Rafael Landea

Copacabana Library

In this series of paintings I depicted the people that had embarked in a common cause, working with the happiness and passion of those at play, like building a new world after a revolution. I placed all those books and shelves as if they were all the possible memories and stories on top of Roberto Burle Marx design for the Copacabana sidewalk in Rio de Janeiro.  I see that pattern as the perfect fit for these paintings.  So many times we have heard about Brazil and the crazy carnival or other celebrations.  Having lived there for a while I also witnessed the other side; and how much work, knowledge and history are behind these collective celebrations. I just decided to juxtapose these concepts by placing imaginary libraries on top of this Brazilian trademark design.

The colored spines of the books in this series owe inspiration to the installation by Chris Cobb: “There is Nothing Wrong in this Whole Wide World”, at Adobe Bookstore, San Francisco, CA. November 2004.

#6 copacabana project
#1 copacabana project
#2 copacabana project
#3 copacabana project
#4 copacabana project
#5 copacabana project
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Rafael Landea

Rafael Landea Artista Visual

A visual artist, Rafael Landea creates paintings and drawings in both traditional and digital media. His artistic style was greatly influenced by an early job as a theater stage designer resulting in artistic interpretations which are deeply narrative and inspired by historical facts, literature, theater, films, music and architecture.
His work has been recognized by institutions such as the San Francisco Arts Commission, Artery Project and Center for Cultural Innovation, plus was featured at Our Radar by Creative Capital New York.

He has shown his paintings at venues worldwide, including:

  • San Francisco, California: The Exploratorium, Grace Cathedral Gallery, Gensler Design.
  • Buenos Aires: Holocaust Museum, Malvinas Museum, Art and Memory Museum and Centro Cultural Haroldo Conti.
  • Participated in collective exhibitions in Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay and Cuba.

Rafael’s murals can be seen today in Buenos Aires, La Plata and San Francisco. He was lead artistic collaborator on Munú Actis Goretta’s mosaic murals near Turin and in Genoa, Italy.

Rafael has developed illustrations media and publishers in Argentina including Anfibia, Malisia, EME Ediciones B and Universities.

Rafael received his MFA at La Plata University, Argentina and developed his professional career between Buenos Aires and San Francisco. Rafael moved to Catalonia, Spain in 2024

He is developing a digital series inspired by the lives of two Native American men from opposite regions in north and south America, whose stories and destinies present surprising similarities.

[email protected]
@rafael.landea