Amor

This is another one of Tino Ortega's mylar balloon paintings spread throughout the city of El Paso. This one shouts "AMOR", Spanish for "love" in bright silver and blue on a background of magenta. The balloon representing the letter "O" is actually a shiny blue heart shape. In the heart's reflection you can see a person in the parking lot, adding to the illusion that these are real balloons reflecting a real scene. After the shooting at Wal-Mart in 2019, El Paso native artist Tino Ortega vowed to paint 23 of these works around the city to commemorate the 23 people who died. This one painted in 2024 on the side of a new restaurant is a continuation of that promise.