Juls Mendoza
Mural Location: 1468 Pearl St. Boulder, CO 80302
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In his mural titled “Trompo,” Juls Mendoza evokes memories of his childhood growing up in Mexico using his signature style and color palette.
The artist was born in El Paso, Texas, and raised in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Juls’ Mexican heritage and culture influence much of his artistic style, which he refers to as "Surrealismo Cultural" or "Cultural Surrealism." Cultural Surrealism focuses on cultural identity, community, and social justice and incorporates vibrant colors and dreamy characters and scenes.
Quetzalcoatl spins a trompo, or spinning top, a toy Juls often played with as a child. Quetzalcoatl is the name for the feathered serpent deity found in many Mesoamerican cultures including the Maya and the Aztec. The anthropomorphic figure wears a blue and pink feathered headdress. His masklike face recalls illustrations in Aztec codices and Mayan sculptures of the deity. Blue jaguar spots cover his pink body, alluding to another important figure in Mesoamerican cultures. Quetzalcoatl plays with the colorful wooden trompo, which Juls expertly incorporates with the textured ridges of the garage door. The deity also casts blue smoke from his fingertips, possibly referring to Quetzalcoatl’s mastery of wind and water. Juls sets the scene against vibrant yellows, oranges, and pinks.
With this mural, Juls sought to illustrate Pre-Hispanic culture in a colorful and fun way, hoping to entice Latinx youth to learn more about their history and ancestors. He seeks to pass along his cultural knowledge and create art for his community, which is often underrepresented in the art world. Juls says about his work, “I am who I am in most part because of my Mexican and Latino heritage, therefore incorporating my heritage into my art is meaningful to me, and I feel it's meaningful to those that can relate to that sentiment as well.”
About the Artist: