NELSON
HOST
SANTIAGO
Artist + Painter + Graffiti + Muralist
BIO
Nelson Host Santiago is a Puerto Rican/Nuyorican visual artist born in Spanish Harlem and raised in the Bronx, New York. Deeply rooted in his Puerto Rican heritage, his artistic journey began at the age of four, inspired by the vivid imagery of comic books. As he grew older, hip-hop culture and graffiti became defining influences, leading to the emergence of his artistic identity, Host One.
Santiago's paintings explore Puerto Rican and Nuyorican identity, migration, family, memory, cultural pride, and the connections between Puerto Rico and New York City. Drawing from graffiti, hip-hop, and everyday urban life, he combines acrylics, spray paint, and paint markers to create works that reflect the histories, struggles, and resilience of the communities that shape him.
Throughout his career, Santiago has presented ten solo exhibitions and participated in group exhibitions and live painting events in New York, New Jersey, Boston, Florida, Los Angeles, and Puerto Rico. His artwork has been featured twice in New York City Times Square. Also, he created a mural that remains on display at the iconic La Fonda Restaurant in El Barrio, East Harlem. His public art and community collaborations include creating banners for Puerto Ricans Flags Up and for Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's float in the Puerto Rican Day Parade. His artwork has also been featured at City Hall.
Beyond the studio, Nelson Host is committed to making art accessible to others. His community work includes leading an art workshop for young cancer patients at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and teaching art to youth through the Artists Creative Theater in Brooklyn.
Through his paintings and public art, Nelson Host continues to celebrate Puerto Rican identity, amplify the stories of marginalized communities, and explore the cultural connections between the island and the city.
