A place like no other near Irving in Texas
The Mustangs of Las Colinas is one of the most celebrated public art installations in the United States, located in the heart of the Las Colinas Urban Center in Irving. Sculpted by Robert Glen, this breathtaking bronze sculpture depicts nine wild mustangs galloping across a granite stream in Williams Square. The installation captures the untamed spirit of the American West and has become the most photographed landmark in Irving. The horses are life-sized, exquisitely detailed, and appear to splash through flowing water in a scene of extraordinary realism and power.
The Mustangs of Las Colinas was commissioned in 1976 as the centerpiece of Williams Square, part of the then-new Las Colinas master-planned community. Developer Ben H. Carpenter envisioned a monumental work of art that would establish Las Colinas as a place of cultural significance beyond just a suburban office park. After an extensive international search, Carpenter selected Robert Glen, a Scottish-born sculptor who had spent years studying wild horses in Africa and the American West, to bring his vision to life. Glen spent eight years designing and creating the mustangs in his studio in Nairobi, Kenya, and traveled to the American Southwest to observe wild herds before beginning the sculpting process. Each horse was meticulously modeled in clay and cast in bronze, and the installation was unveiled in 1984 to enormous acclaim.
Visitors to Williams Square can walk directly among the bronze horses, admiring the extraordinary detail of the sculpture up close. Each horse is positioned in a different phase of motion, from full gallop to mid-stride, creating a sense of continuous movement across the 400-foot granite stream. The reflecting pool surrounding the horses creates the illusion that they are running through water, with their hooves appearing to splash through the surface. This effect is particularly striking during the golden hour of late afternoon when the bronze catches the warm light of the setting Texas sun.
Photography enthusiasts will find the Mustangs an endlessly rewarding subject. The sculptures catch light beautifully throughout the day, and the water feature adds a reflective dimension that changes with the weather and season. The best vantage points include the plaza level for close-up details, the surrounding office tower balconies for panoramic shots, and the eastern approach for capturing the horses against the dramatic Las Colinas skyline. The adjacent Mustangs of Las Colinas Museum provides historical context about the creation of the sculpture, featuring original sketches, scale models, and behind-the-scenes photographs from Glen’s studio in Kenya.
Williams Square features a beautifully landscaped plaza with shaded seating areas and open green spaces that invite visitors to linger and absorb the artwork at their own pace. The plaza connects directly to the Mandalay Canal Walk, a scenic waterfront promenade lined with restaurants, shops, and pedestrian bridges that extends the experience into the broader Las Colinas district. The Campión Trails network can be accessed from nearby, offering opportunities to extend an outing into a longer walk or bike ride along the Trinity River corridor.
The Mustangs of Las Colinas can be visited year-round at no cost, as Williams Square is a public outdoor space accessible 24 hours a day. The most rewarding times to experience the sculpture are during spring and fall, when temperatures in Irving are comfortable and the surrounding landscaping is at its most vibrant. Spring brings wildflower blooms to the plaza plantings, adding splashes of color that complement the bronze tones of the horses. Fall offers crisp air and golden afternoon light that photographers prize above all other seasons. Early morning visits provide the most peaceful experience, with fewer crowds and soft dawn light creating dramatic silhouettes against the Texas sky.