Artist in conversation: RAFAL JAN
Rafal Jan is a Polish-born artist based in North America, with over two decades of creative experience spanning film, digital media, graphic design, and physical formats. His current practice centers on tactile abstraction—works engineered with marble paste and acrylic that explore presence, transformation, and perception. Born in Wrocław and raised in the U.S. after immigrating on July 4th, 1998, Rafal’s early dislocation shaped a lifelong ritual of introspection. Struggling with identity and belonging became a quiet initiation into self-inquiry—one that continues to inform the emotional and symbolic depth of his work today. His artistic language is intuitive and textural, balancing structure with surrender. Bold color fields and topographic surfaces behave like emotional landscapes—meant to be felt before understood. The work invites stillness. Reflection. Encounter. Through abstraction, Rafal offers the viewer a space to confront the unseen: not only within the work, but within themselves.
ARTIST STATEMENT:
My work explores the terrain between presence and perception—where form dissolves into feeling, and the viewer is invited to experience intuitively, without instruction. Each piece begins without a map. Inspired by the playful dance of the elements, I embrace the intuitive process and allow the materials to guide the creation. There is no predetermined narrative, no artificial explanations— only the quiet unfolding of something felt before it is understood. The surfaces are engineered with marble paste and acrylic, layered in motion and memory. They behave like internal landscapes—topographic, emotional, and reflective. What emerges is not a message, but a mirror. I’m not seeking to resolve. I’m creating the conditions where something honest might surface. These works are not meant to be decoded. They are meant to return your gaze.
NOBODY’S MANIFESTO:
Mr. Nobody is not a name, or a face, or a performance.
He is the guardian of presence.
The silence that observes.
A mirror for the parts we abandon,
the questions we carry,
the truths we avoid.
He does not speak.
He does not explain.
And when you try to understand him,
you find yourself instead.
He does not reveal himself.
He reveals you.
The mask, the mystery, the ritual—
they are not meant to distract.
They are meant to return your gaze.
To remind you that perception is projection,
and reflection is never passive.
Everyone is Nobody.
And in this space,
Nobody is watching.
What initially inspired you to become an artist, and how did you develop your unique style?
Ever since my adolescence, I’ve always been drawn to my imagination and exploring ways to express myself. So naturally, this was the way. The utilization of different mediums over the years has helped me tremendously in discovering a style that most effectively communicates the essence of my work. So much of it is about trusting your intuition to guide you in the right direction and being brave enough to lean into it.
Do you have any rituals or routines that help you get into a creative mindset when starting a new project?
There’s something to be said about the act of contemplation. So much of my creative process is spent in a state of meditation, whether it be about a project or life itself.
How do you decide on the shapes, colors, and textures for each piece? Are they planned, or do they emerge naturally?
I really value visualization and integrate it throughout my process when it is appropriate. It gives every project a sort of structure and direction. Although, when I design the surfaces, it is a very organic and liberated expression. I allow my hands and tools to “blow with the wind” and quite literally capture the moment.
Your works are highly saturated and textural. What draws you to this vibrant, tactile approach?
During my earlier years, I worked almost exclusively with digital mediums, and that’s how most people experienced my work. During this time, I developed a deep understanding and appreciation of color theory and how to maximize the weight of color in art. I would sometimes spend hours exploring different color arrangements and their consequential impact on the viewer. Yet, after some time, I developed a craving for a tactile experience with my work, especially with the recent developments in generative art. Ultimately, these textured surfaces I create are a way for me to make physical contact with an audience in a world where contactless interactions are becoming more prominent.
Can you describe a particular life situation or image that triggered a significant work in your portfolio?
My latest series of works, The Mysteries of Mr. Nobody, was directly inspired by a deeply rooted journey of soul searching and rediscovery of the self. Over the last few years, it felt like I had lost my way and needed to reconnect with who I’ve been and who I’ve become under the many social masks I’ve chosen to wear in my life. No one ever sees all that you’ve been through, yet the fact remains that you are an accumulation of those experiences. Very quickly, this series became an ode to Miami, a place where I grew up and recently moved back to after six years in Los Angeles.
How do you incorporate feedback from critics and audiences into your artistic practice, and how do you balance this feedback with your own artistic intuition?
Art is like wisdom—it can be profound insight for some and misinterpreted by others. The most important thing is creating something that’s genuine and hoping that the ideas can transcend.
What challenges have you faced in creating work that is both conceptual and narrative while also decorative? How do you stay motivated and inspired despite any setbacks or creative blocks you may encounter?
Losing creative momentum can be scary, and it happens more often than most would want to admit. Will another great idea rise again? Are my best works behind me? Every creative fights these internal battles. But experience has taught me that every aspect of life is in a constant ebb and flow, and with strong discipline, you can endure any storm.
How do you feel about exhibiting your artworks with The Holy Art Gallery?
It’s an incredible opportunity to become a part of the community that The Holy Art has gathered and empowered. Being able to showcase to an audience stretching all across the globe creates such a unique opportunity to interact with humans with rich and unique life experiences.
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals and aspirations as an artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Finding beautiful ways to connect with people and generate a dialogue on the human experience is really what drives me. Being a part of a community that will welcome me and inspire me to dig deeper as a human is what will enable me to thrive and reach any aspiration. It is a lifelong journey, and it’s a beautiful one. So be what may.
What role does emotion play in your creative process, and and how do you aim to evoke specific feelings or reactions from those who view your artworks?
It’s everything. In the space of abstraction, the whole experience is perceptual and requires an emotional response in order to give it meaning and symbolism. These works are a manifestation of a moment in time, a feeling I desired to capture. As an audience, you are tasked with the interpretation.
