Transforming the Everyday: A Studio Visit with Kristopher Raos
Kristopher Raos's studio is a world where creativity grows from resourcefulness, an ethos shaped by his upbringing in Bakersfield, California, where poverty and food scarcity were prevalent. The artist’s workspace is a vibrant testament to his ability to find value in what others might overlook. His walls and work surfaces are covered with found objects, notes, drawings, and pieces of materials, each carefully curated as though each scrap tells a part of his story. The studio is filled with fragments of past projects and bits of urban ephemera – a reflection of the cropping and zoomed-in approach to his vision.
Works in progress
Raos’s early experiences in economically challenging environments have become a cornerstone of his artistic practice, leading him to find beauty and potential in discarded materials and domestic utilitarian objects. Growing up in a household where the next meal was uncertain taught him the value of making do with what was available, and this sensibility permeates his work. Raos’ unique way of repurposing cultural detritus – logos, signage, and fragments of packaging – into high-art forms deftly captures the reverence and pride he brings to his process. His pieces are a homage to resilience, creatively reimagining everyday materials into bold compositions that echo themes of consumption, labor, overlooked relics, and the beauty of the mundane.
A look inside Kristopher Raos’ flat file
The precision and intentional choices Raos employs mirror his journey of making something out of very little, a survival skill that has evolved into a unique artistic language. His works are not simply paintings, but reimaginings layered with memories and associations from his past. The artist's sense of nostalgia is visible in his treatment of these objects, which simultaneously honors and elevates them beyond their functional origins. Instead of faithfully reproducing these objects, Raos abstracts them into a contemporary language that feels fresh and familiar. Through his work, Raos reminds viewers of the quiet dignity and hidden elegance in the “stuff” of daily life, presenting a nuanced commentary on the cycles of use, discard, and rediscovery.
Raos’s approach to art is thus inseparable from his life story. His childhood scarcity has inspired an aesthetic of abundance, not through excess, but through careful selection and transformation. In this way, his works are thought-provoking points on adaptability, ingenuity, and the potential for beauty, even in limited circumstances. A studio visit with Kristopher Raos reveals much more than a glimpse into his artistic process; it offers an intimate look at an artist deeply committed to honoring the beauty in the everyday. In his hands, painting is not just a craft but a means of connection – to himself, his past, and the viewers who encounter his work. His pieces invite us to pause, reflect, and recognize the art inherent in our everyday existence, making Raos’s studio a place of gratitude for the little things.
Detail of a painting in Raos’ studio