Bianca Raffaella

Bianca Raffaella
Born1992 (age 31–32)
London, England
NationalityBritish
Education
Known for
Notable workIn the Rose Garden (2022)
Websitebiancaraffaella.com

Bianca Raffaella (born 1992 in London, England) is a British artist, activist and public speaker.[1]

Raffaella is registered blind and known for 'tactile painting'[1][2] along with her use of 'soft colours, dusty shadows, and smooth empty spaces which symbolise vision loss';[3] described by Jonathan Jones in The Guardian as 'ethereally beautiful works'.[4] Her work explores themes of memory, perception, and fragility.[5]

The first registered blind student to graduate from Kingston University with a First class degree in the visual arts.[2][6][7][8][9]

Invited Keynote Speaker at Beyond Seeing (2016–18), a project by the Goethe-Institut in Paris.[10][11] Invited lecturer and collaborator at Institut Français de la Mode alongside Chanel.[2]

Panelist on the March 2023 Tate Modern Late talk, Please Touch the Art.[1]

Selected by Tracey Emin for the inaugural Tracey Emin Artist Residency (2023–24) at TKE Studios, Margate.[4][12][13][14][15]

Named one of Three To Watch, Hotly tipped female talent of the British art scene by Harper's Bazaar in their annual art supplement, alongside two Turner Prize 2024 nominees Jasleen Kaur and Delaine Le Bas.[16][17][18][19]

In November 2024 Flowers Gallery announced representation of Bianca Raffaella along with her first major solo exhibition, Faint Memories in February 2025.[20][21]

Selected exhibitions

[edit]

Solo exhibitions

[edit]
12 January 2023 (2023-01-12) – 5 March 2023 (2023-03-05): Hushed Impressions, Orleans House Gallery, London[22][23]
A multi-sensory exhibition focused on accessibility in the visual arts.[2]
24 June 2024 (2024-06-24) – 24 June 2024 (2024-06-24): Artist of the Day, Flowers Gallery, Cork Street, London[24]
Selected by Tracey Emin. Raffaella opened the 25th edition of Artist of the Day, a landmark programme started by Angela Flowers and Matthew Flowers in 1983. Interviewed by Martha Kearney alongside Emin, for the BBC Radio 4 programme Today.[25] Followed by a public panel discussion and Q&A with Emin.
12 February 2025 (2025-02-12) – 15 March 2025 (2025-03-15): Faint Memories, Flowers Gallery, Cork Street, London[26]

Group exhibitions

[edit]
22 September 2021 (2021-09-22) – 2 January 2022 (2022-01-02): Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London.
Coordinated by Yinka Shonibare, under his theme of ‘Reclaiming Magic’.[27][28]
6 November 2021 (2021-11-06) – 21 November 2021 (2021-11-21): Breaking Ground, Orleans House Gallery, London[29]
Coinciding with Richmond Literature Festival.[30]
21 November 2022 (2022-11-21) – 16 December 2022 (2022-12-16): Layers of Vision, Bush House, London
In collaboration with King's College London, Shape Arts and AccessArt. Coinciding with UK Disability History Month.[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45] Raffaella exhibited a commissioned polyptych titled In the Rose Garden (2022).[46]
18 November 2023 (2023-11-18) – 28 January 2024 (2024-01-28): TEARS, TKE Studios, Margate
Inaugural artists' residency exhibition.
29 June 2024 (2024-06-29) – 29 June 2024 (2024-06-29): Artist of the Day: Group Show, Flowers Gallery, Cork Street, London[24]
30 June 2024 (2024-06-30) – 1 September 2024 (2024-09-01): TEARS: The Final Show, TKE Studios, Margate
The final show for the inaugural Tracey Emin Artists' Residency.
21 November 2024 (2024-11-21) – 4 January 2025 (2025-01-04): Small is Beautiful: 42nd Edition, Flowers Gallery, Cork Street, London[47]

Selected awards

[edit]

Artist residencies

[edit]
2022/23 — Artist-in-residence, Orleans House Gallery, London
2023/24 — TEAR, Margate
Selected by Tracey Emin for the inaugural Tracey Emin Artist Residency (2023–24) at TKE Studios in Margate.

