The International Art Scene: Lima, Peru
By Emma Hapner, July 17, 2024
I recently had the privilege of visiting the gorgeous city of Lima, along the coast of Peru in South America, and of course I had to check out the art scene during my visit! The capital city of Lima is a gorgeous metropolis filled with a variety of districts featuring restaurants, night life, monuments, art, and more. As Lima is one of the largest cities in South America, we decided to focus our exploration in the beautiful Barranco, a bohemian neighborhood right on the coast. The district is regarded as the city's most romantic and free-spirited area, serving as both a residence and a workspace for many of Peru's top artists, musicians, designers, and photographers.
Our first stop was the studio of the incredibly talented Salima Black ,who’s highly saturated, surreal paintings are inspired by her lifelong love of anime and stem from her interests in illustration and design. As a child, Salima practiced drawing by looking at comic strips in the newspaper, and this led her to study art at the the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Belles Artes del Peru. Here she studied Fine Arts and honed her skills as a painter, but felt discouraged from including references to anime, as it was not considered a “fine art”. She later gained the confidence to seamlessly blend her interests and imagery through her skillful and thoughtfully planned compositions. She was especially inspired by a class she took with contemporary Japanese artist, Keita Morimoto, which became available online during the pandemic, and allowed her to develop her unique color palette, and painting process. Salima carefully plans each piece by first searching for, or creating reference imagery, which she then altars in photoshop to create a highly detailed and accurate model to paint from. This digital process allows her to explore multiple ideas and streamlines her painting process.
Salima also gave us some valuable insight to the art market in Peru, discussing the small circles that galleries operate in, creating a great need for artists to take on self-promotion. We discussed the impact of social media, and how it allows her and other artists to share their portfolio with people all over the world, but how it can also cause self-doubt when artists become fixated on the number of likes they receive. Salima hopes to reach expand to a wider audience and reach collectors and galleries abroad to share her work.
Next, we visited the studio of Rafael Pascuale Zamora, a self taught artist inspired by the old masters. In 2013, Rafael began to teach himself how to oil paint, by looking at classical paintings by artists like Jusepe de Ribera, Fransisco Goya, and Diego Velázquez, as well as those of contemporary artists like Justin Mortimer and Van Minnen. He cultivated a deep affinity for self-exploration and learning through trial and error from a young age, which has led him to become a self-taught artist. Growing up in a predominantly Catholic environment, he was profoundly influenced by the religious imagery surrounding him. For Rafael, these images—rich with themes of pain, sadism, anguish, and emotional depth—impact his work not because of their religious context, but due to their significant historical influence and their role in shaping contemporary society. He sees these images as archetypal symbols capable of influencing human evolution. He was especially inspired by a trip to The Prado Museum in Spain, emphasizing the importance of viewing works in person to gain a fuller understanding of the artists use of texture and depth of color.
Combining a clear interest in the Spanish Baroque style with a sense of surrealism that is undoubtably modern, Raphaels work depicts his interest in the human experience, flesh, and form. Over the years, he has refined his self-taught approach by mastering classical artistic techniques, particularly those related to baroque art, and creating numerous works that reflect his unique perspective on the world. His work, influenced by his experiences in Peru, encapsulate ideas of humanity on a global scale. Rafael hopes to reach a broader audience with his work, to help others gain an appreciation of the art world in Lima, saying, “I just want people to know that there are artists making figurative work in Peru.” He is currently preparing several monumental paintings for an exhibition titled, “Mirrors of the Lost Humanity” at the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo in Lima.
Rafael Lanfranco Gallofré, born in Lima in 1976, is a talented artist and sculptor who has been making an impact in the art world in Peru since co-founding 4D2 Studio in 2010, which we were so happy to have the chance to visit. With a Master's degree in Communication from Boston University and a prestigious Fulbright scholarship under his belt, Rafael’s work has captivated audiences both locally and internationally. His art has been showcased in exciting cities like Miami, Tokyo, Singapore, London, Santiago, and São Paulo. Rafael collaborates with various esteemed galleries, including IK Projects in Lima and São Paulo, Eugene Gallery in Tokyo and Seoul, Artium Gallery in Santiago, Eduardo Lira Gallery in Miami, Indigo Gallery in Lima, and Cuatro en un Baúl in Lima. His creative journey continues to inspire and engage audiences around the globe.
Lanfranco’s playful cast of characters featured in his sculptures, drawings, and paintings are reminiscent of the work of Kaws, and American artist and designer, yet are entirely unique in their world building and presentation. Lanfranco’s work focuses on crafting characters that bring to life psychological, mythological, and archetypal stories reflective of their era and his own inner experiences. He has createed several different “universes” each with their own personas, imagery, and inspirations. For example, his Wako Universe, or Wakoverse combines his interest in designer toys with references to the pop culture of the eighties and nineties that shaped his childhood. In the artists words, “It is a project that seeks to recreate a sort of contemporary Peruvian pop bible, a universe that fits into our identity, incorporating a whimsical mix of references that may include Takashi Murakami or Kaws, Robotech, Star Wars, the urban center of chaotic Lima, and the ancient Inca Empire.” Additionally, he creates immersive events that bring his work to a whole new level. Every month, the artist organizes workshops like painting one of his 3D printed sculptures, or silkscreen printing classes. Lanfranco’s dedication to his craft in a variety of mediums is evident in the unique world he has created.
Featured Artists
Salima Black
IG: @salimablackart / Website: https://salimablack.wixsite.com
Rafael Pascuale Zamora
IG: @rafaelpascuale / Website: Art Catalogue
Rafael Lanfranco
IG: @rafa.lanfranco / Website: https://shop.rafaellanfranco.com/en