Luis Posada: The Laughing Painter by Anne-Marie Mascaro

Photos provided by the artist

Luis Posada is not just an artist—he’s a force of nature. His vivid murals, infectious laugh, and defiant independence have earned him the trust of celebrities, the loyalty of wildlife, and the love of those lucky enough to know him. From a childhood shaped by political violence and secret sketching under cover of night to a life of bold color and creative freedom in Costa Rica, Posada has turned every struggle into a brushstroke, crafting a life—and legacy—that refuses to be anything but his own.

When I ask him, “Have you ever considered turning your large, colorful murals into wallpaper for upscale hotels?” he’s quick to respond: “No.” He only creates art if he loves it—and he makes no exceptions.

Now from his Nicoya Peninsula studio, Luis paints daily, blending art and life with his warm laugh and sharp eye for detail. In rare free moments, he enjoys nature, salsa dancing, and time with his three daughters: Gabriella, Alinna, Diana and his son Emilio—fellow artist and best friend.

In The Beginning

Luis’s story began on his grandmother’s farm in El Salvador, born during political turmoil as the son of a controversial politician marked for death. He grew up watching armed men raid his home, forcing him to change schools, countries, even his name. The family eventually sent him and his siblings to live on his grandmother’s coffee farm.

There, he learned precision. By day, she taught him to care for plants; at night, they painted flowers for Día de los Muertos crowns. These quiet moments brought them close. Those flowers—roses, violets, Birds of Paradise—still bloom in his work.

Their bond was complex. She was both a protector and harsh critic.

In one unforgettable moment, his grandmother asked for all the grandchildren—except Luis. She didn’t want his mischievous energy. To prove himself, Luis tamed the farm’s wild horse, deemed to be too dangerous. After a wild ride, Luis managed to get the horse to drink peacefully at a river. Horses would later become a recurring theme in his art.

At age eight, he was up at 4 a.m. to tend cows. But he would also sneak treats from her kitchen. She’d demand, “Who did this?” while striking him. Instead of crying, he’d laugh: “It wasn’t me!” That laugh became central to him—and earned him the nickname The Laughing Painter.

Art As A Refuge

Luis’s early encounters with violence and abuse shaped two lifelong constants: laughter and art. His painting journey began after his First Holy Communion, when he was separatedfrom other children due to fears of an assassination attempt. In that pain and silence, he found solace in painting.

At night, he painted murals in secret, disappearing into the act. His love for art deepened after winning a youth art contest.  But his father disapproved, pushing him toward law or academia. Yet art had saved him, while politics had fractured the family.  So he kept painting—in secret.

Another passion was cars. At night, he studied their sleek lines in Popular Mechanics, hiding the magazines under his bed and blocking the light from his door so his father wouldn’t notice.

Entrepreneur In The Making

Luis’s entrepreneurial spirit showed early. At 15, he opened a Salvadoran restaurant in San José called “Cafeteria y pupuseria Cuzcatlán”, after the national dish pupusa. Despite doubts, it was a hit, with lines from dawn to dusk. Pupusa became his nickname, and the nickname stuck.  One time while out to see a movie with his family, he laughed so hard that he heard a stranger yell in the theater “Hey Pupusa, shut up!”

After his father’s death in 1983, Luis and his brother returned to El Salvador to trade cars, while the family kept the restaurant running. In the ’90s, he returned to San José and the art world, representing over 200 Central American and Caribbean artists through galleries he owned. His deep ties to the local scene cemented his role in the region’s art world.

From Local Celebrity to International Celebrities

Luis’s art began turning heads at San José’s Palacio Hotel, where musician Alan Parsons saw a mural and asked him to paint a portrait of his wife. He later befriended Mel Gibson through a mutual connection, Richard Shakarian, former president of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship. Mel encouraged him to paint freely, even telling him to treat his home as his own.

He also credits hotelier and friend Guillermo Barcelo for helping refine his technique with macaws. Barcelo’s conservation work gave Luis close access to the birds. His fascination with wildlife deepened as he worked with guides and observed animals in their natural habitat.  Despite high-profile connections, Luis remains uninterested in commercialism.

Coming Full Circle

Over the years, Luis balanced art with travel and studies in law, architecture, and international relations to honor his father. After marrying and having children, a difficult divorce led him to relocate within Costa Rica’s Braulio Carrillo rainforest. 

There, he opened a gallery alongside a swamp, where he tamed a coatimundi named Pancho with daily meals. Pancho’s gentleness allowed Luis to paint him alongside tourists, reigniting his passion—and providing a livelihood that, he says, saved his life.

The Art of Living

Luis’s art celebrates connection, emotion, and joy. His larger-than-life works shine with bold design. He paints monkeys, sloths, birds—and fish shaped like the race cars he admired as a child.

A friend once said his fish echo the curves of Alfa Romeos and BMWs from his youth. Once hidden in the shadows, Luis has become living art. “I love my life,” he says. “The world is art.”

Through art, Luis has built his own world—one that rejects commercialism and embraces creativity. Of all the people he’s met, his grandmother remains his greatest teacher. 

“She taught me to work, and work hard,” he says. “And with that, I can go anywhere.”

Contact Luis Posada at: 

https://luisposadacr.com/  and 

WhatsApp +506 6261 8406

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Anne-Marie Mascaro is a freelance writer in all media.  She is the founder of Monkeyfriendly.com, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit connecting people inside and outside of the sciences to collaborate on wildlife projects.  https://anne-mariemascaro.com/#portfolio 

In May 2025 Monkeyfriendly started a wildlife education initiative at Escuela Manuel Antonio in collaboration with SINAC and Evergreen tours. The organization’s aim is to foster interdisciplinary collaborations that protect wildlife.