By Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine Staff
Images courtesy of Nick San Pedro

Nick San Pedro’s musically inspired figurative paintings have led him to share his works with everyone from Madonna, Steven Spielberg, Celine Dion, & Elton John, among many others. The artist’s oversized painted faces were propelled into the spotlight after a commission to create paintings for the Grammy Awards.

San Pedro works with high-contrast complementary colors and painted faces that seduce with their eyes. He finds purpose in sharing the beauty of humanity and all living things.

Nick finds solace in sharing a message of love and light through his visual creations. Grateful for his gift of art, he is happy to inspire others and donate his artwork to programs that educate the masses and heal those in need.

Photo of Derrick Barry, Nick San Pedro, and Mackenzie Claude Robert by Arturo Garza. “RuPaul” (work in progress as pictured, completed 2019), Acrylic on Canvas, 24” x 24” by Nick San Pedro.

When not creating artwork, San Pedro enjoys spending time with his family and loved ones. He also enjoys practicing yoga, studying metaphysics, and traveling. The Las Vegas native resides in Sin City with his partners & muses, famed celebrity female impersonator Derrick Barry and model Mackenzie Claude Robert, aka/ Nebraska Supermodel.

We sat down with Nick during the celebration and chaos of June PRIDE month to get to know him a little better. We had quite the “T”…

What inspires you as a queer artist?

As a queer artist, I am inspired by visibility, transformation, and the freedom to tell stories that have not always had a place in mainstream art spaces. My identity allows me to see the world through a lens of resilience and reinvention, qualities that Las Vegas and the queer community embody so boldly. I am constantly fueled by pop culture, music, drag, and the vibrant people around me who live authentically and unapologetically. Whether I am painting oversized, emotionally charged faces or creating pieces that pay tribute to icons like Madonna or Lady Gaga, I want my art to celebrate love, individuality, the beauty of humanity, and the power of being seen.

Who inspires you?

I am inspired mainly by musicians, other artists, and visionaries who live boldly and make space for others to do the same; people like Madonna, Leonardo da Vinci, Andy Warhol, Steven Spielberg, RuPaul, and Frida Kahlo. I am inspired by how they have shaped culture through authenticity, innovation, and fearlessness. Their light has a significant impact on how I see the world and create within it. My daily life is also immersed within the LGBTQ+ community: musicians, drag performers, dancers, makeup artists, and fellow painters who turn struggle into beauty and self-expression into survival. Most of all, I draw strength and inspiration from my family, close friends, and especially my partners, Derrick Barry and Mackenzie Claude. Their love, talent, and support fuel everything I do.

What was your favorite piece that you have created so far?

My favorite piece I have ever created is a haunting, dark portrait of Madonna. One of her epic collaborations with Steven Klein inspired the life-sized portrait. She is wearing an ornate red Christian LaCroix dress, and the image feels regal, dark, and emotional all at once. My painting was originally commissioned by an art collector who became one of my closest friends. He is no longer with us, and now the painting lives at his sister’s home. Seeing the painting now is even more impactful. Its energy feels so powerful in any space. Art deeply connects us. A painting can carry the spirit of a person and a moment forever. I am lucky to have ever seen one of my original paintings a second time, after they begin their journeys.

What are you creating now?

I am getting ready to start new paintings of Marina and Miley Cyrus, two icons I have never painted before. Both artists are creating some masterful works, and their music and light inspire me. I am also working on private commissions of people’s loved ones and fur babies, which is always a deeply personal and rewarding process. I am also continuing my series of emotionally charged figurative pieces that explore identity, pop culture, and transformation.

Future plans? Goals? Dreams?

I am getting back into something that launched my painting career in the first place, incorporating poetry into my artwork. When I was a barista at Starbucks, pursuing my fine arts degree, I started hanging my paintings paired with my original poetry on the café walls. That is how my journey as a professional artist began. Returning to that emotional combination of image and words feels like a full circle. I am also focused on expanding my audience, releasing more work online, showing in galleries more often, and connecting with collectors and communities that resonate with my creations. Collaborations with my partners, Derrick Barry and Mackenzie Claude, are another exciting part of what is next, blending visual art, performance, and storytelling in fresh, fearless ways. My dream is to keep making work that speaks to the soul and also celebrates queer identity with honesty and heart.

This article was originally published in the 2025 Arts & Entertainment Issue of Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine, and can be read in its original format here.