After San Quentin, his career took him to Mexico, where he found success in Guadalajara, Acapulco and Mexico City. He produced thousands of paintings and wood sculptures. He made good money but spent it fast. Santos finally landed in the small Catskills town of Fleischmanns in the mid-1960s after two disastrous years in NY. The Catskills are thought to be littered with paintings and sculptures Santos produced over a decade of hard work. But since Santos became known as the muralist of San Quentin, prices have risen sharply and availability has withered.

Now Santos lives in downtown San Diego flophouse. “It’s too late for me to make any money,” Santos said. “But at least I’m finally being recognized. It’s proof that I existed.”
-Mike Anton (LATWP)