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.
GRASS ROOTS
“Make no mistake; in Africa you feel the wild.” Raphael Mazzucco
RAPHAEL MAZZUCCO
the springtime before the pandemic, focussing on beauty, warmth and the vibrant colours of nature. This collection was created over the winter months during COVID, which gave me time to deep dive into my archives and rediscover all these special pieces. It’s a series I’ve always wanted to do.” In order to effectively capture the sepia palette of The Mara in his artwork, Raphael added pigments and spices local to the areas he visited into his composition. “I’ve always been interested in the raw beauty that Africa provides. For me, nature gives life. Without nature we could not see beauty.” Each layer of paint applied to his photography is the product of complete spontaneity, making his style as organic as the ingredients he uses. In 1999, Raphael embarked on his first trip to Africa with Vogue Greece. There, he challenged the models he photographed to pose alongside a range of dangerous wildlife, including elephants,
Barriers don’t exist for Raphael Mazzucco; not in his art or his travels. For his latest collection, Grass Roots , we follow the internationally acclaimed creator as he journeys back through 25 years of memories from the far reaches of 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. “Working on this new series felt like going through my old diaries,” he explains. “All of these particular images hold great meaning and memory for me. My last collection was photographed and created during
Evocative of the return to his roots, Raphael has also featured the idea of Mother Nature as represented by his model muses, championing the female form as the source of life. This homage to womanhood is a continuation from his previous collection Gaia , aptly named after the Greek Mother Earth goddess. Stripping back into nature and time, Grass Roots reflects and celebrates Raphael’s love and respect for Africa and her subjects. The series leaves no room for modernity or posturing. Instead, its meditative power forces us to undress our own artifices, bearing us down a path of individual and collective discovery. “It is definitely one of the most inspiring places to photograph. The vast landscape allows for complete surprise, and all the experiences I’ve had there are absolutely unique.”
crocodiles, and lions. What frightened others only exhilarated him, and his own fearlessness seemed to permeate the team, pushing them through any self-imposed barriers or constructs of fear. The result is the stunning images shown throughout the Grass Roots collection. He explains in his first-ever collector’s edition book, The Never-Ending Summer : “Make no mistake; in Africa you feel the wild. There’s no place on earth like it. It’s a place of distinct identities, completely different during the daytime than at night. A journey through Africa is hypnotic and constantly full of surprises, and it poses its own unique challenges.” For the limited editions created from a selection of these original works, some of the images have been cropped to allow the subjects, such as the lion’s face in ‘Free Spirit,’ to seize full focus, creating a more primal, face-to-face experience with the animals.
Running Wild Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 41½” x 31½”
Behind These Eyes Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 43” x 61½”
Way of the Zebra Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 56” x 31½”
Walk of Life Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 43” x 59½”
Follow Me Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 43” x 25½”
Free Spirit Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 61½” x 43”
Maombi Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 49” x 49”
Pundamilla Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 49” x 49”
Amani Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 61½” x 25½”
Bwana Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 25½” x 61½”
Euphorbia Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 25½” x 49”
Jangwa Malkia Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 26½” x 44½”
Kolagi Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 25½” x 61½”
Kuhiji Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 61½” x 25½”
Kuota Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 61½” x 25½”
Mara II Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 61½” x 25½”
Mawindo Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 31½” x 41½”
Milele Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 61½” x 25½”
Pembe Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 41½” x 31½”
Grass Roots Archival Print, Mixed Media, Encased in Resin Image Size 61½” x 25½”
SIGNED LIMITED EDITION PRINTS
Free Spirit Boxed Canvas with Gloss Resin Finish | Edition of 95 Image Size 28” x 40” Framed Size 30” x 42” | Framed £995
Behind These Eyes Boxed Canvas with Gloss Resin Finish | Edition of 95 Image Size 40” x 28” Framed Size 42” x 30” | Framed £995
Zebras Boxed Canvas with Gloss Resin Finish | Edition of 95 Image Size 52” x 28” Framed Size 54” x 30” | Framed £1,250
Follow Me Boxed Canvas with Gloss Resin Finish | Edition of 95 Image Size 47” x 28” Framed Size 49” x 30” | Framed £1,150
Set of Four Editions | Framed £3,950
BIOGRAPHY Raphael Mazzucco is one of the world’s most influential fashion photographers and contemporary artists, critically acclaimed for his singular eye and captivating aesthetic. After years spent honing his craft in Italy, France and Amsterdam, his arrival in New York City garnered attention from some of fashion’s elite and he went on to create iconic imagery for the likes of Victoria’s Secret, Guess Jeans, L’Oréal, Ralph Lauren and Bergdorf Goodman. His imagery has appeared in L’Officiel, French and Italian Vogue, Marie Claire, Playboy and Vanity Fair, featuring not only his editorial fashion imagery but celebrity portraiture of notable actors including Benicio Del Toro, Matt Damon, Susan Sarandon and Elizabeth Banks. A two-year tour of exhibitions in Milan, Florence, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Singapore, Los Angeles, Miami and New York City was met with critical praise. Following the tour, Raphael immediately launched into an artwork and photo essay book collaboration with music impresario Jimmy Iovine and rap producer Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. He has been profiled by major titles like The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker and The New York Times. Paris Vogue has also featured Raphael several times, commenting that his style ‘oozes sensuality and charm’. Raphael’s artistic visual narrative captures the human form set against a backdrop of startling landscapes spanning the continents, from Icelandic glaciers to African wildlife, and the outback of Western Australia to Vietnamese rice paddies. He incorporates these documentary forms into building a layered narrative through paint, collages, and hand-lettered text. Through these works, we journey alongside Raphael through terrains both geographic and emotional. Raphael Mazzucco is irrefutably a lover of life. His passion for synchronicity between his subjects and settings, coupled with a sensual aesthetic, has arguably resulted in some of the most relevant photography today, heralding a new age of art. A native of Vancouver, Canada, Raphael lives in Lebanon, Connecticut, with his wife Lisa, son Sascha and daughter-in-law Celine.
