Limited Edition of Bronze Seahorse Sculptures Now Available at Galeria Contempo Galeria Contempo
go to original April 17, 2016

Puerto Vallarta has two iconic symbols of the city, the Parroquia de Nuestra Sra. De Guadalupe and the seahorse sculpture, entitled "El Niño y El Caballito" which was originally created in 1960 by Mexican artist Rafeal Zamarripa.

Most of the tourist who have visited Puerto Vallarta are familiar with the seahorse sculpture on the Malecon, but few know who the artist is nor that the original sculpture was placed on Las Pilitas in Playa Los Muertos. The Pilitas are just a series of rocks on Playa Los Muertos, about 50 meters before reaching the promontory called Pulpito which is the southern boundary of that beach.

The Pilitas was the original location of the work by Rafael Zamarripa created in 1960 when the artist had just turned 18 years old and had won the Premio Nacional de Escultura (National Sculpture Award).

After a heavy storm the original sculpture was lost at sea so Zamarripa was asked to produce a larger replica. This new larger version was placed prominently in 1976 on the Malecon and was the first of many sculptures that adorn this famous seawall of Puerto Vallarta.

The original sculpture was later recovered and placed at its original position in Las Pilitas.
 
In 2002, during Hurricane Kena the Pilitas sculpture was once again lost but later on found in the ocean. Now it can be viewed with a bigger support base on Los Muertos Beach.

This is the reason that Puerto Vallarta currently has two statues of seahorses of this well-known and beloved artist.

Renowned Mexican artist Rafael Zamarripa has brought out a limited edition bronze sculptures of El Niño y El Caballito, that is now available at Galeria Contempo.