Commissions

[edit]
2022 — Commissioned by King's College London in collaboration with Shape Arts and AccessArt
Coinciding with UK Disability History Month.

Features

[edit]
24 June 2024 (2024-06-24) – 24 June 2024 (2024-06-24): Artist of the Day, Flowers Gallery, Cork Street, London[24]
Selected by Tracey Emin. Raffaella opened the 25th edition of Artist of the Day, a landmark programme started by Angela Flowers and Matthew Flowers in 1983. Interviewed by Martha Kearney alongside Emin, for the BBC Radio 4 programme Today.[25] Followed by a public panel discussion and Q&A with Emin.
November 2024 — Three To Watch, Hotly tipped female talent of the British art scene, Harper's Bazaar Magazine UK
Named alongside two Turner Prize 2024 nominees Jasleen Kaur and Delaine Le Bas in the Harper's Bazaar annual art supplement.[16][17][18][19]

Selected collections

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

"You have to peer closely into Bianca Raffaella’s gorgeous figure studies to discern the shadowy nudes that lurk within them. Predominantly white, Raffaella’s art has the fragile beauty of a fresh fall of snow." — Waldemar Januszczak, 28 July 2024, The Sunday Times[48]


"Bianca Raffaella, a partially sighted painter, is working close up on a painting to add to the ethereally beautiful works covering her walls and floor." — Jonathan Jones, 28 March 2023, The Guardian[4]

Filmography

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2023 The Unique Boutique Herself, Guest Designer Episode 2 [49]
2024 Art Matters Herself, Artist, TEAR Sky Arts feature documentary by Melvyn Bragg

