Discover the contemporary work of Raphy

Raphy was born on November 9, 1926 in Neuilly sur Marne. He is the second of a family of 3 children.

His mother, Eugénie ARAKALIAN was born in Istanbul to a family of musicians. She studied at the French College in this city. She became a drawing teacher and painter and was also an excellent pianist. His father, Pierre GAZRIGHIAN, worked as a ladies' tailor. They were both of Armenian origin; they came to FRANCE in 1923 and became naturalized French citizens.

Passionate by chemistry since the age of 12, Raphy began working in 1943 as an assistant chemist and took evening classes at the C.N.A.M for 7 years. He became a chemical engineer and joined L'Or'al in 1950 to then become a production engineer responsible for the industrial research and development laboratory.

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He fell into depression in 1949 when his father died. He began painting in 1950 and was reborn to life. 

In 1953, for 6 years, alongside his activity professional, he will take drawing lessons at “MONTPARNASSE 80” with Henri-Georges ADAM - professor at the Beaux-Arts who worked with GIACOMETTI and PICASSO.

The research to achieve the affirmation and originality of his style is long. He paints without exhibiting for 10 years - until 1969.

In 1955, he acquires a water mill in Lavercantiere in the Lot. He paints there in the summer during his holidays. The Lot and its surroundings became a theme of inspiration for several paintings.

His first personal exhibition took place in Paris in 1972 at the R.G. gallery. His works were noticed and appreciated by critics and especially by Henri HERAUT. From then on, he invited him to exhibit for 10 years in his group at the Salon des Artistes Français as well as in many artistic events in Paris, in the provinces. He also regularly participated in the Salon d'Automne in Paris.

He exhibited in the Ile de France in many cities where he won prizes and medals as well as the prize of the general council of Seine-Saint-Denis: Clichy sous Bois, Le Raincy, Villemoble, Montfermeil, Sevran, Neuilly-sur-marne, Noisy-le-sec...

His second personal exhibition in Paris took place in 1978 at the Ars Magna gallery. Michel BOUTIN, Director of the monthly “L’Amateur d’Art”, devoted the cover of his magazine to him twice on this occasion.

In 1984, a personal exhibition took place at the Town Hall of the 2nd arrondissement. The CITY of PARIS also commissioned him to create a mosaic to decorate the initiation pool of the school on rue Vitruve (Paris 20th arrondissement).

It was also in 1984 that he received the Silver Medal of the City of Paris. This distinction was followed in 1988 by the Grand Prix de France des Arts Plastiques and in 1992 by the First Prize at the Biarritz Art Festival.

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In 1984, at Retired, Raphy left the Paris region and set up his studio in La Baule. He was finally able to devote himself fully to painting and continued to paint daily until his last days. He exhibited regularly for 30 years in La Baule and in the surrounding fairs and events - Le Pouliguen, Pornichet, Le Croisic, Guérande, Mesquer, Saint Brévin les pins, Donges, Lamballe, Meslay du Maine, Saint André des eaux. But also Tours in 1989 and Caen in 2004. 

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A final personal exhibition will be organized in Paris in 2013, bringing together 45 paintings.

The artist passed away in 2022 at the age of 95. In over 60 years, Raphy produced around 250 works covering his favorite themes of inspiration and reflection. Working constantly on several canvases and alternating according to inspiration. It happened to him to completely rework works that have been completed for several years.

Each painting represents the fruit of hundreds of hours of work, doubts and reflection on the theme that can extend over months or decades. Some photos thus bear witness to the major transformations made to a work over the years. 

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My painting is above all a hymn to nature.

Nature is of course the entire universe: light, matter, life.