The walls of Purgatoire Canyon are covered in striking, unique images of animals, cowboys, and symbolic forms – and a compelling Colorado artist was the creative soul behind them.

Martin Bowden was an American folk artist who essentially created his own art gallery in the canyon walls along the Purgatoire River near Trinidad. According to Rock Art Blog, Bowden spent nearly 50 years painting the life-size figures on the sandstone walls.

Bowden reportedly retired to the canyon to begin his paintings in 1911. He had been born in Lyons, France, but moved to Trinidad, Colorado where his father was a coal miner. Bowden worked as a coal miner himself once he was old enough, but always carried colored chalk with him and drew on the coal cars during his off hours.

After leaving the coal mines and briefly trying his hand at ranching, Bowden retreated to solitude in Purgatoire Canyon. There, he spent over 40 years creating his artwork. According to an article published in the Denver Post in 1981, he used the sandstone to contour land coloration to enhance his art’s realism. Before adorning the canyon walls with house paint (his preferred medium), Bowden would chisel outlines into the rock.

The artist earned himself the nicknames “The Hermit Painter of Purgatoire Canyon” and the “Picasso of the Purgatory.”

Sadly, Bowden passed away in 1958 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Recently, there has been a push to recognize and document Bowden’s work. Some have even started social media accounts dedicated to Bowden’s art. A petition has also been started, urging History Colorado to acknowledge Bowden in the Centennial State’s historical and cultural record and evaluate his work for exhibits, archives, or education materials. The petition also asks History Colorado to recognize the importance of preserving and sharing stories that were overlooked because “access, ownership, and time erased them from view.”

With his fascinating life and extensive portfolio of artwork displayed in a unique spot, Bowden is certainly an intriguing Colorado artist deserving of recognition.

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