Nilo Lanzas (1929–2004)—better known as "NL"—was a self-taught contemporary folk artist from León, Nicaragua. One of nine children, he grew up in a strict yet happy household. From a young age, he was captivated by Western culture, particularly the Wild West. He would spend his weekends on his father’s dairy farm and watch five-cent Western films at the local moviehouse—early influences that would later shape his artistic vision. In 1956, Lanzas moved to Louisiana and made New Orleans his home. He served in the Army and worked in the restaurant and antique business before discovering his passion for painting at the age of 63. Despite never having painted before, he fully immersed himself in his craft. "One day, I decided to start painting 10-12 hours a day," he once said, "and now, I’ll never stop. I love it." Collectors and art enthusiasts around the world came to share his enthusiasm. His works are featured in collections across the United States, Europe, and South America, as well as in the private collections of celebrities like Robert Walker, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins. Lanzas painted primarily with oils on wood or canvas, often incorporating antique window frames and architectural elements—some as large as 12 feet. "I paint out of mind," he said, a statement that perfectly captures the originality and energy of his art. His work is a vivid, humorous, and colorful exploration of life in Louisiana, the Wild West, biblical stories, his childhood in Nicaragua, and his own imaginary world of "Niloville," where anything is possible. Artistic Recognition Lanzas’s work was featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including the Entergy Louisiana Artists Contemporary Exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center and the 1996 and 1997 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. His art is preserved in the Contemporary Artist’s Archives at the Museum of American Folk Art in New York. Additionally, his work is part of the permanent collections at several esteemed institutions, including: New Orleans Museum of ArtMississippi Museum of ArtPensacola Museum of ArtBirmingham Museum of Art