Blackie

The Works of Lionel Sosa
Lionel Sosa was raised in humble neighborhoods of San Antonio’s west side, it was an upbringing filled with the rich elements of Mexican-American culture. As a young man, he served his country in the United States Marine Corp until his creative talents landed him in the advertising business.

This Tejano Renaissance man is well known for his ability to connect with Hispanic-American markets as both a political consultant and advertising pioneer. In 1995, Sosa retired from his highly successful advertising business to devote more time to his family and to his painting alongside his wife, Kathy Sosa.

In addition to being a naturally talented artist, he is an accomplished writer, authoring three books and coauthoring two more.  In 2005, Sosa was recognized as one of the 25 most influential Hispanics in America by Time Magazine.  He was also named to the Texas Business Hall of fame. Today, the artist devotes much of his energy serving on various nonprofit boards in San Antonio.

The artist says this of his paintings, “I am not so much trying to paint a likeness as I am the essence of the person.”

“Whatever I do, I do it with a passion.”--- Lionel Sosa

Vaqueros Series

The Mexican Vaquero is the original American Cowboy.

The land on which this university sits was a part of El Camino Real, the Royal Road of New Spain. During the 18^th Century, Tejano Vaqueros and Rancheros along with Mission Indians drove cattle up El Camino Real over these fields. The vaqueros drove cattle through Texas to Louisiana and north on the orders of Don Bernardo Galvez, Governor of Spanish Louisiana. George Washington requested aid from Galvez in 1779 during the American revolutionary war. In addition to the cattle, which were needed for food, a voluntary contribution of approximately 10,000 pesos was sent from the Tejano citizens. Many of the vaqueros stayed to fight against the British in Don Bernardo de Galvez’s army during the revolutionary war.

A&M-SA was awarded State Historic Site Designation, which recognizes the historical relevance of this land, and by extension, the vaqueros and their role in American history.

These portraits showcase descendants of the Mexican and Spanish vaqueros. The vaqueros of long ago brought their horsemanship skills and their work ethic, teaching and working, alongside their Anglo counterparts.

Lionel Sosa (American, b. 20^th Century)
Blackie
Oil on canvas
Signed l.r.
60 x 40 inches