Enlo: 41 Questions

2026

Mixed media

Collection of Nico Abello

Enlo: 41 Questions is a custom piece for Chef Nico Abello that pays tribute to his family and his stunning career on two continents. I wanted to document Nico’s journey to give his guests insights into his personal and professional development. The painting consists of three layers. The support is covered with handwritten letters in French by Nico’s father to his grandparents dating back to the 1960s. These are overlaid with original artwork by Nico’s two sons, Enzo and Milo, after whom the restaurant is named, and stenciled answers to forty-one questions I asked Nico in order to learn more about his family, his philosophy of food and hospitality, and milestones in his career. To tie his answers back to the 1960s, the stencils are from the same period. The texts include references to his family, a tribute to his two most influential mentors and what he learned from them, the names of famous restaurants where he worked, and some of his and his sons’ favorite foods. While you are searching for the answers, I hope that Enzo’s and Milo’s artwork will make you smile.