The facade of Exekatlkalli (House of the Winds) a privately owned estate, feature the rarest of murals created by Mexico’s most important and influential artist and muralist of the Twentieth Century, Diego Rivera. Rare because they all relay unique messages. Rare because they are the last ones he completed before his death in 1957. And rare because they are the only Diego Rivera murals to exist on privately owned land in the entire world. House of the Winds not only possesses the facade murals, which draw hundreds of thousands of art enthusiasts from around the globe each year, but also three additional murals located in the maestro’s studio - two gracing the exterior patio and one covering the entire ceiling of his studio. These registered historic landmarks were created in 18 months, from 1955 to 1957, in which time Rivera also painted 24 stunning sunset scenes and produced numerous lithographs of Dolores Olmedo’s children.

EXEKATLKALLI is combination of Nahuatl words meaning “House of the Winds” to reflect Dolores Olmedo’s estate name.  Diego Rivera created the murals as a dedication to Dolores (Lola) Olmedo as this mural shows with their names.

On the 20 meters long, right side, the mural represents Tlaloc accompanied by Coatlicue plus inscriptions in a kind of niche (similar to an intaglio) on the wall  near the entrance gate  that say “Exekatlkalli”  (House of the wind), Tlalokan;  in blue, vertical and in a parallel direction, Dolores Olmedo, Diego Rivera.

The Aztec god Tlaloc was believed to be the god of rain, fertility, and lightning. He was one of the three main gods of the Aztec’s being Tlaloc, Huitzilopochtli, and Quetzalcoatl. Tlaloc was considered a beneficent god but was also greatly feared for he could cause floods, drought, or lightening.

Coatlicue: ‘the serpent lady’. She was the Aztec earth goddess, the tribal god of the Aztecs. She magically became impregnated while still a virgin by a ball of feathers that fell on her while she was sweeping a temple. She gave birth to Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl, shown on the left side mural and talked about further into this article. Coatlicue, also known as "The Mother of Gods", is the Aztec goddess who gave birth to the moon, stars, and Huitzilopochtli, the god of the sun and war. The word "Coatlicue" is Nahuatl for "the one with the skirt of serpents".

On the 12.70 meters long, left side, located directly under the studio Quetzalcoatl is represented beside the “sapo-rana” (“toad-frog”) that is offering its heart to the lady owner of the house.  A coyote Xolotl (twin brother of Quetzalcoatl) can be observed. The dog symbol is the hairless dog (Xoloitzcuintle) that Dolores has for pets at the House of the Winds. Diego Rivera’s initials and Roman numerals (DR LVI) representing the year (1956) the mural was completed. On the first floor studio patio ceiling another mural can be seen as well.

Quetzalcoatl is two Nahuatl words joined together to form the meaning feathered (or plumed) serpent. Although ancient mythology provides many contradicting tales as to exactly who or what Quetzalcoatl actually was, the most common tale depicts him as a king. An admired hero who is credited with beginning the cultivation of corn, the teaching of weaving, the polishing of stone, the invention of the calendar, and the teaching of the movement of stars, among many other things. His demise came as he was seduced by drunkenness and sensuality. Upon realizing this, with much woe, he then burned his palace, buried his treasure, donned feathers and a green mask and vowed to return one day as he set adrift.