Raphaele Shirley (b.1969), is a French/American interdisciplinary artist based in NYC. She creates site-specific environments and live performances, activating space through light and sound. She explores through her practice the power of raw materials and the tension between ephemerality and permanence, drawing inspiration from pre-renaissance to early minimalist art.
Her sculpture “100 Pinks Smoke Flares (twice)” was featured recently at KAI Art Center (Tallinn, Estonia, 2019). Selected presentations include: /e-media-c\, Hunter College, NY (2018); 12.6 Lyrae, The Chimney (2016) Knockdown Center (2007); 0910 Light Shots, Chelsea Art Museum, NY (2010); Sunken City Episode II, Emily Harvey Foundation, NY (2008). Selected group exhibitions include: Chance Ecologies, Queens Museum (2016); Sandnes 2160, Museum of Moving Image, Queens, NY (2013); [PAM], Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia (2009), [PAM] installation Coachella (2007). She received grants from the Norwegian Arts Council, was artist in residence at Harvestworks (2016) and “The Arctic Circle” sailboat residency (2009-2010).
Her practice includes solo projects as well as collaborations with musicians Rhys Chatham, David Watson, Laura Ortman, Algis Kizys; directors Aaron Beall and Karin Coonrod. Co-founder of [PAM]Perpetual Art Machine, the interactive installation/video-art collective (2005-2010), she also co-directed FringeAlFresco, orchestrating 100+ public installations in the L.E.S. (NY 1998-2000).