Radio

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2024 Today (BBC Radio 4) Herself, Artist Episode released 29 Jun 2024 [25]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Tate Modern Lates: Please Touch the Art". Tate. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d King's Digital Lab, King's College London. "Bianca Raffaella | Layers of Vision". Layers of Vision. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Hushed Impressions | Shape Arts". Shape Arts. 12 January 2023. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Jones, Jonathan (28 March 2023). "'Before cancer I was really unhappy': Tracey Emin on the joy of founding her own art school". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023.
  5. ^ Brown-Ewens, Millen (25 June 2024). "The Next Rising Art Stars, according to Tracey Emin, Frank Bowling, and Other Top Artists | Artsy". Artsy. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  6. ^ Davison, Emily (5 May 2016). "The Fashion Designer Who's Bringing Visual Impairment Into the Fashion Industry". HuffPost. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023.
  7. ^ Dyer, Lucy (13 June 2016). "Visually-Impaired Kingston Fashion Student Recognised for Stunning Braille-Inspired Collection". South West Londoner. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023.
  8. ^ Elan, Priya (8 June 2016). "Graduate Fashion Week 25 Years Later: Why It's Still Relevant | Fashion | The Guardian". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Visually Impaired Fashion Student Makes Waves With Braille-Inspired Collection at Graduate Fashion Week". FashionUnited. 9 June 2023. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023.
  10. ^ ""Beyond Seeing" Bringt Blinde Und Sehbehinderte Menschen MIT Modedesignern Zusammen". Fashion Network. 7 September 2017. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023.
  11. ^ ""Beyond Seeing" Untersucht Modedesign MIT Allen Sinnen". FashionUnited. 11 September 2017. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023.
  12. ^ "About Bianca Raffaella: Tracey Emin artist residency — Tracey Emin Foundation". Tracey Emin Foundation. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023.
  13. ^ "White Cube - News and Events - Tracey Emin's TKE Studios Opens in Margate". White Cube. 25 March 2023. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Artist Tracey Emin Has Officially Inaugurated Her New Art School and Studio | Widewalls". Widewalls. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Artists in residence and ascendance - CIVILIAN". CIVILIAN. 26 January 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023.
  16. ^ a b Lee, Helena (8 October 2024). "Introducing the 2024 Bazaar Art supplement". Harper's BAZAAR. Archived from the original on 8 October 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Harper's Bazaar Magazine (UK) | November 2024 | The Art Issue | Lupita Nyong'o". Harper's Bazaar Magazine (UK). November 2024. ISBN 9771751159996-11. {{cite magazine}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
  18. ^ a b "Turner Prize 2024 | Tate Britain". Tate. Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Bianca Raffaella | Three to Watch: Hotly tipped female talent on the British art scene". Flowers Gallery. 7 October 2024. Archived from the original on 4 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  20. ^ Westall, Mark (5 November 2024). "Tracey Emin Artist Residency Graduate Bianca Raffaella Now Represented by Flowers Gallery". FAD Magazine. Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  21. ^ Barcio, Phillip (4 November 2024). "Art Media Agency — Flowers Gallery representing Bianca Raffaella". Art Media Agency — Flowers Gallery representing Bianca Raffaella. Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  22. ^ "Hushed Impressions – Orleans House Gallery". Orleans House Gallery. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023.
  23. ^ "Hushed Impressions Opening Celebration – Orleans House Gallery". Orleans House Gallery. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023.
  24. ^ a b c "Artist of the Day | 25th Edition | Flowers Gallery". Flowers Gallery. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  25. ^ a b c "Today - Election 2024: Mishal Husain and Martha Kearney - BBC Sounds". BBC Sounds. 29 June 2024. Archived from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  26. ^ "Bianca Raffaella | Faint Memories". Flowers Gallery. Archived from the original on 14 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  27. ^ "Summer Exhibition 2021 | Exhibition | Royal Academy of Arts". Royal Academy of Arts. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021.
  28. ^ "Outside In artists at the RA Summer Show 2021 | Outside In". Outside In. 27 September 2021. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021.
  29. ^ "Breaking Ground – Orleans House Gallery". Orleans House Gallery. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023.
  30. ^ "Breaking Ground: Exhibition — Richmond Literature Festival". Richmond Literature Festival. 6 November 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023.
  31. ^ "Layers of Vision Exhibition". Disability Talk. 24 November 2022. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023.
  32. ^ Patchett, Lucy (17 November 2022). "Exhibition Probes Sight Impaired Access to Art". Optician Magazine. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023.
  33. ^ Davey, Toby (15 November 2022). "Layers of Vision - An Exhibition of Work by 10 Blind and Partially Sighted Artists". RNIB Connect Radio. Season 1, Episode 1475. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023.
  34. ^ "Layers of Vision exhibition in London". Visionary. 25 November 2022. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023.
  35. ^ "King's College London presents Layers of Vision, London". Disability Arts Online. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023.
  36. ^ "King's College London: New Exhibition Explores Different Forms Of Vision". India Education. 21 November 2022. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023.
  37. ^ "New Exhibition Explores Different Forms of Vision". Mirage.News.
  38. ^ King's Digital Lab, King's College London. "Home | Layers of Vision". Layers of Vision. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022.
  39. ^ "Layers of Vision: Living in a world made for sighted people". King's College London. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022.
  40. ^ "Layers of Vision Exhibition Launch". King’s College London. 18 November 2022. Archived from the original on 18 November 2022.
  41. ^ Goel, Ayushi (13 December 2022). "'Layers Of Vision' Exhibition – Exploring Accessibility". Roar News. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023.
  42. ^ "New Exhibition Challenges the Barriers That People Who Are Partially Sighted Face Each Day". Royal Holloway, University of London. 10 November 2022. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023.
  43. ^ "Layers of Vision | Shape Arts". Shape Arts. 21 November 2022. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023.
  44. ^ "Layers of Vision". VocalEyes. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023.
  45. ^ "Layers of Vision". Widewalls. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023.
  46. ^ "Artist Q&A: Bianca Raffaella's Art Challenges the Traditional and Inaccessible". Shape Arts. 13 December 2022. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023.
  47. ^ "Small is Beautiful | 42nd Edition". Flowers Gallery. Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  48. ^ Januszczak, Waldemar (28 July 2024). "Tracey Emin leads a mutiny against the art schools". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 28 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  49. ^ "The Unique Boutique". Channel 4. Series 1, Episode 2. 24 July 2023. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023.
[edit]
Artist profiles

Interviews

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