<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0cgVKI_0wF0UMZl00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0cgVKI_0wF0UMZl00" width="1920" height="1080" ></figure>The Tom Lea Trail offers art lovers the opportunity to discover and appreciate the work of one of El Paso’s top artists while also exploring Texas, New Mexico and Northern Mexico.Lea was born in El Paso in 1907 and died in the city in 2001. Between then, his works explored the horrors of war, while also showing the beauty of the Southwest.The artist is being discovered by new audiences who can visit cities across the region that display some of his greatest public works.<div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y5fFqWnOpUo?feature=oembed" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div>While Lea rose to fame with the stark images he created while covering World War II for “Life” Magazine, his fame grew as he also later flourished as a noted author and painter of Southwest landscapes.People who want to discover more about Lea can visit an online list of 12 cities in Texas that have murals and paintings by Lea. Art lovers can create an itinerary that will take them to libraries, museums, universities and even a post office.The website was created through a partnership with the Tom Lea Institute and the Texas Historical Commission. The interactive multimedia site took a team of seven two and a half years to develop, said Holly Cobb, executive director of the Tom Lea Institute. Since its launch in September 2023, Cobb said it is bringing more attention to the artist.“It has had a big impact on Tom Lea’s visibility and educating people about Tom Lea, the history of Texas and its culture,” Cobb said.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2TaGIs_0wF0UMZl00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2TaGIs_0wF0UMZl00" width="1178" height="1177" ><figcaption>One of the many viral memes inspired by Tom Lea’s painting, The Two Thousand Yard Stare</figcaption></figure>Among the artist’s iconic World War II images is “The Two Thousand Yard Stare,” which depicts a soldier showing signs of post traumatic stress disorder as the hell of war is shown behind him: As the soldier stares straight ahead blankly, behind him are a tank, other soldiers, and mountain with smoke. Memes based on the work have gone viral, exposing younger audiences to Lea’s historic work.On the trail are nine sites in El Paso that have either original or reproductions of Lea’s work. They include the El Paso Museum of Art, which has 137 of his artworks.Lea counted presidents among his fans, including Lyndon B. Johnson and George W. Bush, who had a reproduction of the painting “Rio Grande” in the Oval Office. More information on Lea can be found in Dallas at the George W. Bush Presidential Museum.Lea also found success with words. Two books he wrote were turned into films: “The Brave Bulls” (1951) and “The Wonderful Country” (1959).Lea’s fame could have led him elsewhere, but he chose to stay in El Paso, where he used his acclaim to help others.Cobb said, “Lyndon B. Johnson asked Tom to do his presidential portrait and Tom refused and said, ‘I’ll have my friend Peter Hurd do it for you.’”Hurd was an emerging artist from Roswell, New Mexico, and a friend of Lea, who used the moment to help him gain recognition.To explore the Tom Lea Trail, visit <a href="https://www.tomlea.com/the-tom-lea-trail">https://www.tomlea.com/the-tom-lea-trail</a>.</div></body>

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Mobile site helps art lovers follow the trail of work by famed El Paso artist Tom Lea throughout Texas

The Tom Lea Trail offers art lovers the opportunity to discover and appreciate the work of one of El Paso’s top artists while also exploring Texas, New Mexico and Northern Mexico. Lea was born in El Paso in 1907 and died in the city in 2001. Between then, his...