Vaquero is a unique interpretation of the traditional equestrian statue, which usually portrays a hero with a sword or a gun mounted on a stately horse, rendered in bronze. In the instance of Vaquero, an exuberant Mexican American cowboy is inseparable from his horse, depicted in colorful and glossy fiberglass, a material often associated with low riders and hot rods. Jimenez began creating monumental sculptures during the Latino civil rights movement, dedicating himself to representing a racially diverse and working-class America. Vaquero confronts popular stereotypes of the cowboy while connecting a classic symbol of the United States to its Mexican origins. The sculpture was made possible through a commission by the Art in Public Places Program, funded by the City of Houston and the National Endowment for the Arts. Vaquero is the first in an edition of five, with an additional Artist’s Proof, for a total of six. The Artist’s Proof edition greets visitors to the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC. Each Vaquero edition is painted differently. The colors fade over time and require conservation. This sculpture was last restored by the Houston Arts Foundation and Houston Arts Alliance in 2009.