ABOUT Raquel

I am a Panamanian-born artist whose passion for oil painting began at my first art school in Panama City. During the political turmoil of the late 1980s, my family was endangered and my diplomatic status was converted into political asylum in the United States. I was first settled in New Orleans and later lived in various states and abroad. Years later, I recognized a growing disconnect from my creative practice and ultimately turned to art as a form of therapy—drawn to the profound healing found in both creating and viewing it.

 

In 2001, I moved to Minnesota, where I had the privilege of studying under two remarkable mentors. Hermine Magnus, an 87-year-old Norwegian refugee with a direct, New Yorker-style approach to oil painting, guided me for seven years. Even after her retirement, Hermine continued to offer invaluable critiques until her passing at age 102—just a week after our final meeting. I also studied under Alison Price at the Lakeville Area Art Center, where I further developed my artistic voice, focusing primarily on acrylic painting.

 

Today, the visual language of my abstract paintings is shaped by richly layered textures, mixed media, and intermixable solvents. These elements evoke oceanographic and topographical forms, resulting in expressive works that suggest movement or stillness. This layered process allows me to access deeper levels of creativity, pushing through unconscious barriers while channeling strength, vulnerability, and a sense of peace into each piece.Recently, my practice has expanded to include discarded packaging materials, transforming them into essential components of my work. This shift reflects a growing commitment to environmental awareness. These pieces are designed to inspire small, meaningful actions—beginning in the Land of 10,000 Lakes with the Mississippi River, a waterway  held sacred by Indigenous cultures as a source of life, wisdom, and movement. Rivers act as open veins, carrying nearly 80% of plastic pollution from land to sea. Today, the Mississippi is among the most endangered rivers in the United States. Through this stewardship-driven approach, I seek to illuminate the environmental consequences of consumption and extend an invitation to see ourselves as caretakers of water—a life-giving force that connects us all.

 

My abstract work explores depth—both literal and emotional. Some pieces draw on the powerful memories and spiritual resonance of my ocean-present birthplace, shaped by personal, political, and ancestral influences. Through this visual language, I aim to offer viewers moments of reflection, resilience, and renewed hope. I believe that art holds the power to awaken creativity, uplift the spirit, and connect us through shared experience.