Nikifor (* 21 May1895 in Krynica-Zdrój; † 10 October 1968 in Folusz; real name Epifaniusz Drowniak, also known as Nikifor Krynicki) was a Polish painter, he belonged to the ethnic minority of Lemkos. Nikifor was a homeless painter of naive pictures. The son of a deaf-mute beggar and an unknown father, he was illiterate and as a painter an autodidact. He began painting around 1915, painted in watercolour on paper waste and cigarette packs. His first influences were cheap picture postcards and the icons in the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. Preferably, he painted cityscapes and self portraits. Circa 1930 people first became aware of his paintings. The first exhibition was organised from 31 January to 8 February 1949 in Warsaw. Nikifors works were shown nine years later in other Western countries, then his works gained world fame. The pictures found a rousing reception, were sold in picture galleries, and counterfeits even appeared.