Manuel Lepe Macedo (April 17, 1936 in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco – September 9, 1984 in Guadalajara, Jalisco) Manuel Lepe was a Mexican artist who painted in a Naïve style, painting mostly themes based on the landscape and townscape of his native Puerto Vallarta. Lepe was never formally trained as an artist, and attended only four years of primary school.[1] His paintings came to symbolize the town during the years that it was becoming popular as a resort. Lepe became internationally known, with exhibitions of his work in several US museums and galleries. He was named Mexico's national artist by president Luis Echevarría Álvarez in 1979. He died in 1984 in Guadalajara from a cerebral aneurysm.