If artist MasPaz had his way, Arlington would be awash in murals. And he’s already doing his part. The Colombian-born artist, who grew up in Arlington, recently completed a colorful mural on the wall outside of Cowboy Cafe on Lee Highway. Based on a digital illustration he had done, titled “Community,” for the Arlington Art Truck and Studio Pause COVID-19-era #WordsToArt project, MasPaz expanded on his community concept to create an eye-catching scene on the wall of the longtime watering hole. But it’s not the only mural of the artist’s you can find around town. He has painted on walls in Crystal City, Clarendon and Rosslyn, as well as in DC, including work with the Smithsonian (keep your eyes peeled for his project with the National Portrait Gallery celebrating Dia de los Muertos on Nov. 2). His Cowboy Cafe mural creates a vibrant pop of color along the commercial strip of Lee Highway, and MasPaz hopes it’s just the beginning: “I hope the viewer goes home thirsty for more art,” he says. “I would like the viewer to call up Arlington County and say, ‘I want more murals!’ Gray cement walls are ugly. How does that inspire our youth and us as a whole? Murals in Arlington and the NoVA area are hard to come by. There are so many blank walls that could be covered with beautiful, colorful art. Imagine all the lives we can inspire!” // Find the mural at 4792 Lee Highway, Arlington
This story originally appeared in our October print issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to our monthly magazine.
