio is here to stay. Segundo Barrio is proud. Segundo Barrio has a lot to bring to the table. There is a lot of good people that come out of Segundo Barrio, not all bad, and I’m proud of that,” Avalos told KFOX14/CBS4.
The restoration was led by Avalos, Francisco Delgado and Cimi Alvarado, with support from Gerardo Ortega, brother of the late Gabriel Ortega, Santiago Ortega and Zerek Montez.
In addition to the restoration, nearby, contemporary border artist Staphany Garnica is unveiling an original mural at 718 S. Virginia Street.
Garnica’s mural focuses on human connections that strengthen the border region. Through the embrace of a mother and child, it reflects the bond between Juárez and El Paso and the idea that home is found in people who offer love, refuge and support.
“Growing up crossing the border every day, this community has always felt like home to me. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute a piece that celebrates the bond between Juárez and El Paso. My hope is that anyone who sees the mural feels a sense of familiarity, pride and connection, and is reminded that the strength of our communities has always come from the people who care for one another across generations and across borders,” said Staphany Garnica.
Both the restoration and the new mural project are part of CompArte, an El Paso Community Foundation affiliate. Funding is provided by El Paso County’s Arts Project Grants and allocated by County Commissioner David Stout, Precinct 2.
“These two murals, fifty years apart, tell the same story about Segundo Barrio, its culture and its history. Art belongs to the community members who walk past it every day, and that’s what CompArte exists to foster and protect. What means the most to me is the thread running through both projects—artists teaching artists, neighbors teaching neighbors. Tury’s generation set the standard, and now Staphany’s is helping carry it forward for the next generation,” said Cimi Alvarado, director of CompArte.
The project is the second CompArte mural in the neighborhood, following a mural led by Citlali Delgado with youth participation in summer 2025. Garnica is joined by her former UTEP instructor Francisco Delgado, Cimi Alvarado and local youth, continuing CompArte’s tradition of artists mentoring the next generation.
The unveiling of Garnica’s mural will take place on Saturday, Aug. 1, at 5 p.m. at 718 S. Virginia Street, El Paso, Texas 79901. Remarks will be made by El Paso County Commissioner David Stout, Eric Pearson, Staphany Garnica and Francisco Delgado. A blessing will also be offered by community and religious leaders.
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