Raisa Gates / Carabao by The River

Raisa Gates / Carabao by The RiverRaisa Gates is a Filipina American artist based between Arizona and Paris. Gates artistic narrative is an exploration of the self and our connections woven with others. Turning to the body as her foundation. Her painted figures bare, gathered, resting in one anothers presence seem to inhabit a realm beyond language. Through her work, she extends an invitation to viewers to ponder the nuanced intricacies of human relationships. Her art serves as a

At the heart of her work is a desire to create spaces that feel like home—welcoming

It's good for the soul

all you need are sunny delights

Her themes often involve history

and conceptual thinking

and return to self

Melanie’s pieces are unique in the fine details

Beyond their visual poetry

where she feels most inspired

Ask any artist and they'll know the exact feeling of an artwork being "almost complete"

For the fashion photography-obsessed

Picture that setting and try to tell us it isn't the perfect fit