Art & Life with Rafael Serrano

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rafael Serrano.

Rafael, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I come from a family of medical doctors and scientists and a few artists too. I landed in LA when I was 12 years old directly from Cuba, but my parents are Spanish. And though I’ve traveled the world, I have lived in LA ever since.

I remember wanting to be a painter since I was little, much encouraged by my father who thought science was not my calling but was rather impressed by my artistic endeavors and talent.

I have an MFA from Otis College of Art and Design and have exhibited my work internationally.

I consider myself mostly a visual poet though I also write. I am preoccupied with the SOUL of humanity and the inner workings of the mind enhanced by a poetic vision.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am very interested in human nature not unlike a psychologist or anthropologist, but I like to express my ideas as a poet more than as a scientist.

I am for the most part an abstract painter and photographer because I find that in abstraction you can come closer to expressing your most inner feelings and ideas.

In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
The biggest challenge facing artists today is probably this over a glut of people calling themselves artists when in fact they are just artists wannabes trying to jump in the bandwagon to be “cool” and hip. These people often have money and buy themselves gallery time for shows taking up space and time from the more legit artists out there.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Well, I’ve been exhibiting my work mostly in Europe lately. In cities like Berlin, Stockholm, and Milan. Though I’ve shown in LA extensively in the past, I’ve been more popular overseas in recent history. Maybe your interview can bring me back the much-needed attention I crave from my hometown LA?

I have shows coming up locally later this year, but in the meantime, FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM are a good place to see my work

Contact Info:

• Address: 12924 S. Main Street
  LA CA 90061
• Phone: 323 4390408
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: rafael_serrano_artist
• Facebook: Rafael Serrano

Image Credit:
Rafael Serrano & Dietmar Kohl

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