'California Cool' brings together a series of new works where Paco Raphael used several photographs and other elements from a road trip he took in California a few years ago. Through the diverse and innovative use of various techniques including painting, drawing, spraying, as well as digital ones, he has created iconic images of contemporary California.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Paco graduated from The Hague University with a degree in Applied Sciences in Communication & Multimedia Design. As a creative in advertising, he never stopped exploring ways to improve his work and its impact on the world around him. Working for big brand names like Philips, Renault, G-Star, Bol.com and MTV Networks, he evolved into a senior graphic designer. Still ambitious to explore more and better, he restated himself as artist, combining conventional art with digital media.

Pushing his limits and the limit that separates art from design, he now puts his ambition and abilities to work as an industrial designer, uniting his artwork with innovative materials and products. Paco Raphael shows a new approach to all that surrounds us in life, from a painting to furniture or fashion. And we doubt he’ll stop here.

ARTIST STATEMENT
"I take pictures of urban scenes all over the world. These contemporary cityscapes are mixed with urban industrial life in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s, by adding images of themes like old cinema, music, typography, erotica and architecture taken from posters. By uniting the then and now, I creates a contemporary picture caught on canvas. The digitally mixed print is finished by hand with paint, pen and stencils. The result is a versatile, vibrant, mixed media painting. I love my style signature, but I treasure freedom in form. Why should art not be functional? In creating products for everyday life, I don’t stop at the print, but redesign the whole object from the core. I question the form of known objects and take them to a new level. A level where a table has legs that are an art piece in themselves, and even the construction is redesigned to fit our style and quality. By eliminating the line between art and design, I now bring art into our everyday lives. I will express my passion in many unexpected forms, but always in high quality."