Artist Roel Palacios Jr. Crafts Masks for Festival

The veteran art instructor continues a tradition of creating intricate paper-mâché masks for the Corpus Christi event.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Puppetry

Artist Roel Palacios Jr. Crafts Masks for Festival

Live Poll

Does purchasing hand-crafted items from local artisans help preserve your community's unique cultural identity?

Since 2008, Roel Palacios Jr. has showcased his hand-crafted paper-mâché masks at the annual Día de los Muertos Festival in downtown Corpus Christi. His work draws inspiration from the iconic imagery of artist José Guadalupe Posada.

Why it matters

The festival highlights local artistry and cultural heritage, anchored by the involvement of long-term contributors like Palacios. His participation represents a bridge between formal art education and community-based celebration.

Each individual mask requires six hours of manual construction using paper, paste, and paint. The artist brings 30 years of experience as a former CCISD art instructor to these designs.

The players

Roel Palacios Jr.

He is a former art instructor for CCISD who spent 30 years teaching students in the district.

K Space Contemporary

Located at 623 N. Chaparral St., this organization serves as the primary organizer for the local festival.

José Guadalupe Posada

He was a renowned Mexican printmaker whose work heavily influences the artistic style of the masks.

The details

Roel Palacios Jr. utilizes traditional materials to produce pieces that honor the legacy of José Guadalupe Posada. These works are featured at the festival, which is organized by K Space Contemporary and spans multiple downtown blocks.

Roel Palacios Jr. began selling his hand-crafted masks at the festival in 2008.

Industry Dynamics

This craftsmanship reflects the broader trend of maintaining traditional folk art techniques within modern community festivals. The integration of legacy aesthetic styles like those of José Guadalupe Posada ensures that local celebrations remain deeply rooted in cultural history.

Attendees can view and purchase these hand-crafted masks during the festival's annual run in downtown Corpus Christi. The event provides a direct opportunity for the public to engage with works created through extensive manual labor.

The takeaway

Supporting local artisans preserves traditional craftsmanship that defines regional community identity. Viewers can appreciate the time-intensive nature of such work by attending public cultural festivals.