mago Gandara
Borderland Muralist, Margarita “Mago” Gandara spent her life creating positive art pieces inspired by Chicano culture. In a time when Juarez was very dangerous, Mago was devoted in creating different perspectives by highlighting the good. One of Mago’s goals was to inspire the youth in the community, which she pursued in creating colorful murals in neighborhoods that were full of gang related graffiti. She first started teaching art in Bowie High School; later on in El Paso Community College and also provided lessons in the El Paso Art Museum. Mago was a strong, independent Chicana artist whose art projects were very unique and made with interesting materials. Mago passed away in 2018, but her art continues to live and inspire people all over the El Paso and Juarez communities.
