About raphael
I was born in Cairo, Egypt where I was raised under a now defunct monarchy. After completing my education in an accredited French school, I moved to Paris and attended L’Ecole des Beaux Arts, the prestigious French arts academy, where I studied art and architecture. As with everything French in those days, the approach to teaching and learning was solidly classic.
My interests in art and fashion led me to the discovery of photography. I packed my bags, left Paris and headed for photography school in Vevey, Switzerland. I completed an advanced photography course, got a job in a studio specializing in advertising and more specifically in luxury goods, then got myself hired by the French magazine Marie-Claire in Paris at the height of the fashion collections season.
That’s when my immigration visa to the US arrived; the year was 1961.
I moved to New York, homesick and heartbroken, with two hundred dollars in my pocket as my stake in a new life in America. JFK was president and America dominated the world stage as the undisputed super power.
After a while assisting other photographers and feeling financially stressed and insecure, I decided on a radical career change, a different path forward: I had a family now and needed to make a living. Things went well enough after that and after a few hits and misses I found my way to solid financial footing.
Years have passed and, now free from having to think in terms of income and survival, I am back into photography, doing what makes my blood run. It took a while, but I am finally there - living as an artist and making work. It’s magical, rewarding, re-affirming. Everything is fittingly where it belongs and after a few kudos here and there, and a couple of professional distinctions my world feels just right and understandably exciting. Stay tuned. More to come.
Education
Architecture, L’École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France
Advanced Photography, L’École de Photographie, Vevey, Switzerland
Publications
2017
The Simplicity of the Moment, self published photography book
Rated one of “2017 Best Photo Books” by Elizabeth Avedon
Acquired by the International Center for Photography, and The New York Public Library
Group Exhibitions
2017
earth, juried by Paula Tognarelli, A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, Texas
3rd Open Call, juried by Paula Tognarelli, Providence Center of Photographic Arts, Providence, Rhode Island
The Photo Review Benefit Auction, Philadelphia
2016
22nd Juried Show: The Peter Urban Legacy Exhibition, juried by Elizabeth Avedon, Griffin Museum Of Photography, Main Gallery, Winchester, Massachusetts
Friends of Friends Photography Auction, New York
The Photo Review Benefit Auction, Philadelphia
2015
Friends of Friends Photography Auction, New York
The Photo Review Benefit Auction, Philadelphia
Juried Group Show, juried by Laurence Miller of the New York Laurence Miller Gallery, Gallery 1401, The University of the Arts, Philadelphia
Juried Group Show, Elizabeth Avedon curator, Soho Photo Gallery, New York
Works on Paper, Jeffrey Leder Gallery. New York
2014
The Photo Review Benefit Auction, Philadelphia
Photographic Being II, Jeffrey Leder Gallery, New York
2013
The Photo Review Benefit Auction, Philadelphia
2012
Friends of Friends Photography Auction, New York
Community Involvement
2015
Exhibition Lab, Michael Foley Gallery
2014
Exhibition Lab, Michael Foley Gallery
Awards
Best of Show Award by Laurence Miller of the New York Laurence Miller Gallery, Gallery 1401, The University of the Arts, Philadelphia
Workshops
The Dynamic Landscape with Carrie Schneider, International Center for Photography, New York
All About Zines with Tuomas Korpijaakko, International Center for Photography, New York