Canadian-born artist Raphael Mazzucco's visual narrative captures the human form against a backdrop of startling landscapes that span the continents, from Icelandic glaciers to African wildlife and Vietnamese rice paddies. By layering paint, photography, and hand-lettered text, Raphael takes viewers on a documentary-style journey through geographic and emotional terrains.
His work layers photography with text and natural elements such as flowers and leaves, and Raphael’s pieces spring from lengthy expeditions where he lives and breathes his subjects. Raphael’s working life actually began as a footballer in Canada and England; something which he credits with giving him the drive to become successful in the next stage of his life. After being shot by iconic photographer Bruce Weber for a Calvin Klein campaign, Raphael developed an interest in the art form and left sport behind.
Raphael Mazzucco's new collection of original artwork, Motherland, draws from his own experiences and memories travelling deep into Northern British Columbia last August with his brother. From the lush forests of Yoho National Park to the jagged peaks of Mount Robson, each piece in this collection serves as a love letter to the diverse landscapes of Mazzucco’s native land.
He began his career as a New York-based photographer, and soon became highly sought-after by high-end brands and glossy publications. Raphael’s high-profile work includes shooting for magazines including Vogue, Marie Claire, Vanity Fair and Sports Illustrated, and for brands including Ralph Lauren and Victoria’s Secret. His imagery for many of these campaigns has become synonymous with these companies – if you picture one of these brands, it’s more than likely that you’re picturing one of Raphael’s images. Raphael has worked internationally with major names, including an artwork and photo essay book with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and celebrity portraiture of Benicio del Toro, Matt Damon and Susan Sarandon.
He moved into the world of fine art when he and his family moved to rural Connecticut, Raphael was inspired to create his Gaia collection, which takes its title from the Greek goddess of nature. This breathtaking selection of hand-embellished limited edition and original works layers natural elements such as flowers and leaves with classical imagery and portraiture.
"Working on Gaia felt like going through my old diaries," explains Raphael. "All of these particular images hold great meaning and memory for me." The first instalment of his Grass Roots series saw him travel back through 25 years of memories from his travels in Africa, and the love he has for the continent shone through in the results. Mazzucco was inspired to create the series during lockdown, when he had the opportunity to revisit his archive of incredible photography taken on assignments around the world, plus his personal diaries.
A second instalment of Grass Roots in 2023 took its inspiration from Raphael's travels in Kenya and up the Amazon in Brazil. Raphael’s photography is where it all begins, and he totally immerses himself in the part of the world he’s visiting, and the people who live there, which hugely influences his work. “The trip to Brazil lasted 27 days, travelling on a boat going down to the Rio Negro,” remembers Raphael. “Shooting is always very unpredictable, and you need to allow yourself a lot of time to get what you need”.
Raphael took a small team on this trip to Brazil, enabling him to immerse himself in the atmosphere and create artworks that are immersive, authentic, organic, and raw. “When I shot in the Amazon, I took my son, the model, and an assistant, and that was it. I think it’s always important to have an assistant from the area who really knows it well. You also have to work with models who are resilient and can adapt to whatever happens on a shoot.”
The experiences Raphael has on his intense trips naturally make their way into his art, and he is already starting with new ideas whilst on his travels. “When I am on these types of immersive trips, I bring a small printer and print the 5" x 7" photos which later I put into the resin of the original pieces,” he explains. Raphael layers these photographs with journal entries from his trips and his trademark paint effects. “I love the work after the photograph, telling a story through layers, rather than just the simple photograph.”
Raphael Mazzucco's new collection of original artwork draws from his own experiences and memories travelling deep into Northern British Columbia last August with his brother. From the lush forests of Yoho National Park to the jagged peaks of Mount Robson, each piece in this collection serves as a love letter to the diverse landscapes of Mazzucco’s native land.
It is not merely the physical beauty of Canada's wilderness that captivates Mazzucco, but rather the profound sense of connection and belonging that it evokes. In his own words, "Being in Canada… you just feel the wild in such a deep way, and the energy around you is less human”. It is this primal energy and raw sense of wilderness, that infuses every layer of resin in his latest creations.
