A Texan Treasure: The ‘Mustangs of Las Colinas’

Sept. 25 marks the 40th anniversary of the ‘Mustangs of Las Colinas,’ Irving’s monumental bronze sculpture by renowned wildlife sculptor Robert Glen.

Some elements of Robert Glen's "Mustangs of Las Colinas" sculpture. Glen created each bronze mustang from life. On the right, an old mustang tentatively approaches the water, as a young horse in the background leaps in and follows the herd. David Lloyd/SWA

African wildlife artist and conservationist Robert Glen’s love for Africa’s wildlife—and sculpting directly from life—led him to live most of his life in bush camps deep in the wilderness, where he could see his subjects in their natural habitats. 

For the over 60 years that Glen (1940–2023) sculpted, he always saw something new, such as little movements under the surface of an elephant’s skin even though he’d seen over 2 million elephants in his lifetime.