Raphael Mazzucco
A celebrated fashion photographer will be making an appearance at a Birmingham gallery this week to unveil his latest collection, Gaia.
Raphael Mazzucco will be flying over from the United States to visit Castle Fine Art‘s gallery in the Mailbox this Friday between 6pm and 8pm. Visitors will be able to view his newest collection and discuss his inspirations and techniques.
Taken from the Greek word meaning ‘Mother Earth’, Gaia seeks to encapsulate the beauty of the earth and those who inhabit it through the power of photography and mixed media. To create each piece, Mazzucco began with a ‘base image’ in muted colours, which he then embellished with layers of paint and foraged objects and materials, before finishing with hand-poured resin to add colour and vibrancy, bringing the artwork to life.
Mazzucco is one of the world’s most influential and talented fashion photographers. 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 saw him work on photographic campaigns for the likes of Victoria’s Secret, Guess Jeans, L’Oreal and Ralph Lauren.
His work has appeared in L’Official, French & Italian Vogue, L’Uomo Vogue, Marie Claire, Playboy and Vanity Fair, featuring not only his editorial fashion photography but celebrity portraiture of notable actors including Benicio Del Toro, Matt Damon, Susan Sarandon and Elizabeth Banks.
Deciding to swap the camera for canvas over nine years ago, Mazzucco’s arrival onto the art scene has been met with widespread critical acclaim, with Damien Hirst purchasing one of the artist’s collections for over $750,000.
Last year, the artist unveiled a book celebrating his 25 year career. Titled The Never Ending Summer, the collector’s edition book features behind the scenes photography and exclusive memoirs from his closest family, as well as anecdotes from models and muses he has worked with including Pamela Anderson and Alessandra Ambrosio.
Speaking ahead of his appearance in Birmingham, Raphael Mazzucco said: “Gaia is a nod to history and time, the female form, the mother and creator, nature and earth.
“Working on the collection has brought me back to nature again in a way I really enjoy, enhancing the spontaneity of the image by utilising the raw materials I have around me.”
Danny Wigley, gallery manager at Castle Fine Art, the Mailbox, said: “Mazzucco’s work is celebrated all around the world and, when you look at the level of detail and prowess that goes into each piece, it’s easy to see why.
“We can’t wait to welcome Raphael to our gallery. The passion he has for what he does is immense and I’m sure our guests will be very inspired as he talks them through his latest collection.”
Prices start at £595 for limited edition prints and £4,950 for original artworks.
