Who is RAPH DRAWS?

PRONOUNS: SHE/THEY

Raphaella, also known as RAPH DRAWS, is a Haitian-American self-taught digital illustrator and muralist. Crafted by the universe with a mix of glitter, salt, cloves (jiwof in Creole), sky miles, innate joy, sassy Twitter fingers, disco fever, and boundless creative energy, they bring a unique, cosmic vibrancy to their work.

Raph identifies as a "creative midwife", interfacing their digital creations to life using STEM prototyping tools, bridging the gap between the virtual and the tangible.

Artistic Style & Influences

Raph describes their style as "cultural-psychedelic"—a fusion of culture and surrealism, shaped by both their Haitian-Catholic roots and a deep understanding of today’s human consciousness shift. Their work embodies resilience, empowerment, and transformation, drawing inspiration from the global-cultural symbol of strength, "The Black Madonna."

Their art serves as a bold, contemporary response to the faults in power systems revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a visual bridge between history, identity, and the sacred in a way that speaks to the heart of shared human experiences.

Major Works & Residencies

  • 2021: Completed the Generator Makerspace Artist-in-Residency

  • 2022: Created their first public mural, "Black Freedom, Black Madonna & The Black Child of Hope" (12x16 ft vinyl mural for Burlington’s 2nd Annual Juneteenth Festival)

  • 2022-2023: SEABA Artist-in-Residence, refining their large-scale mural practice at Unsworth Properties in Burlington, VT

  • Recent Works Include:

    • Three acrylic murals for the SEABA Residency

    • Burlington Jazz Fest 40 digital poster & collaborative mural

    • Three ultra-vibrant vinyl murals for Conscious Homestead

    • Waterbury Anti-Racism Coalition (WAARC) community mural

    • "Madonna’s Earth"

    • VT Public’s ‘Art From Every Corner’ collaboration series, "VT Sonder"

    • Burlington Jazz Fest 41 Digital Poster

With each project, Raph Draws continues to push artistic boundaries, bringing vibrant storytelling and deep cultural symbolism to public spaces.

They are currently based in Vermont. Keep up with them on Instagram.

Awards & Recognitions

PRESS

Generator VT. “Black Freedom, Black Madonna, & the Black Child of Hope.” Generator Makerspace, 16 Aug. 2022.

Polston, Pamela. On a Burlington Mural, a Black Madonna Conveys Liberation and Love , Aug. 2022.

“Juneteenth Brought a New Mural to the Fletcher Free Library.” Facebook, Fletcher Free Library , 22 June 2022.

Murphy, Rory. “On a Mural in Burlington, a Black Madonna Conveys Liberation and Love.” NJ News Update, 3 Aug. 2022

Hyde, Marlon. “Vermont Edition: What to See This Winter at Local Museums, from Rare Keith Harings to New Artists.” Vermont Edition, Vermont Public Radio, 18 Jan. 2023.

Fisher, April. Raphaella Brice: The Artist behind the Fletcher Free Library Black Madonna Mural, Burlington Free Press, 3 Apr. 2023.

Fisher, April. “Raphaella Brice: The Artist behind the Fletcher Free Library Mural on Her Rise to Success.” Burlington Free Press, 14 Apr. 2023.

Black Freedom, Black Madonna & the Black Child of Hope | Burlington City Arts. Home | Burlington City Arts.

Scagliotti, L. Burlington artist, design chosen for Waterbury Community Mural project — Waterbury Roundabout. Waterbury Roundabout. 25 May 2023.

Costello, Damian. “The Black Madonna makes her mark in the least religious state in the US”National Catholic Reporter, 21 Oct. 2023.

Costello, Damian. “Mary and the Art of Mothering.” VT Catholic, pp. 20–21, Dec. 2023.

Costello, Damian. “Mary and the Art of Mothering.” Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, Vermont Catholic , 18 Jan. 2023.

Vermont Public. Art From Every Corner: Introducing ‘Vermont Sonder,’ by Raphaella Brice [Video]. YouTube. 11 March 2024

Owens, M. (2024, March 11). Art From Every Corner: Introducing ‘Vermont Sonder,’ by Raphaella Brice. Vermont Public. 11 March 2024