Guillermo Wagner Granizo

Guillermo "Bill" Wagner Granizo (né William Joseph Wagner; March 11, 1923 – November 1995) is an American artist, known for his brightly colored ceramic tile murals which often featured historical or autobiographical references. He was active in Northern California from 1960 to 1995, and lived in San Francisco, Ben Lomond, San Jose, and Benicia.

Early life and education Guillermo Wagner Granizo was named William Joseph Wagner at birth, he was born in San Francisco, California on March 11, 1923. His mother Dora Granizo was Nicaraguan, and his father Joseph Wagner was of German descent and from the East Coast. After the war, Granizo attended San Francisco College of Art (later known as San Francisco Art Institute) for a year, although some sources state he graduated in 1949.

Career Granizo worked as an art director at KRON-TV, a television station in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1950s, and later worked on directing educational films.

Personal life After World War II, Granizo married Amalia Mary "Mollie" Castillo, from a prominent Guatemala family. 1980 "Cathedral of Man" Guillermo Wagner Granizo Ceramic tile mural Spans multiple walls and ceiling Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), on the 3rd floor landing, 3501 Market St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1981 "A Gift of Appreciation to this Area", one mural Guillermo Wagner Granizo Ceramic tile mural 4-foot by 12-foot mural Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St, Santa Cruz, California Mural depicts past events that have been held at that location. 1984 "Monterey Mural", one outdoor mural Guillermo Wagner Granizo Ceramic tile mural 11-foot by 45-foot mural Monterey Conference Center, 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey, California Mural depicts 150 scenes of history of the city of Monterey including the Rumsiens, Spanish colonists, and Mexican farmers. In 1983, the city of Monterey commissioned a 11-foot- by 45-foot tile mural, depicting the history of the city, which was completed a year later in 1984. 1984 Four outdoor murals Guillermo Wagner Granizo, Lark Lucas Ceramic tile mural each mural is 7-foot by 13-foot mural Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), in the Caring Center playground, 3501 Market St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1984 One outdoor mural Guillermo Wagner Granizo Ceramic tile mural Mission Dolores, courtyard, San Francisco, California Mural depicts the arrival of the San Carlos ship in the San Francisco Bay. 1984 “Olympic Fantasy,” one outdoor mural Guillermo Wagner Granizo Ceramic tile mural 93-foot by 24-foot mural California State University, Los Angeles (CalState LA), Physical Education building, Los Angeles, California The mural was restored in 2010. In 2022, parts of this mural were found in a parking lot with 11 missing pieces. 1989 "Lighthouse Fantasy", four indoor murals Guillermo Wagner Granizo Ceramic tile mural El Faro restaurant, 2399 Folsom Street, San Francisco, California These murals hang on the upper level of two walls and depict happy people in San Francisco, with many party balloons, hot air balloons, the ocean, a light house, and more. 1992–1995 "Vacaville Centennial", twenty outdoor murals, set into three freestanding walls Guillermo Wagner Granizo Ceramic tile mural Vacaville Civic Center, 650 Merchant St, Vacaville, California Murals depict the city of Vacaville history. 1995 "Pleasanton Centennial" Guillermo Wagner Granizo Ceramic tile murals on three columns At Bernal Avenue and Main Street in Civic Park, Pleasanton, California Murals depict the Pleasanton Fairgrounds, local agriculture, the Ohlone people, and the railroad.