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Issue link: https://digital.miamilivingmagazine.com/i/1543371
Raf: I’m not trying to answer anything. I’m more interested in making space for questions. Minimalism, for me, isn’t about taking things away just to take them away. It’s about removing noise so something real can come through. I want people to bring themselves into the work. If someone stands in front of a painting and feels something they think they can explain, that’s enough for me. ML: Imperfection plays a central role in your work. In a world that often prizes polish and precision, what has imperfection taught you, both as an artist and as a person? Raf: Most of the moments I care about in my work come from things not going as planned. A line that’s off. A surface that breaks. Those feel human. Outside the studio, I spend a lot of time building businesses and systems where control and precision matter. Painting is where I let go of that. It’s a reminder that things don’t need to be perfect to be complete. ML: Architecture and mid-century modern design clearly influence your work, as does your creative partnership with your wife, designer Lauren Bakarian of Bakarian Studio. How do conversations or moments at home find their way into your paintings, even subconsciously? Raf: Lauren is my entire gauge. She’s a creative genius, and I trust her eye more than anyone’s. I know that if she responds to a piece, it’s actually finished. If she doesn’t, it’s not. We talk constantly about proportion, restraint, and how things feel. No trends, no noise. That way of thinking shows up naturally in my work. Architecture and mid-century design both understand when to stop, and Lauren has an incredible instinct for that moment. Creativity at home isn’t separated from life. Ideas come up over dinner, on walks, in passing.