Carlos Mérida
Guatemalan, 1891-1984
The Confluence of Civilizations in America, 2023
Photography by Deidre Ford
Mérida’s mural was renovated in 2016 during the Henry B. González Convention Center expansion that added more multi-cultural works of art in the facility. Today, the artist’s HemisFair ‘68 mural is outdoors for appreciable accessibility to viewers. Mérida represents abstract shapes of multicolor Venetian glass pieces resembling the fashion of his Maya-Quiché heritage from his grandfather.
Guatemalan, 1891-1984
The Confluence of Civilizations in America, 2023
Photography by Deidre Ford
Mérida’s mural was renovated in 2016 during the Henry B. González Convention Center expansion that added more multi-cultural works of art in the facility. Today, the artist’s HemisFair ‘68 mural is outdoors for appreciable accessibility to viewers. Mérida represents abstract shapes of multicolor Venetian glass pieces resembling the fashion of his Maya-Quiché heritage from his grandfather.
Carlos Mérida
Guatemalan, 1891-1984
HemisFair ‘68 Logo, 2023
Photography by Deidre Ford
Mérida used yellow and white curved lines of Venetian glass to show HemisFair ‘68’s logo evolution. By doing this Mérida references San Antonio’s identity, culture, and history. A close-up of the completed HemisFair ‘68 logo highlighted to the bottom right indicates a symbol of the New World and Old World civilizations merging by added on yellow lines.
Guatemalan, 1891-1984
HemisFair ‘68 Logo, 2023
Photography by Deidre Ford
Mérida used yellow and white curved lines of Venetian glass to show HemisFair ‘68’s logo evolution. By doing this Mérida references San Antonio’s identity, culture, and history. A close-up of the completed HemisFair ‘68 logo highlighted to the bottom right indicates a symbol of the New World and Old World civilizations merging by added on yellow lines.
Carlos Mérida
Guatemalan, 1891-1984
Figures Wearing a Fez Hat, 2023
Photography by Deidre Ford
Using bold colors of red, orange, yellow, brown, purples, and white, Mérida incorporates modern European iconography of figures wearing a fez. This hat was worn in part by soldiers of the Ottoman Empire as a uniform and during wars. A close-up of figures referencing this historical Turkish Empire can be seen in a straight line.
Guatemalan, 1891-1984
Figures Wearing a Fez Hat, 2023
Photography by Deidre Ford
Using bold colors of red, orange, yellow, brown, purples, and white, Mérida incorporates modern European iconography of figures wearing a fez. This hat was worn in part by soldiers of the Ottoman Empire as a uniform and during wars. A close-up of figures referencing this historical Turkish Empire can be seen in a straight line.
Carlos Mérida
Guatemalan, 1891-1984
Temple of Kukulcán, 2023
Photography by Deidre Ford
This detailed image of brown Venetian glass outlines the top of Temple of Kukulcán located at Chichén Itzá in Mexico. The Maya civilization still visited this Castillo for the Sacred Cenote located to the south of the temple to create offerings. Inside of the Castillo is a chacmool and throne.
Guatemalan, 1891-1984
Temple of Kukulcán, 2023
Photography by Deidre Ford
This detailed image of brown Venetian glass outlines the top of Temple of Kukulcán located at Chichén Itzá in Mexico. The Maya civilization still visited this Castillo for the Sacred Cenote located to the south of the temple to create offerings. Inside of the Castillo is a chacmool and throne.
Carlos Mérida
Guatemalan, 1891-1984
San Antonio Residents Looking at Carlos Mérida’s
HemisFair ‘68 Mural During a Conference, 2023
Photography by Deidre Ford
Henry B. González Convention Center was remodeled in 2016 which meant the staircase and building surrounding Mérida’s The Confluence of Civilizations in America was torn down converting this mural outdoors facing Lila Cockrell Theatre across San Antonio River. Before a conference, San Antonio residents walk outside by Mérida’s mural representing HemisFair ‘68’s theme. The Henry B. González Convention Center expansion included multipurpose spaces.
Guatemalan, 1891-1984
San Antonio Residents Looking at Carlos Mérida’s
HemisFair ‘68 Mural During a Conference, 2023
Photography by Deidre Ford
Henry B. González Convention Center was remodeled in 2016 which meant the staircase and building surrounding Mérida’s The Confluence of Civilizations in America was torn down converting this mural outdoors facing Lila Cockrell Theatre across San Antonio River. Before a conference, San Antonio residents walk outside by Mérida’s mural representing HemisFair ‘68’s theme. The Henry B. González Convention Center expansion included multipurpose spaces.
