RaFia Santana facts for kids

RaFia Santana is an American artist, musician, and performer based in Brooklyn, New York. RaFia identifies as non-binary. Their artwork includes animated pictures, self-portraits, videos, and live performances. They also create clothing and electronic music.

RaFia's art explores important topics like how neighborhoods change, what it's like to grow up today, mental well-being, and the experiences of Black people. They use the internet to share their art, support Black and Brown communities, and encourage people to work together.

RaFia has shown their work at many famous places. These include the Eyebeam, Times Square Arts, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Their art has also been featured in magazines like Vogue and Teen Vogue. Their music is released through Never Normal Records.

About RaFia Santana

RaFia Santana was born and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. Art was a big part of their family life. Their mother, Marilyn Nance, is a photographer. Their father is a documentary filmmaker. This creative environment encouraged RaFia to make art from a young age. They later studied photography at Purchase College.

RaFia's Art Projects

Animated Pictures (GIFs)

RaFia Santana is well-known for their animated pictures, often called GIFs. They have created GIFs for online art shows and publications. Art critics have praised RaFia's GIF work. They are seen as one of the few digital artists who explore themes of race, advertising, and pop culture.

GIF Six-Pack (2016)

In 2016, for Black History Month, RaFia was asked to create GIFs. These GIFs spoke out against unfair treatment of Black people. RaFia explained that people of color are often not seen or heard enough. They believe this is because society often sets a "white standard." RaFia's art aims to challenge this idea.

Worked (2015)

"Worked" is a digital image created by RaFia Santana. It shows the artist looking forward, wearing an apron. The image has been changed using digital tools.

'SELFiE' (2015)

In 2015, RaFia Santana had a special art show called "SELFiE." It took place at the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts. The show featured digitally changed images combined with sound.

RaFia's World (2016)

"RaFia's World" is a website that acts like a digital scrapbook. It holds stories and drawings RaFia made as a child. This project was supported by a Rhizome Microgrant in 2015. RaFia shared that the original "RaFia's World" was on their mother's website. It was their very first internet art piece! The new "RAFiA’s WORLD" collects more of their childhood drawings. It shows how RaFia grew as a person and an artist.

#POWERVHS (2016)

"#POWERVHS" is a collection of videos put together by RaFia Santana. It features nine different artists. The goal of this project is to support Black and Brown women and non-binary artists. The video collection first showed in Brooklyn.

#PAYBLACKTIME (since 2016)

"#PAYBLACKTIME" is an important project started by RaFia Santana. It helps people who cannot afford meals. The project collects money to buy food deliveries for Black and Brown individuals. It encourages people who want to help to turn their good intentions into real action. In its first three months, the project raised over $6,000 for meals. This work is now saved in Rhizome's Net Art Anthology.

re:trospective (2018)

"re:trospective" was an art show that made fun of typical art retrospectives. It featured artworks by artists of color. RaFia Santana's animation in the show was noted for its changing digital faces.

Midnight Moment Residency (2019)

In April 2019, RaFia Santana had a special residency called "Midnight Moment." They created an animated video that was shown on many billboards in Times Square, New York. The video, called "Dizzillusions," showed RaFia's face animated with pink and purple backgrounds. It played for one minute every night for a whole month.

Dizillusions (2019)

"Dizillusions" is a music album with rap and electronic songs. It was released in April 2019. The music video for the song "Ain't Nothin'" connects directly to RaFia's Times Square art installation. The lyrics talk about making it big and seeing their name in lights. The video shows RaFia dancing in Times Square while their animated face appears on the billboards around them.