Rafael Escamilla
Biography
Born in La Libertad, El Salvador and Studied Art at the National Center of the Arts, afterwards he studied architecture at the National University of El Salvador. In early 1980’s, Escamilla fled to Oaxaca Mexico, due to the Salvadorian Civil War and its dire social economic repression. As he sought refugee first in Guatemala and in southern Mexico, Escamilla appreciated intuitively and internalized enthusiastically the new landscape, colors, and indigenous artistic traditions over several years. The tropical colors of his homeland still live in him. By the mid 1980’s Escamilla made his way to Los Angeles, where he was involved immediately in the Central American refugee community. Visual memory becomes quite important as an element in his work.
His artistic epiphanies in exile serve him well as his is an identifiably unique style of painting, both in his murals, but especially in his Canvases both large and small.
His work has been selected for the 1988 Olympics in Seoul Korea, and has graced the covers of several magazines including the cover of America. Escamilla is the cofounder of GAS and has exhibited at MOLAA in the graphic art auction. However Rafael is most well none for his numerous murals throughout the city in public and private places, becoming a historic part of are urban landscape.
Statement
“My Creative work comes from a conscious effort to communicate with the viewer. This consciousness inspires me to investigate realities that I commit myself to exploring as objectively as possible. One consistent theme that emerges from my work stems from my personal research. I find that I struggle enthusiastically with hope and vision for a more just and humane society.”
Biography
Born in La Libertad, El Salvador and Studied Art at the National Center of the Arts, afterwards he studied architecture at the National University of El Salvador. In early 1980’s, Escamilla fled to Oaxaca Mexico, due to the Salvadorian Civil War and its dire social economic repression. As he sought refugee first in Guatemala and in southern Mexico, Escamilla appreciated intuitively and internalized enthusiastically the new landscape, colors, and indigenous artistic traditions over several years. The tropical colors of his homeland still live in him. By the mid 1980’s Escamilla made his way to Los Angeles, where he was involved immediately in the Central American refugee community. Visual memory becomes quite important as an element in his work.
His artistic epiphanies in exile serve him well as his is an identifiably unique style of painting, both in his murals, but especially in his Canvases both large and small.
His work has been selected for the 1988 Olympics in Seoul Korea, and has graced the covers of several magazines including the cover of America. Escamilla is the cofounder of GAS and has exhibited at MOLAA in the graphic art auction. However Rafael is most well none for his numerous murals throughout the city in public and private places, becoming a historic part of are urban landscape.
Statement
“My Creative work comes from a conscious effort to communicate with the viewer. This consciousness inspires me to investigate realities that I commit myself to exploring as objectively as possible. One consistent theme that emerges from my work stems from my personal research. I find that I struggle enthusiastically with hope and vision for a more just and humane society.”