“You really have to see the pieces in person to truly see what’s involved in making them,” explains Raphael, who mixes his top-level photographic skills, honed by working for some of the world’s most prestigious fashion publications and brands, with his artistic soul to create his multi-media pieces. His pieces encase original photography, text and collected materials, encased in a layer of resin, which gives them a stunning high-gloss finish and incredible depth.
Raphael’s high-profile work includes shooting for magazines including Vogue and Sports Illustrated, and for brands including Ralph Lauren and Victoria’s Secret. His imagery for many of these campaigns has become synonymous with these companies – if you picture one of these brands, it’s more than likely that you’re picturing one of Raphael’s images.
Raphael’s photography is, of course, where it all begins, and he totally immerses himself in the part of the world he’s visiting, and the people who live there, which hugely influences his work.
The collection is a natural development from the 2022 Grass Roots collection, and features a new colour palette, with the rich and vibrant tones of orange, red, blue, and yellow, reflecting the vibrant Brazilian culture witnessed by Raphael on his expedition to the country.
Characterised by juxtaposition between wildlife and fashion photography, Raphael Mazzucco's introspective collection Grass Roots sees the artist delve into his 25-year-old photographic archive to create a series of unforgettable artworks which epitomize his love and respect for the Mother Continent.
Inspired by his time in Africa, this striking series goes back full circle to his early original work, featuring organic, indigenous subjects and tones that mimic the monochromatic grasslands of Maasai Mara, an important wildlife conservation and one of the Ten Natural Wonders of the World. Grass Roots is Raphael’s first major UK exhibition since 2019 and includes 40 originals and four limited edition signed prints.
In the wilderness of the forest in Lebanon, Connecticut, world-renowned photographer Raphael Mazzucco became one with nature. Surrounded by the hooting of owls, powerful fox cries and supernatural light illuminating the trees, he conjured the inspiration for his Gaia collection. This, he says, is “Mother Earth getting ready to push back”. The first instalment of the series was released in September 2019, with Raphael appearing at selected galleries nationwide.
To bring an organic rawness, each artwork is embellished with elements of nature, including tree bark, foliage, feathers, flowers and sand. Whilst creating the art, Raphael set up studio outside, drawing upon his environment and often allowing nature to intervene.
To celebrate the launch of Raphael Mazzucco's first foray into literature, the artist released original artwork. "Working on this project has been awesome," he revealed. "It's prompted me to recollect some of my happiest times, career-defining moments and quite a few experiences I wouldn't believe to be true if they hadn't happened to me! It's also been an exercise in bringing together so many people I love and respect. For that reason alone, this book is very special and dear to my heart."
When the erotic romance novel Fifty Shades of Grey hit shelves in 2011, it was an instant success. Our artist Raphael Mazzucco collaborated with the record-breaking author for his series of provocative prints.
Featuring beautiful photography overlaid with elements of collage and iconic phrases from the books, each artwork is individually hand-signed by the artist and the Fifty Shades of Grey author, who was heavily involved with the proect.
Raphael Mazzucco's new collection of original artwork, 'Motherland', draws from his own experiences and memories travelling deep into Northern British Columbia last August with his brother. From the lush forests...
Internationally-acclaimed artist and photographer Raphael Mazzucco presents a spectacular collection based on his immersive journeys in South America and Africa, with a vibrant new colour palette.
In this month’s instalment of Curator’s Picks, Glyn Washington tells us why Raphael Mazzucco’s brand new exhibition, Grass Roots, is the homecoming collection we’ve all been waiting for…
Characterised by juxtaposition between wildlife and fashion photography, Raphael Mazzucco's introspective collection Grass Roots sees the artist delve into his 25-year-old photographic archive to create a series of unforgettable artworks...
We caught up with one of the UK's best chefs to find out how he's styled our art at his two Michelin-starred restaurant in Cambridge. Discover why art is the perfect side dish for spectacular food.
Explore the 2020 release from the successful series, which features brand-new original artworks and two beautiful limited edition prints with gold foil detail.
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