Carlos Mérida at Work on the Design of a Mosaic Glass Tile, 1966
A Guide to the San Antonio Fair, Inc., Records. Series 07: Public Relations Department, 1960-1976, UTSA Special Collections
Famed Guatemalan artist Carlos Mérida is in his Mexico City studio drawing a detailed section of artwork that will become a mosaic mural for HemisFair ‘68. An artwork is hanging on the wall behind him and a decorative pot is visible on the floor to the right. Printed text can be seen below the image.
A Guide to the San Antonio Fair, Inc., Records. Series 07: Public Relations Department, 1960-1976, UTSA Special Collections
Famed Guatemalan artist Carlos Mérida is in his Mexico City studio drawing a detailed section of artwork that will become a mosaic mural for HemisFair ‘68. An artwork is hanging on the wall behind him and a decorative pot is visible on the floor to the right. Printed text can be seen below the image.
Study for Mérida’s Mural, 1967
San Antonio Express-News Photograph Collection,
UTSA Special Collections
Nancy Brown Negley presents to the San Antonio City Council, three mockups of Mérida’s The Confluence of Civilizations in America rendering on an easel. This photograph depicts one of the processes before Mérida’s mural is placed in Henry B. González Convention Center. A newspaper staff photographer is behind a guardrail capturing Negley gesturing with her hand for the acceptance and approval of Mérida’s The Confluence of Civilizations in America.
San Antonio Express-News Photograph Collection,
UTSA Special Collections
Nancy Brown Negley presents to the San Antonio City Council, three mockups of Mérida’s The Confluence of Civilizations in America rendering on an easel. This photograph depicts one of the processes before Mérida’s mural is placed in Henry B. González Convention Center. A newspaper staff photographer is behind a guardrail capturing Negley gesturing with her hand for the acceptance and approval of Mérida’s The Confluence of Civilizations in America.
Carlos Mérida Looking at his Mural for the First Time, 1967
San Antonio Express-News Photograph Collection,
UTSA Special Collections
Guatemalan artist Carlos Mérida stands beside Negley holding her hand and watches as she inspects his recently installed mosaic mural commissioned by her on the wall of the Henry B. González Convention Center in the exhibits building that will open for HemisFair ‘68. Negley gave money to donate Mérida’s The Confluence of Civilizations in America to the Convention Center at HemisFair ‘68. Mérida and Negley are happy with smiles that the mural is finally up on the wall of this Convention Center.
San Antonio Express-News Photograph Collection,
UTSA Special Collections
Guatemalan artist Carlos Mérida stands beside Negley holding her hand and watches as she inspects his recently installed mosaic mural commissioned by her on the wall of the Henry B. González Convention Center in the exhibits building that will open for HemisFair ‘68. Negley gave money to donate Mérida’s The Confluence of Civilizations in America to the Convention Center at HemisFair ‘68. Mérida and Negley are happy with smiles that the mural is finally up on the wall of this Convention Center.
Family in front of the Carlos Mérida Mural, 1968
A Guide to the San Antonio Fair, Inc., Records. Series 07: Public Relations Department, 1960-1976, UTSA Special Collections
A family of four is at the top of the staircase in front of the Carlos Mérida mosaic mural, facing out toward the center inside of the Henry B. González Convention Center. The man is looking down toward the floor and taking a photo. Curved staircases are visible in the middle of the photograph and other people are standing in front of another portion of the Mérida’s mural on the bottom center of this photo.
A Guide to the San Antonio Fair, Inc., Records. Series 07: Public Relations Department, 1960-1976, UTSA Special Collections
A family of four is at the top of the staircase in front of the Carlos Mérida mosaic mural, facing out toward the center inside of the Henry B. González Convention Center. The man is looking down toward the floor and taking a photo. Curved staircases are visible in the middle of the photograph and other people are standing in front of another portion of the Mérida’s mural on the bottom center of this photo.
Photo of Convention Center Arena, Mission Room, and Mural, 1969
Zintgraff Studio Photograph Collection, UTSA Special Collections
A staff photographer from Zintgraff Studio, a commercial photography firm in San Antonio, captures a stairway framing Mérida’s HemisFair ‘68 mural. The Zintgraff Studio photographer was hired by Zintgraff to handle a photo shoot of Mérida’s The Confluence of Civilizations in America for Glenn Advertising Firm. The staff photographer artistically captures the various bright colors of the mural that are highlighted by the beaming lights on the right giving Zintgraff Studio and Glenn Advertising Firm a distinct brand.
Zintgraff Studio Photograph Collection, UTSA Special Collections
A staff photographer from Zintgraff Studio, a commercial photography firm in San Antonio, captures a stairway framing Mérida’s HemisFair ‘68 mural. The Zintgraff Studio photographer was hired by Zintgraff to handle a photo shoot of Mérida’s The Confluence of Civilizations in America for Glenn Advertising Firm. The staff photographer artistically captures the various bright colors of the mural that are highlighted by the beaming lights on the right giving Zintgraff Studio and Glenn Advertising Firm a distinct brand.