EXHIBITIONS
ENGLAND September 2019 “GAIA” exhibited nationwide at Castle Fine Art Galleries
NEW YORK CITY, USA January 23rd - February 10th, 2016 “Figurative Abstractions” art exhibition at Hoerle-Guggenheim Gallery
MONTAUK, USA August 10th, 2013
FLORENCE, ITALY November 15th, 2008 Presented at the Palazzo Corsini
Interview Magazine presents a private showing of Raphael Mazzucco’s new collection “The American Tour”
SOUTH HAMPTON, USA August 25th, 2008 Presented at the Valmorbida estate
MIAMI, USA December 1st - 6th, 2015 Scope Miami Beach
SARDINIA, ITALY July 2019 To Honor Raphael Mazzucco at the Passeggiata in Porto Cervo curated by Oblyon
MIAMI, USA December 6th, 2012 Rosenbaum Gallery Presents “The 66th parallel: The Iceland Collection” Art Basel
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA May 23rd, 2008 Presented at the Toorak Mansion
LONDON, ENGLAND September 26th - October 18th, 2015 “PELE - ART LIFE FOOTBALL” art exhibition at Halcyon Gallery
NEW YORK CITY, USA September 2018
HONG KONG March 21st, 2012
“Never Ending Summer” exhibition at Chase Contemporary, New York and Castle Fine Art Galleries, United Kingdom
BEVERLY HILLS, USA April 26th, 2007 Beverly Hills Hotel Garden
Alicia Zarou Scanlon and Gallery Reis present Raphael Mazzucco at the Cat Street Gallery
IBIZA, SPAIN July 2015 One month show at Cavelli
ENGLAND July 2017 “Exposure” nationwide art exhibition at Castle Fine Art
LOS ANGELES, USA Sunset Marquis 2011
NEW YORK CITY, USA April 19th, 2007 157 East 84th Street
Introducing Culo by Mazzucco, the show at the 2011 Grammys After Party with Jimmy Iovine
LONDON, ENGLAND June 12th - July 13th, 2015 “Montauk” art exhibition at Castle Fine Art, Mayfair
LONDON, ENGLAND October 26th 2016 50 Shades Of Grey at BAFTA Meeting of minds between Raphael Mazzucco and E.L.James
MIAMI, USA December 2nd, 2011 Mr. Chow presents CULO by Mazzucco at Art Basel
NEW YORK CITY, USA 2006 Presented at the Valmorbida Estate
LONDON, ENGLAND May 14th - June 13th, 2015 “Villains and Heroes” art exhibition at Halcyon Gallery
NEW YORK CITY, USA October 9th, 2011 Presented at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery
NEW YORK, USA September 7th - October 6th, 2016 HG Contemporary - Été Sans Fin
LONDON, ENGLAND April 17th - 24th, 2015 “Biophilia” art exhibition at Castle Fine Art, Mayfair
SINGAPORE March 12th, 2011 Alicia Zarou Scanlon and Gallery Reis Present Raphael Mazzucco
LONDON, ENGLAND February 5th, 2016 This striking exhibition from one of the world’s most influential photographers, Raphael Mazzucco, consists of original works and his debut limited edition print collection. Castle Fine Art, South Molton Street, London BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND February 6th, 2016 This striking exhibition from one of the world’s most influential photographers, Raphael Mazzucco, consists of original works and his
MIAMI, USA December 7th, 2014 Delano Hotel for Art Basel
TORONTO, CANADA April 1st, 2009 Lancome presents Raphael Mazzucco for Luminato
MIAMI, USA December 5th, 2013 Delano Hotel for Art Basel
MILAN, ITALY February 28th, 2009 Presented at the Spazio Ventura XV-Milan
debut limited edition print collection. Castle Fine Art, Mailbox, Birmingham
The images contained within this literature are an artistic representation of the collection. To best experience our art, we recommend you contact your local gallery to arrange a viewing. © Washington Green 2022. The content of this brochure is subject to copyright and no part can be reproduced without prior permission. washingtongreen.co.uk
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