rafa esparza (b. 1981) is a multidisciplinary artist who was born, raised, and currently lives in Los Angeles. Woven into esparza’s bodies of work are his interest in history, personal narratives, and kinship. He is inspired by his relationship to colonization and the disrupted genealogies that have emerged as a result. Solo and two-person exhibitions of esparza’s work have been held at Americas Society, New York (2025), Commonwealth and Council, Mexico City (2024), and Artists Space, New York (2023), among many other venues. He has performed in a variety of spaces, including AIDS Project Los Angeles; Highways Performance Space and Gallery, Santa Monica; REDCAT, Los Angeles; and various public sites throughout L.A. esparza is a recipient of the Pérez Prize (2022), the Mellon Foundation Latinx Artist Fellowship (2021), the Lucas Artist Fellowship (2020), and the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award (2017).

Photo: Max Knight

rafa esparza, nacido en 1981, es un artista multidisciplinario que nació y creció Los Ángeles, donde vive en la actualidad. En su obra se entrelazan su interés por la historia, los relatos personales y los lazos familiares. Encuentra inspiración en su relación con la colonización y las genealogías interrumpidas que ha producido. Ha expuesto de manera individual y en dúo en la Americas Society, Nueva York (2025), el Commonwealth and Council, Ciudad de México (2024), y el Artists Space, Nueva York (2023), entre otros recintos. Ha actuado en lugares como AIDS Project Los Angeles; Highways Performance Space and Gallery, Santa Monica; REDCAT, Los Ángeles, y en numerosos espacios públicos de la ciudad. Ha sido reconocido con el Pérez Prize (2022), el Mellon Foundation Latinx Artist Fellowship (2021), el Lucas Artist Fellowship (2020) y el Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award (2017).