Rafael Barrios
Bio
Rafael Barrios (Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, 1947) is a Venezuelan sculptor and artist internationally recognised for his exploration of volume, geometry and spatial perception. He began his artistic education at the Museum of Fine Arts in Caracas and received the National Youth Painting Award in 1963. He later studied Fine Arts, Communications and Design at the Ontario College of Art in Toronto, graduating with honours, and pursued postgraduate studies in Fine Arts and Monumental Sculpture Techniques at New York University. His work is characterised by sculptures that challenge gravity and alter the perception of form through optical illusions. He has exhibited throughout the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. His works are included in collections such as the Art Gallery of Ontario, the National Art Gallery of Caracas and the Sofia Imber Museum of Contemporary Art. His monumental sculptures can also be found in public spaces across several cities.
Statement
Rafael Barrios's work explores the boundaries between reality and perception through sculptures that challenge traditional notions of geometry and space. Through seemingly suspended volumes, fragmented forms and plays on perspective, the artist creates an illusion of weightlessness and movement. His works transform the relationship between the object and the viewer, creating shifting visual experiences that challenge our understanding of space and three-dimensionality.
