If there is something all Panamanians agree is that the Carnival from Las Tablas represents the top artistic spectacle, where the creativity and the fantasy get together to enhance the wonderful allegories that take us to any part of the planet.

These creations are not products of improvisation but from the work of the artist, who transforms a piece of styrofoam into a piece of art. All the spectacular allegoric work starts when Horacio designs on paper, skill that is not easily found in any other designer.

Born in Panama City, Horacio moves to Las Lagunitas, Pocrí, in Los Santos at the age of three, where he spends all his childhood and a good part of his life. In his elementary school years, he was the one who used to paint murals and any other artistic work. He remembers clearly that his first design was for one of his high school's anniversaries (Manual Ma. Tejada Roca High School) in the city of Las Tablas. He made his debut at age 19, when he designed a fantasy costume inspired in a Mayan Princess, which was worn by the queen of Calle Arriba, Isabel Loaiza.

Traditions that surrounded him, such as the making of Polleras (national costume of Panama), cutarras (leather sandals worn in the countryside), chácaras (daily use bags, made out of vegetable fibers), and arts & crafts, known mostly by the countryside people, are his main background, which enables him to have the ability to create.

Horacio has been awarded for the last two years as the "Best Fantasy Designer for Miss Panama Miss Universe". In 2001, he designed "Princess Zaratí" (a native Indian princess) for Justine Pasek, Miss Panama 2001 & Miss Universe 2002. In the year 2002, he wins by second time this prestigious award, and this time, his design called "Saracundé" (inspired on the dance of African background that expresses the rebelliousness of the slaves against the Spanish power), was worn by Stephanie de Roux, Miss Panama 2002, which won the Second place as Best Costume in Miss Universe 2003.

Nice and humble, Horacio is far away from being an eccentric artist, he is a human being very spontaneous in his deals with people and very sure of what he wants from life. His first thoughts when he sees one of his designs in Carnival or on one of the beauty queens, is his strong and sincere gratitude to God, besides his great excitement by seeing his fantasy becoming a reality.

Horacio has the recognition and the distinction in the Panamanian artistic arena, and his main gratitude is for his dear parents, who with a lot of sacrifices made possible for him to accomplish his designing career, besides to the people that helped him to make his work known, especially to Justine Pasek, who keeps a close friendship with him and who always faithfully believed in his talent and work.

Horacio Prado is a sample of the inexhaustible source of talent and inspiration amongst our countryside people, who can reach the stars as well as he has demonstrated and who now designs for the universe.

His 2003 summer collection called "Roots", is inspired on our pre-Hispanic heritage, made with "natural fibered fabrics" combined with seeds from our tropical forest, recycled metal pieces covered with "gold leaf", semiprecious stones, tree bark and embroideries made by Panamanian artisans.  Accessories and jewelry are designs by Horacio with the same materials.  This collection was sponsored by the Embassy of France in Panama and was exhibited on July 14, 2003 at the Hotel El Panama (Panama City) and in the Wilshire Grand Hotel in Los Angeles, California as part of the celebrations of Panama's Centennial in Los Angeles.

These are some of the pieces from his collection "Roots":

Horacio also volunteers at the Rose Parade float's decoration.

You can contact Horacio Prado through: