Feb 14, 2026
The Rhythm of Action Painting
How movement and gesture translate into visual energy on the canvas...
Marc Raphael
“Jazz-Like Improvisations On Canvas.”
Exclusive Founding Member 💎 of ARTSDistrictUSA
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles abstract artist Marc Raphael creates what can only be described as "jazz-like improvisations on canvas"—vibrant explosions of color and movement that capture something essential about the creative act itself. Rooted in the New York School tradition yet unmistakably contemporary, his work is the visual expression of an artist who dared to follow his dream later in life—and discovered his truest voice in the process.
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I paint to be myself and to see myself. I cannot see myself if I don’t have the courage to be myself.
”Artwork For Sale
Original Paintings Available Here Or Directly From The Studio
Showing 21 artworks
About Marc Raphael
Los Angeles-based abstract artist Marc Raphael creates what critics have called "jazz-like improvisations on canvas"—vibrant, energetic works that capture the spontaneity of the creative moment. Drawing inspiration from the New York School masters, particularly Jackson Pollock, Raphael has developed a distinctive action painting style that's entirely his own.
But Marc's path to the canvas wasn't conventional. For 25 years, he shaped young minds as a K-12 teacher while nurturing his passion for abstract expressionism on the side. In 2020, he made a bold decision: to pursue his art full-time. His philosophy? "It's never too late to follow your dream."
What followed was a period of intensive growth. Working from a garage studio, Marc immersed himself in mastering his materials—acrylics, latex, mediums, and canvas—developing the techniques that would define his signature style. The results spoke for themselves, and he soon moved to the prestigious Hawthorne Arts Complex, where he found himself surrounded by LA's thriving creative community.
This shift proved transformative. Within the HAC environment, Marc's practice evolved rapidly: his canvases grew larger, his technique more confident, his vision more refined. He established relationships with galleries, built a presence on leading art platforms, and caught the attention of Artspace Warehouse, who now represent his work to collectors nationally and internationally.
Today, Marc works primarily from his Mid-Wilshire studio, just blocks from LACMA, with a second creative space in downtown San Pedro's established arts district. His colorful, eye-catching abstracts have found homes with collectors who appreciate both the emotional immediacy of his work and the compelling story behind the artist.
For Marc, each painting is an act of self-discovery—the artist as both source and subject. His work invites viewers into that same process of exploration, where bold gestures and vibrant color fields create moments of connection and joy.
Marc Raphael is a Founding Artist of ART District USA.
Connect with Marc
LocationLos Angeles, CA
Experience
SpecialtyAbstract Expressionism
Artists Experience
Exhibitions
2024Start Up Art Fair, Los Angeles — Solo Exhibition
2023The Other Art Fair, Los Angeles — Group Show
Artists Publications
2023Art Folio Annual — Featured Artist Profile
In The Studio
A glimpse into the creative process
THE PAINTING PROCESS
Marc Raphael is an action painter working in the tradition of Abstract Expressionism, driven above all by the raw, physical experience of making art. He begins each work by spreading unstretched canvas flat on the floor, then moves into it intuitively — no plan, no predetermined outcome. What emerges is entirely open. It's that openness that draws him in: the chance to learn something unexpected, to grow through the process, to follow a painting wherever it chooses to go.
"I placed the canvas flat on the floor and moved around it, dripping and flinging paint as Pollock did. I was hooked immediately."
Painting, for Marc, is a full-body act. His athletic background shapes the way he works — circling the canvas, leaning into each gesture, using the sweep of his shoulder and the extension of his arm to swirl, fling, and drip paint across the surface. There's a practiced grace to it, a rhythm that feels less like technique and more like movement.
"Jazz-like improvisations on canvas."
The results are large, vibrant works layered with curvilinear lines, swirls, splatters, and drips — forms that suggest webs, galaxies, and organic life in motion. (Yes, that too. Go ahead and look.)
At the heart of it all, Raphael paints to know himself. He is both the source and the subject — not documenting the external world, but mapping an internal one. Working in a kind of free association, he holds two things in tension at once: the spontaneous flow of thought and feeling, and a conscious attention to line, color, texture, and composition. That interplay — between control and surrender, intention and impulse — is what he calls a jazz-like improvisation on canvas.
Sold Artworks
"These paintings have already found their collectors—but your perfect piece might be inspired by what you see here."
Consider this gallery your creative lookbook. Notice a color palette that speaks to you? A composition that captures the energy you're seeking? Marc welcomes commissions based on the work shown here, creating new original paintings that echo the spirit of pieces you love while becoming something entirely unique to your space.
Each work shown is an original painting on canvas by Marc Raphael, now in private collections.
SOLD
SOLD
Custom Orders Available
Commissioned Artwork
"Searching for that perfect piece to complete your space? Whether you need specific dimensions, a particular color palette, or simply that elusive 'wow factor,' Marc welcomes the opportunity to create a custom work tailored to your vision."
Your Vision, Reimagined
The paintings throughout this gallery showcase his range and can help you envision what's possible for your commissioned piece. Each commission is painted in Marc's signature style, inspired by one of his existing works as a creative starting point.
Unique & Original
Because every painting is a unique act of improvisation, your commissioned piece will echo the spirit of the original while becoming something entirely new—a one-of-a-kind artwork created specifically for you.
Commission a Similar WorkArtists Blog
Thoughts on process, inspiration, and life in the studio.
Upcoming Events
15Mar
Start Up Art Fair
Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles
Opening Night · 6–9 PM
Gallery/Customer Reviews
Sarah Mitchell
Curator at Westlake Gallery
"The surface treatment adds a depth that keeps the viewer constantly discovering new details in Marc’s work."
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"If you like an available Painting - you can immediately purchase it directly"
"Interested in a Studio Visit or a Custom Commission? Contact Marc here:"
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