Robert "Bob" Luna, a Denver-based painter, sculptor, mask-maker, mosaic muralist, and mixed-media artist, passed away on July 19, 2021. He was 65 years old.

Bob or "Bobby," as he was known to family and friends, was born and raised in Pueblo, CO to Dan Luna and Jessie Martinez Luna. Bob's family moved to Denver in 1970 where he attended Denver East High School. He excelled as both a student athlete and visual artist. As a senior at East, Bob participated in a National Outward Bound Program where teens trained in mountaineering within the Rocky Mountains, eventually scaling a 20k-foot peak in the Peruvian Andes. Bob was also featured in a National Geographic documentary film entitled "Journey to the Outer Limits," which was nominated for an Academy Award in 1974.

Bob graduated from East High School in 1974. As a third-generation artist, he earned a scholarship to the Rhode Island School of Design where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1978. He also completed course work at the Metropolitan State University of Denver in K-12 and Secondary Art Education, and at the University of Colorado Boulder Master of Fine Arts program.

Bob was commissioned to create public art projects sponsored by entities such as Regional Transportation District (RTD), Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), City and County of Denver, Colorado Academy, Lutheran Hospital, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Children's Hospital of Colorado and Northeast Transportation Connection (NETC). One of his most noted commissions was with his former wife Martha Keating, who were invited by the Denver Arts and Venues in 1994 to develop and create "A Loose History of the Highlands and the Lower Highlands Neighborhood" - a series of ten 25x14 mosaic tile murals that are still located on the retaining walls that separate I-25 and the north Denver community, between the 20 ^th Street viaduct and 38 ^th Street. This project involved hundreds of students from the Denver Public Schools and community members who contributed their own artistic talents to create these murals. The Epic mural was recently renovated 2016-17 with the help of Denver Arts & Venues, his sister and five art apprentices of Bob's.

Within the past 40+ years Bob taught art to historically excluded students within Denver Public Schools, CU Boulder Pre-Collegiate and Upward Bound Programs, the City of Longmont, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Waco Texas Arts Center, Museo de las Americas and at various Denver Parks and Recreation Centers. He was also a featured artist at Denver's CHAC Gallery and Cultural Center, the Pirate Art Gallery, the Colorado State Fair Hispanic Cultural Arts Center, the Zip Gallery, and the Foothills Arts Center in Golden, CO. More recently, Bob also provided pottery and ceramic lessons for both underrepresented youth and senior citizens at La Alma Recreational Center in Denver. He was currently working on two local public art mural projects in Denver.

He was a profoundly passionate artist and teacher where he valued and practiced compassion, critical thinking and inclusion for all people, especially with the children and adults he taught. Bob was also a friendly, outspoken, humorous and authentic person. He loved family, art, music and poetry. He appreciated the universal value of art for children, marginalized communities, and the world at large. He shared that vision throughout his lifetime.

Bob is survived by four brothers: Daniel Jr., Mark, Richard, and Erick Luna, and sister Susan Luna and nephews and nieces: Dustin, Abby, Jessica, Jasmine, Iliana, Nathaniel, Lucas, Simon, Benjamin, Marina and Kai.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alcoholic Anonymous-The York Street Club, at 1311 York St. Denver, CO 80206, in honor and memory of Bob Luna. This was an essential place for healing and community for Bob, where he achieved and maintained sobriety for 10 years.  Celebration of life will take place at a later date, please check back.