NiNo

Puerto Rican artist NiNo is driven by a passion for creating public art that fosters connection and community. His artistic journey began with a love for drawing and painting, nurtured by his supportive parents. After starting his education at the University of Puerto Rico, he pursued Graphic Design at Indiana University through the National Student Exchange Program. Relocating to Los Angeles opened the door to a vibrant and diverse artistic career, where he has produced shows, designed sets for stage, film, and commercials, and collaborated on world music tours.

One of his most notable achievements is Múcaro’s Rising a groundbreaking basketball floor mural in Puerto Rico, sponsored by 2K Foundations. This project not only beautified the court but also included an outreach program that empowered the community to participate in the painting and refurbishment process. NiNo's work has garnered recognition, including being named one of the 2021 TOP 100 commissioned art installations in the world by CODAworx.

NiNo has designed and created several impactful public art projects, including Got Framed a highly successful interactive installation. A year later, he designed MÚCARO which received the Honoraria Art Grant, followed by Atabey’s Treasure. Most recently, his latest work, COQUÍ the largest of its kind, debuted to critical acclaim, winning Best of Show at the Tahoe Reno International Art Show, was displayed at the Western Lights Festival in Reno, Nevada and will be showcased at the LA County Fair in Los Angeles, California in May of 2025. 

NiNo credits much of his extensive experience in public art fabrication and installation to his years at Carlson Baker Arts, where he had the opportunity to collaborate with renowned artists such as Pae White on “Woven Walk” at the Tom Bradley International Airport (LAX) and Christian Moeller on “Cactus” at the San Antonio Convention Center. Additionally, he joined forces with the talented Thomas Dambo to fabricate five of his world-renowned Trolls at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, a project that has since tripled visitor numbers.

NiNo traveled to Puerto Rico to remodel and fabricate the Cyber Yunque, a striking cyber tree centerpiece at the Parque de las Ciencias immersive museum.

What fulfills NiNo the most is creating spaces that provoke thought and spark conversations. He finds joy in witnessing people being stimulated and, even better, inspired to create, thrive, and dream big.