Rafael Lopez art

The work of Rafael López is a fusion of strong graphic style and magical symbolism. Rafael Lopez was born in 1961. Growing up in Mexico City he was immersed in the rich cultural heritage and native color of street life. Influenced by Mexican surrealism, dichos and myths he developed a style with roots in these traditions. His illustrations for Book Fiesta! written by Pat Mora were the recipient of the 2010 Pura Belpré Illustrator Award given by the American Library Association to honor work that best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children's books. His books for children have also won 2 Americas Awards and a Pura Belpré Honor. His 2008 poster Voz Unida was selected by the Obama/Biden campaign as an official poster at Artists for Obama. The Latino dance stamp he created for the United States Postal Services was featured on the cover of the commemorative stamp yearbook in 2006 and at a special exhibition at the Smithsonian called Trendsetters. His 2007 U.S.P.S. stamp celebrated an important legal case in equality of education called Mendez vs. Westminster. His international clients includes Amnesty International, Apple, Chicago Tribune, Harper Collins, IBM, Intel, Los Angeles Times, the Grammy Awards, and the World Wildlife Fund and his work has been selected into multiple juried shows. In 2009 he was invited to create 3 paintings for Oprah Winfrey's school in South Africa. He envisioned and led the Urban Art Trail Project that transformed San Diego's blighted East Village with colorful murals, sculptures and art installations and serves as a model of urban renewal that has been implemented in cities around the nation. Rafael divides his time between his studios in the colonial town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico and a loft in downtown San Diego where he works and lives with his wife and son.