At San Antonio’s Pearl, local artist Claudio Aguillón is completing a new mural celebrating Cowboy Heritage Month. For Aguillón, this isn’t just another commission; it’s a continuation of a 15-year relationship with Pearl that began with his murals at La Gloria and a tribute to the ranching heritage that runs through his own family.
A Mural Rooted in Real Ranchero Life
Aguillón’s Cowboy Heritage Month mural at Pearl features a skilled horseman lassoing cattle in the background, with a horseman front and center, contrasted by that iconic southern sunset. It’s a scene loosely based on his nephew Raul, who works on a ranch in Mexico. “They actually go out and lasso cattle for market,” Aguillón explains. “They need to get on the horse to catch the cattle that are loose so they can bring them to market.” This authenticity—drawing from real family and lived experience—defines the approach to his craft.
When La Gloria opened 15 years ago, Aguillón created murals that have since become part of countless Pearl memories. “Even somebody in Mexico knows what the Pearl is,” he says. “Everybody has taken graduation, engagement, and wedding pictures here. To be part of that, it’s an honor.”
Art Through Relationships
Aguillón’s connection to Pearl began through relationships. Martha (of MM Creative) created the branding for SAY Sí (a local youth arts nonprofit) and introduced him to Chef Johnny Hernandez of La Gloria. “I love relationships,” he says. “I don’t see it as dollar signs. If I like what somebody’s doing, I might even take a pay cut just to grow with them.”
Working with La Gloria from Pearl’s early days, Aguillón watched the district grow. “I felt like I’ve grown with it,” he reflects. “I remember having lunch with Johnny during the farmers market in the now La Gloria parking lot, back when he was still doing cooking demonstrations. I feel super connected to it.”
As some clients have grown into corporate structures, Aguillón has walked away. “Some companies got so big, I don’t see the owner anymore—just a coordinator. I decided to break those relationships. I want to be part of the team, not just a vendor.”
An Unconventional Approach to Art
“I feel like I wasn’t born to be an artist,” Aguillón says. “Artists are very eccentric—they dress the part. I’m just not very good at things like that.” He doesn’t sign his work either. “I don’t like to dress like an artist, act like an artist, or sign my work like an artist. If people need to find me, they’ll find me.”
Despite his success across San Antonio—from Pearl to San Antonio International Airport to Southwest High School—Aguillón stays grounded. “I’m always self-doubting my work. I’m like, this is not good enough. So when somebody passes by and sees my work with admiration, it counters that self-doubting voice.”
A Professional’s Work Ethic
Sculptor Luis Jiménez (creator of Denver Airport’s Blue Mustang statue) once told Aguillón’s class that artists who wait for inspiration are amateurs. “As a professional, you don’t have that luxury,” Aguillón recalls. “You just gotta do it. You might do it wrong, but erase it, start again, and eventually you’ll get it right.” Whether painting Texas landscapes, sketching his wife, or tackling massive murals, Aguillón doesn’t wait for inspiration—he creates it.
Teaching Students to Think Bigger
Aguillón has worked with San Antonio high school students, teaching them to think beyond small canvases. “Young artists work on paintings this size,” he gestures with his hands toward a small frame. “They’re terrified of going bigger. When I show them the murals I work on, they can’t believe the size.” His current Pearl mural? “Actually kind of small for me.” His largest work stretches 100 feet by 12 feet at Southwest High School. He recently completed a 250-foot baseball field wall at Holy Cross.
When a young aspiring artist approached him at Pearl, Aguillón shared his origin story: “I didn’t intend to be an artist. I wanted to be an 18-wheeler driver. I would draw the perfect truck I was gonna drive. By doing that all the time, I got good at it.” This reflects the mentorship culture of San Antonio’s art community—artists like Jesse Treviño, Alex Rubio, and Vincent Valdez who create space for the next generation.
What’s Next
Beyond the Cowboy Heritage Month mural at Pearl, Aguillón recently unveiled paintings at the First Responders Academy in Atascosa and has a commission for San Antonio International Airport’s new terminal. His work can be found throughout the city—at La Gloria at Pearl, the Frost Bank Center, Southwest High School, the airport, and more.
“I’m kind of like a horse that’s jittery before the race,” he says about completing the Pearl mural, eager to add the final rich colors and details. And while he already has a permanent mural at Pearl, he hopes for more. “I hope to get another opportunity for a permanent mural here.”
See Claudio Aguillón’s Work at Pearl
Visit Pearl to see Aguillón’s Cowboy Heritage Month mural under the Pearl sign at Pearl Park, as well as his permanent work at La Gloria. His art throughout San Antonio—from Pearl to the airport—tells stories of Texas heritage, family, and the relationships that define this city’s creative community.
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