El NiNo

Puerto Rican artist el NiNo Alicea was introduced to the world of art at an early age when his parents noticed how much he enjoyed drawing and painting. When he attended college at the University of Puerto Rico, he joined the National Student Exchange Program which transferred him to Indiana University where he majored in Graphic Design. 

NiNo's experience as an artist has since been very eclectic. It has brought him to designing sets and shows for stage, film, and commercials in Los Angeles. Including working as the Art Director/Prop Master for Ricky Martin's world tours.

NiNo's favorite projects have been creations that bring communities together, notably the public art project, “Múcaro’s Rising”, a basketball court mural located in Puerto Rico. The project served as an outreach program to involve the community to paint and refurbish the court, an experience NiNo was proud to lead. Múcaro’s Rising was recognized with a CODAward as one of the 2021 Top 100 commissioned art installations in the world. 

Other public art projects NiNo designed and created are “Got Framed”, a popular interactive art installation at Burning Man (2015 & 2016), recognizing him as the first Puerto Rican to bring art to Burning Man. In 2017, he became the first Puerto Rican to have ever received the Burning Man Honoraria Art Grant for his wise woody owl named “MÚCARO”. In 2022 and 2023 received his second and third Art Grant to bring the shiny fish “ATABEY's Treasure”. And most recently, he received his fourth Art Grant for the adorable "COQUÍ" with a rainforest theme interior.

What fulfills NiNo the most is creating spaces that provoke thought and conversation. He loves seeing people being stimulated, and better yet, inspired to create, thrive and dream big.