Rafael Concepción is a photographer and artist based in Brooklyn, NY. His work operates adjacent to the documentary photographic tradition, often implementing a variety of visual motifs and sequencing strategies in order to achieve a wide array of emotional effects. The projects he pursues are frequently contingent on his processing of a specific emotion regarding his subject: love, frustration, anger, etc.
Upon receiving his BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Concepción participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions across the northeastern United States. He has given artist talks at both Lesley University and Rutgers University, and has been featured in Boston Voyager, From Here on Out, Don’t Take Pictures, and more. In 2020, he received the Zachs Award from the University of Connecticut, funding the further pursuit of his project “Where Do I Know You From?”, a collection of photographs that deal with his experience of his heritage being a half Puerto Rican person.
———
Exhibitions:
2023 Staff & Faculty Showcase, International Center of Photography, New York, NY
2022 I hope this finds you well, William Benton Museum of Art, Storrs, CT
2022 The FUTURE IS LATINX, Hartford Public Library, Hartford, CT (two person exhibition with Adrian
Martinez Chavez)
2022 Where Do I Know You From?, Contemporary Art Galleries, Storrs, CT (Solo)
2021 Abstract Art, Coffee Break Gallery, Mansfield Center, CT
2021 Where Do I Know You From?, Hygienic Art, New London, CT (Online) (Solo)
2020 La Frontera, Humble Arts Foundation, New York, NY (Online)
2018 Provenance, Aviary Gallery, Boston, MA
2018 Isla Del Encanto, MAC650 Gallery, Middletown, CT (Solo)
2016 Recounting the Forest, North Crackatorium, Boston, MA (Solo)
2016 Senior Thesis Exhibition, President's Gallery, Boston, MA
2016 All School Show, Student Life Gallery, Boston, MA
2015 Spectrum, Pavement Coffee House, Boston, MA
2015 Ode to Summer, Aviary Gallery, Jamaica Plain, MA (Online)
2015 E7900, Aviary Gallery, Jamaica Plain, MA
2014 Good To Be (So Far From) Home, Godine Family Gallery, Boston, MA
2014 Sense of Place, North Crackatorium, Boston, MA
2014 All School Show, Student Life Gallery, Boston, MA
2013 All School Show, Brant Gallery, Boston, MA
Awards and Grants:
2020, Zachs Award, University of Connecticut
2012, Outstanding Arts Award, Connecticut Association of Schools
2012, Scholarship, JGS/Imagining America
Features:
Hartford Courant: ‘The Future Is Latinx’ at Hartford’s Park Street library
ProFellow: A Fully Funded Student Experience at UConn’s MFA in Studio Art
University of Connecticut SVSF Research and Academics
Don’t Take Pictures: Photo of the Day
Ain’t-Bad Feature: Rafael Concepcion
From Here on Out: Rafael Concepcion - Recent Work
Boston Voyager: Art & Life with Rafael Concepcion
Exhibitions Curated:
2017 Space Amid, Aviary Gallery, Boston, MA
2016 Photography Department All School Show, Student Life Gallery, Boston, MA
Artist Talks & Visits:
2024 The Cooper Union, New York, NY
2022 Society for Photographic Education, <Insert Title Here>, Online
2022 University of Connecticut, School of Fine Arts, Storrs, CT
2018 Lesley University, College of Art and Design, Cambridge, MA
2017 Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, New Brunswick, NJ
Education:
2022 Masters of Fine Arts in Studio Art, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
2016 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography, Massachusetts College of Art and Design,
Boston, MA