19/05/2026
ARTIST IN FOCUS: RAFAEL
Trained at Rome’s Academy of Fine Arts with a background in commercial art, Rafael’s work reflects a journey that began in Italy and continues to evolve in London, with his perspective being shaped by mainstream culture.
Rafael’s work leans into the relatable and the celebrated, using the superficial to tell stories that connect. His new series Flatmates builds on the ideas introduced in his previous body of work, deFlattening, bringing together images from pop culture—such as cartoons—with long-established symbols in high culture.
Presenting these worlds together collapses hierarchies between high and low culture, stripping down constructs built by institutions, critics, and market forces. Juxtaposing these symbols, shared qualities appear: immediacy, recognisability, and cultural persistence. Showing that each operates as part of the same visual culture, revealing how images gain meaning and endure over time.
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Next exhibition
*Rhapsode: I make, I create, I tell a story*
📆 Opening Thursday, June 4th, 6 — 8 pm
285 Westbourne Grove, W11 2QA
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Rafael
Detail of ‘Venus x Barbie ’, 2026
Acrylic and modelling paste on canvas
100H x 70W cm
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Photos and video courtesy of the artist.
For enquiries about Rafael’s work or the upcoming exhibition please email us at: [email protected]