Nelson De La Nuez

Nelson De La Nuez Biography

De La Nuez was selected by Warner Bros. as an official artist to commemorate the 70th  anniversary of the film, The Wizard of Oz, and was commissioned to create a series of original art work to celebrate the iconic film. He has collaborated with a number of prestigious brands to integrate his artistic vision into various product collections including a current series of timepieces by Swiss watch manufacturer Corum. His branded home, fashion and lifestyle products have sold through luxury retailers including Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, and Nordstrom.

De La Nuez’s work hangs alongside the world’s most valuable artists in some of the most prestigious galleries around the globe, is exhibited regularly at top-tier art shows including Art Basel Miami, SCOPE & Context & Hong Kong, Art Market Hamptons, LA Art Show, Melbourne Art Show and is part of numerous private collections. Original De La Nuez pieces hang in Delta airline's private collection in Delta One’s VIP and SkyClub airport lounges throughout the country. He has been commissioned by numerous high-profile brands to create bespoke installations including Hermes and Kim Kardashian’s ShoeDazzle, and has earned a long list of celebrity admirers, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Warren, Howie Mandel, Kaley Cuoco, and Kelly Clarkson to name a few.

Nelson De La Nuez Description

Nelson De La Nuez (b. 1959, Cuba)

Nelson De La Nuez was born in communist Cuba and moved to California in 1966 at age seven. He was overwhelmed and captivated by the vibrant culture all around him. He was able to absorb this new world of advertising and excess and put it into paintings. He has an extensive collection of antique and vintage magazines. Some of his compositions have backgrounds inundated with information such as newspaper clippings, restaurant advertisements, and sticker-like cutouts. He leans into the Lichtenstein style using graphic lines and placing speech bubbles above the figures.

He met Michael Jackson, who ended up purchasing three of his large works. He told De La Nuez that he was, “The King of Pop Art and he was the King of Pop”, and the nickname has stuck with him ever since.

When making each piece, he puts a lot of focus into connecting specifically with his audience. His choice of text and color are meant to help communicate his message further. He likes to use tongue in cheek phrases like “Darling, all I require are fabulous shoes”. It resonates with women, and he has sold a piece with that particular phrase to Sarah Jessica Parker.

In the mixed media painting Let’s Fly Away, the sides of the canvas are meticulously covered with black and white advertisements featuring lingerie and Elvis. The background of the composition is layered with vintage adverts for vacations such as Paris, New York, and skiing. There’s a middle layer where drawn elements in bright colors interact with the lines of the ads as well as the main couple in the foreground. The high-shine and large-scale bring the viewer into this romantic and nostalgic filled artwork.

 “My artwork is a reflection of who I am today as a result of every event that has taken place in my life, every person I have met and everything I have processed through my senses up until this point in time.” - De La Nuez

De La Nuez has exhibited his pop art paintings all over the world in over 80 exhibitions.

Nelson De La Nuez Resumé