Houston artist showcases heritage, family and love in beautiful tributes

HOUSTON -- Artist Louis Gonzalez of Luna Artworks grew up in an area just north of downtown Houston that's rich with Hispanic culture and pride. While his Mexican American heritage influences his artwork, it is a tribute to his mother, and his response to her death, that's the driving force behind his creations.

As Gonzalez struggled to cope with the loss, he turned to art as a celebration of life, not death. Many of the skulls and skeletons featured in his work are designs traditionally reserved for the yearly celebration of "Dia De Los Muertos" (Day of the Dead) on November 1.

This holiday is a time for friends and family to pray for and honor those loved ones they have lost. Gonzalez uses a special tribute of a heart in his work to show how love lives on in a heart forever.

Watch the video above for a moving description of the therapeutic meaning behind the art, in the artist's own words.