About Animazing Gallery

Animazing Gallery began in 1984 as a gallery specializing in conceptual animation art. Over time, the collection expanded to include works by a wide range of renowned illustrators and pop culture artists. The gallery opened it doors in Las Vegas in 2017 with an expanded showroom and an even more expanded repertoire of classic illustrators and contemporary artists.  Animazing Gallery has become an industry stronghold for illustration art and contemporary art inspired by the masters of illustration.

Upon acquiring a collection of comic strips by Charles M. Schulz in 1995, the gallery began to focus on Great American Illustrators. In the gallery’s search to find art exhibiting “the perfect line,” the owner soon discovered an important collection of drawings and watercolors by Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. The artwork was exhibited in numerous museum exhibitions. 

Owner Nicholas Leone serves as a consultant for numerous auction houses and also handles gallery sales and acquisitions. 

About Nick Leone

Art Aficionado & Curator
of the Rare and Beautiful

Owner of Animazing Gallery

Nicholas Leone’s love of unique, peculiar, interesting, and beautiful things began at an early age. Obsessed with the wonder of animation and, particularly, Warner Brothers’ cartoons as a child, he began to appreciate the artistry of the animators when he was only 7 years old. At 18, he purchased his first three original Chuck Jones production cels. Those 3 cels sparked a passion which, when coupled with a keen and discriminating eye, led him to what has become his calling, both as a collector and a curator, to share the rare, nostalgic, and beautiful with the world.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Nick’s first love was music. His interest in the process and its creation led him to NYU’s Music Technology Department, where he studied conducting and recording engineering. He graduated with high honors with a BA in music, as well as a job offer from EMI Records. Unfortunately, internal shake-ups at EMI put that opportunity on hold. So, while continuing his search for a suitable music career, Nick took a position as a sales consultant at Martin Lawrence Gallery in SoHo. It was there that his passion for art and for guiding his clients blossomed. At 24, he was recruited to open and run an animation gallery on Columbus Ave. in Manhattan. Warner Brothers took notice of his success there and engaged him to be their gallery manager at their studio store in Freehold, New Jersey. There he quickly became their top selling gallery manager and when they decided to expand, opening a flagship store in Manhattan, Nick returned to Manhattan New York City to manage their gallery and exceeded their initial sales projections threefold in the first year.

Every step of the way, Nick developed relationships with artists and art enthusiasts. His passionate desire to find the perfect piece that would thrill its owner, coupled with a discerning eye and a bit of luck caused him to be in demand. He was chosen to give Michael Jackson a private, after-hour tour of the Warner Brothers’ gallery. He curated collections and hosted events for Chuck Jones and other renowned artists. He organized and participated in events with Mark Hamill, Tony Curtis, Al Roker, Daryl Hanna, Ivana Trump and visiting dignitaries and royalty. Nick was a shining star in the company and elevated their gallery a renowned presence in the art world. In 1994, after many successful years, it was time to move on.

He joined his new wife in expanding and running Animazing Gallery in SoHo. Started in 1984, in a private home in New Jersey, the gallery began as a by-appointment business, specializing in conceptual animation art. With Nick’s energy and connections, they opened a gallery in SoHo offering works by master illustrators E. H. Shepherd, Dr. Seuss, Maurice Sendak, Charles Schulz and others. They also became the go-to gallery for pop artists like Tom Everhart. In 1995, upon acquiring a collection of comic strips by Charles Schulz, the gallery began to focus on great American illustrators. In the gallery’s search to find art exhibiting “the perfect line,” Nick discovered an important collection of drawings and watercolors by Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. This artwork was exhibited in numerous museum collections across the country.

Nick developed a connection with the late illustrator and writer Maurice Sendak, enjoying many years of a close professional and personal friendship. Nick visited him at his home often and enjoyed long walks around the property with the author. After his death and in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of his book, “Where the Wild Things Are,” Nick conceived and curated the Maurice Sendak Memorial Tour, titled “50 Years, 50 Works, 50 Reasons” as a celebration of the artist’s life. The show has been touring since 2013 and has been welcomed in such spaces as The Walt Disney Family Museum and the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, as well as local libraries filled with awestruck children. Realizing a longstanding dream to own a medieval castle, in 2005, Nick and his then wife purchased Chateau de Belcastel.

Their historic renovations and addition of art exhibitions attracted the attention of “Des Racines et Des Ailes,” a documentary production devoted to the heritage, history and knowledge of France. In 2017, Nick was awarded the prestigious title of Chevalier from the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Minister of Culture for his contributions to the art and culture of France, joining past recipients Philip Glass, Jacques Pepin, Johnny Depp and Tim Burton in this prestigious honor. The castle had a knight in residence once more.

With his prescient vision of the ever-changing trends, Nick began to dream of a new direction for the gallery. Following his divorce, Nick took sole ownership of Animazing Gallery and moved its headquarters to Las Vegas, believing that the bright neon of the strip would be a perfect location for his new vision for the art world. Combining fine art, rare rock & roll collectibles and his beloved illustration and animation, Nick has created a gallery that speaks to the multiple facets of his clients’ personalities and desires. Today, his clientele consists of celebrities, world figures, prestigious art collectors from around the world and young collectors, just starting their journey.

In his storied career, he has hosted events for Disney legend Marc Davis, Warner Bros. legend Chuck Jones, Tom Everhart, Ralph Bakshi, Stan Lee, Neal Addams, Bill Melendez, Adam West, Julie Newmar, Jim Davis, Nicoletta Ceccoli, John Douglas, the photography of Robert Knight and Markus Klinko as well as the work of Louis Markoya, the protégé of Salvador Dali. He recently arranged the world debut of the art and artistry of Gene Simmons of KISS and staged the largest ever exhibition and sale of Maurice Sendak’s work.

He appeared on Pawn Stars, showcasing the art of Maurice Sendak, resulting in Rick Harrison making the largest purchase in Pawn Stars history. In 2018, he raced his 1966 replica Batmobile against Rat Rods Joker-mobile on their television show. Nick believes that art exists to elevate your life and should be experienced always. Under his ownership and vision, Animazing Gallery has become an industry leader for original illustration and for contemporary art inspired by the masters of illustration. In addition to his permanent spaces in Las Vegas, Nick curates and hosts pop-up events throughout the U.S. to celebrate the work of his loyal portfolio artists and to introduce emerging artists. He serves as a consultant for numerous auction houses and handles gallery sales and acquisitions. While he resides in Houston, Texas, his signature Animazing Gallery is located in the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas.

About Chateau Belcastel

Nick Leone is also the proprietor of Chateau Belcastel in Belcastel, France. Chateau Belcastel was built 1000 years ago on a gigantic rock, this magnificent fortress rises above one of the most beautiful villages in the Aveyron region of France. The chateau is open seasonally for public tours and private bookings.