Rafael Rivera was born in Colombia in 1975 and has spent most of his life living in the United States. His Artistic career began with experimenting with all the newest of video, computer, and photographic technologies. He went to art school at William Paterson University in New Jersey with a concentration in animation. Outside of college however, he has focused his career on the photographic fine arts. Rafael believes strongly in an approach to fine art that includes the community. Differently than most contemporary artist, Rafael makes it a priority that his work show minimal self expression, because he believes that the work itself is more important and should exist even outside of the experience of the artist. His work is meant to provide a new experience for the viewer and not to impose an individual inflexion. His pictures are meant to be bigger than any individual person, opinion or point of view. They are meant to be the all inclusive visual experience.

Rafael's first "Big Picture" was of La Jolla California in January 2006. This picture was given an honorable mention at the La Jolla Village gallery during a digital art competition. This was his first show outside of college. Shortly after the release of his picture, Rafael Rivera decided to do the same thing in Cancun area of Mexico. There he received lots of commissioned work from many of the hotels during an 8 month period and it allowed him to continue developing his "Big Picture" concept. With his Big Pictures he produced a virtual reality type photograph that has incredible 3dimensional qualities and gives the viewer a view of their world like it has never been seen before. People are amazed to see their homes, their places of business, and most of all their entire community represented in one beautiful composition. After completing many projects in Mexico, Rafael moved back to Southern California in hopes to share this unique photography experience with the united states.

Rafael Rivera hopes to take fine art into the new generation of digital imaging. The new available technology allows him to extract the unreal from reality. A good picture is not taken from reality it is extracted from the real and shows more than what you see in the world with just a glance.

Background and Training
Graduated with a BFA from William Paterson University - May 2005
Has been creating digital computer artwork since 1999.

Exhibitions and Festivals
Primer Encuentro Fotografico GraphX/Fuji, Cancun Quintana Roo, Mexico 2006
La Jolla Digital, The Village gallery, La Jolla California, 2006
MetroCaf, Metropolitan College Animation Film Festival, New York City, 2003

Awards Honors and Commissions
Cancun Hotel Photography commissions: Moon River, NH Krystal, Carisa y Palma, Mexico 2006
Honorable Mention, La Jolla Digital, La Jolla California, USA 2006
Selected for the inaugural MetroCaf College Animation Film Festival, NYC, 2003
Best in Animation, WPU Student Art Show, Wayne, NJ, USA 2003

Related Activity
HDmurals.com - High Definition Walls and Murals, hosted artist, 2006
Photographer for Aranzalez Designs, El Banco, Colombia, 2005
Graphic Designer For Panderos Delights, New Jersey, USA 2003
Director of Photography for MurphyBeds Mexico, Mexico, 2006
Graphic Designer, web designer & photographer for J. Universal Stone Company, New York, 2004
Graphic Designer and photographer for WallstreetGifts.com San Diego California 2007-present