Rafael Barrios

He has been recognized as one of the most revolutionary contemporary Latin American artists and father of Virtualism, a movement in which “volume is virtually modified in form, depending on distance, the shifting position of the observer, and the changes in light throughout the day.” His work has often been characterized as a play with gravity and perception, manipulating forms in a way that destroy visual logic. 

In the span of his four-decade career, Barrios has participated in more than 100 exhibitions, including solo and collective shows. Additionally, his work has been included in the most important art centers of the United States, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Large esteemed collections like Sofia Imber Contemporary Art Museum in Caracas, Venezuela; Procter & Gamble International Headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio; Coca-Cola headquarters in New York amongst others, feature the works of Barrios.

His accomplishments include an exhibition of monumental sculptures on Park Avenue in New York City and a public art exhibition in Saint-Tropez, France. His talent has led him to take on prestigious roles such as the Art Director for the UNESCO, set designer for fashion photographer Chris Von Wangehnheim, Vogue, and Esquire, as well as scenographer for the renowned French fashion designer Hervé Leger in 1997.