Marc Raphael

The Existential Dance

2023

Upon his first encounter with the groundbreaking work of Jackson Pollock, Marc Raphael was struck by the grand scale, vibrant energy, bold color, and abstraction that would ignite a lifelong creative passion. Inspired by the New York abstract expressionists of the 1940s and ’50s, the US-based artist began a self-taught journey into action painting in 1991, channeling the movement’s raw intensity into his evolving style. After living in Paris and graduating from college, Raphael balanced his artistic pursuits with a 25-year career as a K–12 classroom teacher. The tragic loss of his brother in 1982 shaped his commitment to making a difference in the lives of children from underserved communities. Though his years in education brought countless rewarding experiences, the call of the studio ultimately became irresistible, and in 2020, he devoted himself fully to painting. Raphael has refined a distinctive drip-and-splatter technique that merges physicality and creative flow. His large-scale abstracts demand full-body engagement, a natural extension of his years competing in basketball. The process is kinetic and immersive, an athletic choreography in which movement and mark-making become inseparable, resulting in works that pulse with dynamic energy. In his studio, raw, unstretched canvas is spread across the floor, ready to receive the first intuitive gestures of acrylic paint. Diluted pigments seep into the cotton fibers, creating a smooth, tactile ground. Then begins the rapid succession of drips, splashes, and swirling strokes, executed while pivoting around the composition. Each work emerges through a delicate balance of intention and instinct, as formal elements of color, line, and texture steer the painting toward its final form. This fusion of discipline and spontaneity mirrors the improvisational rhythm of jazz, a parallel that has led Raphael’s paintings to be described as “jazz-like improvisations on canvas.” Raphael’s bold, expressive works can be found in private collections and exhibitions across the United States, including the largest affordable art gallery in Los Angeles and the Affordable Art Fair New York. His dynamic abstractions continue to connect with audiences drawn to their vitality and scale.