Rafael Rivera was born in Colombia in 1975 and has spent most of his life living in the United States. 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 in which he works. His work is meant to provide an experience for the viewer that does not impose an individual inflexion. His pictures are meant to be bigger than any individual person, opinion or point of view by providing a perspective that engulfs you with an overwhelming visual experience.

With his Big pictures Rafael produces 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. The fine details of every picture will tempt you to step closer and apreciate the many small things. People are amazed to see their homes, their places of business, and most of all their entire community represented in one beautiful composition.

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. In fact each picture is made of many pictures and contains many experiences in one. Truly the photo is worth more than a thousand words.

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 Recognition
Southwest Airlines Featured artwork in the SW terminal all over the USA 2010
Keys to The City in his home town, El Banco Magdalena Colombia for excellent work abroad 2009
Cancun Hotel Photography: 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

Art Director 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 2007-2010