Mustangs of Las Colinas — Robert Glen, Irving
Robert Glen · Nine bronze mustangs crossing a granite stream, dedicated 1984 · Williams Square, Las Colinas, Irving, Texas, USA
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, 1 September 2014, Library of Congress via Wikimedia Commons (public domain), from the Street Art Utopia archive. Artwork: Robert Glen, 1984. Full photograph shown; resized for display.
Nine bronze mustangs gallop across a granite stream at Williams Square in Irving, Texas. Robert Glen, portfolio · Irving Archives & Museum Checked Robert Glen made them after Ben H. Carpenter approached him in 1976, and the sculpture was dedicated on 25 September 1984. Irving Archives & Museum Checked The foundry scaled Glen’s models up to one and a half times life size. Irving Archives & Museum Checked
4 things to know
- A ranch becomes a cityDallas businessman Ben H. Carpenter turned his family ranch into the Las Colinas development and wanted wild mustangs running across a stream to recall Texas’s untamed past. He approached Glen in 1976. Irving Archives & Museum Checked
- Horses from SpainGlen spent a year studying mustangs. He found that American mustangs showed crossbreeding, so he used a line of horses in southern Spain with the bloodlines of the horses the Spanish brought to America as his models. Irving Archives & Museum Checked
- Nairobi, Basingstoke, IrvingGlen modelled the horses in his studio in Nairobi, Kenya. Fibreglass moulds went to a foundry in Basingstoke, England, which finished the casting in November 1981; the horses were then flown to Irving. Irving Archives & Museum Checked
- The artist’s deathThe City of Irving reports that Robert Glen died at 83 in Cork, Ireland, on 28 October 2023. Irving Archives & Museum Checked
Check-in guide
- 📍
- Williams Square, a pink granite plaza in the Las Colinas Urban Center, Irving, Texas. The Mustangs museum and visitor center is inside the Williams Square East Tower. Irving Archives & Museum Checked
- 🕐
- The museum says the sculpture can be seen at any time; the visitor center keeps shorter opening hours. The page is undated. Irving Archives & Museum Checked
Sightings
- 1976
Glen approached · Irving Archives & Museum
- 1981Nov
Casting finished · Irving Archives & Museum
- 198425 Sep
Dedicated · Irving Archives & Museum
- 20141 Sep
Photographed · Carol M. Highsmith
Every stamp links to its source. Green stamps are dated evidence of the horses in place: the dedication in 1984 and Carol M. Highsmith’s photograph of 1 September 2014, which sets the status stamp. Amber stamps are records of the commission and the casting.
On the record
Mustangs of Las Colinas
“the Mustangs of Las Colinas sculpture was dedicated on Sept. 25, 1984.”
The Mustangs of Los Colinas
“nine larger-than-life mustangs galloping through a granite stream”
The facts
- Title
- Mustangs of Las Colinas; the heading of the artist’s portfolio page spells it “Los Colinas”. Irving Archives & Museum · Robert Glen, portfolio Checked
- Artist
- Robert Glen (died 2023). Robert Glen, portfolio · Irving Archives & Museum Checked
- Year
- Glen approached in 1976, cast by November 1981, dedicated 25 September 1984. Irving Archives & Museum Checked
- Place
- Williams Square, Las Colinas Urban Center, Irving, Texas, USA. Irving Archives & Museum Checked
- Medium
- Bronze; nine horses. Robert Glen, portfolio · Irving Archives & Museum Checked
- Scale
- Enlarged to one and a half times life size, according to the museum. Irving Archives & Museum Checked
- Status
- Photographed in place on 1 September 2014. The museum page says it can be viewed at any time, but carries no date. Carol M. Highsmith photo, 1 Sep 2014 · Irving Archives & Museum Checked
- Our photo
- Carol M. Highsmith, 1 September 2014, public domain (Library of Congress). Carol M. Highsmith photo, 1 Sep 2014 Checked
Related
- When Sculptures Come Alive (12 Photos vol. 3): the SAU collection with the mustangs
All sources (4)
Records
- Irving Archives & Museum: “Mustangs of Las Colinas”, undated page. Commission, Spanish models, Nairobi and Basingstoke, casting in November 1981, dedication on 25 September 1984, location; notice of Robert Glen’s death.
Artist
- Robert Glen: “The Mustangs of Los Colinas”, portfolio page. Nine bronze mustangs, granite stream, 1984, Irving.
Photos
- Wikimedia Commons: Carol M. Highsmith, “View of the Mustangs of Las Colinas sculpture”, taken 1 September 2014. Public domain, Library of Congress.
Street Art Utopia
- Street Art Utopia: When Sculptures Come Alive (12 Photos vol. 3), 19 October 2026. The SAU post with this photo.
Artwork File · Last checked 19 October 2026 · Certainty labels follow How We Verify Art · All Artwork Files