RAFAEL HERRERO MAS

Biography
Rafael Herrero Mas was born in Villena, Spain, in 1963.

In 1986, he joined the Spanish Ministry of Justice as a civil servant after passing the national entrance examinations.

Following several courses in ceramics and painting, he began his artistic training at the studio of local painter Francisco Ugeda, where he developed a foundation in realist painting. Over the following years, he refined his technique and began exhibiting his work in group shows. His talent soon gained recognition, leading to selections in various national and international painting competitions.

During the 2000s, Herrero Mas began presenting his first solo exhibitions across Spain. His mastery of realism and distinctive artistic voice earned him critical acclaim, establishing him as one of the leading figures in contemporary Spanish realism a reputation reflected in numerous publications and reviews.

Throughout his career, he has been represented by several prominent Spanish and European galleries, most notably Galería Puchol in Valencia, one of the region’s most prestigious art institutions.

Today, Rafael Herrero Mas continues to expand his artistic presence internationally, working in collaboration with Hay Hill Gallery in the United Kingdom.

Artist Statement
"I am a painter who doesn’t follow established paths—I create my own. Over the years, I’ve honed my technique to a point where my work moves beyond visual imitation and becomes something closer to revelation. Rather than aligning strictly with hyperrealism, I see my painting as superrealism: a bold fusion of objective fidelity and intellectual abstraction. Each piece I create is not just a representation of a subject, but a declaration of mastery over the very act of painting itself.

Whether I’m depicting the stillness of a still life, the texture of an old façade, or the atmosphere of a city, I strive to turn the familiar into a mystery—one that I resolve through a deep understanding of the soul of what is real. For me, the everyday becomes ritual; the visible transforms into thought. My work is not about conveying a message, but about evoking presence—a presence that, I hope, transforms the viewer and opens a silent dialogue with something deeper and more enduring.

In my most recent series, Reflections, I present evocative atmospheres that invite contemplation. Beyond the mirrored surfaces and reflected horizons, what I truly seek is the reflection that occurs in the eye of the viewer—the moment when art becomes a space for self-awareness and inner resonance." - Rafael Herrero

Personal Exhibitions
1998- Exhibition hall of the Real Club Náutico de Torrevieja. 1999 - Biar House of Culture.
2002 - House of Culture of Almansa.
2002 - Aztec Gallery. Concha Marquez Foundation. Madrid. 2007 - Eduma Art Gallery
2008 - Jaen Art Fair
2010 - Xativa House of Culture.
2012 - Benimodo House of Culture.
2013 - Puchol Gallery. Valencia.

Group Exhibitions
1995. Selected National Painting Contest City of Tomelloso.
1996. Selected National Painting Contest City of Tomelloso.
1997. Alicante Artists Association, House of Culture of Agost.
1997. Alicante Artists Association, Department of Culture, Alicante.
1997. Alicante Artists Association, Firalacant, Alicante.
1998. Alicante Artists Association, House of Culture of Crevillente.
1998. Finalist XXIX Autumn Hall. Mercantile Athenaeum, Valencia.
1998. 1st Mutualidad General Judicial Painting Contest, Madrid.
1999. Alicante Artists Association, Ateneo Mercantil, Valencia.
1999. Selected National Painting Contest City of Tomelloso.
1999. Selected LX National Exhibition of Plastic Arts, Valdepeñas.
2000. Alicante Artists Association, headquarters, Alicante.
2000. Selected National Painting Contest City of Tomelloso.
2001. Show Espais D'Art Acea's, Barcelona.
2001. II General Judicial Mutuality Painting Contest, Madrid.
2002 Aztec Gallery. Concha Marquez Foundation, Madrid.
2003. Moors Realistic 75th Anniversary Exhibition, Villena.
2004. Alicante Yacht Club & quot; Costa Blanca & quot; Albufereta, Alicante.
2004. Finalist I Painting Contest "Corners of my town & quot;. Proisa, CAMV, Villena. 2005.
Selected National Painting Contest City of Tomelloso.
2005. Selected II Painting Contest " Corners of my people & quot;, Proisa. CAMV. Villena.
2006. Villenense Artists Exhibition. Medieval fair. Watchtower Castle. Villena.
2006. Finalist III painting contest & quot; Corners of my people.& quot; PROISE. CAMV Villena.
2006. Exhibition Hall & quot; Art Lliure & quot;, Lleida.
2007. DECORHABITAD Fair 2007. Lérida.
2007. Puchol Gallery. Valencia.
2007. Solar Boat Gallery. Madrid.
2007. GAUDI Gallery. Madrid.
2007. International Art Fair “ARTENIM 2007”. Nimes (France).
2011. Puchol Valencia Gallery.
2012. Puchol Valencia Gallery.
2013. Puchol Valencia Gallery.
2019. Circulart. CAMV. Villena.

About Rafael Herrero ...

Among the questions to be asked a painter who feels inside the burning creative and wants to dispose of this potential, it is essential to master the procedures, tools and materials to acquire sufficient technique that does not undermine the upwelling of ideas and feelings.

Rafael Herrero has been aware of this need shows the result of this effort the materialization of the objective world with such verisimilitude that does not hesitate to see pictures of his paintings if they show the mechanical printing of physical models that have served as samples or if in fact the result of his expertise, playing them through his brush.

His youth and obtained achievement makes me suppose that your production does not mean the culmination of a career in the world of pictorial creation because, having achieved what for others is the task of his life, I do not be tempted by a vagabond who finds sublime patronage faithful reproduction of the models not transcend beyond these achievements.

As I know Smith and appreciated his intelligence and determination can foresee a future full of art to him more fully than the present, without necessarily detract today respect and admiration I feel for him.

Therefore encourage those who are now fortunate to know the work of Rafael Herrera not to lose his trail because it is a strong artistic flare that will undoubtedly be a leafy tree that will flourish in every stage of their development and give us fruit pregnant Essence of experiences and feelings.

Now we enjoy the work of an artist as a young man has achieved technical mastery that if they wanted some that enjoy recognition have not yet achieved.

Tomas Llorente Rebollo
Dr. of Fine Arts
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The difference between artistic styles and schools of natural realism and modern Hyperrealism mark the turning to the intellectual abstraction expressionism and contemporary school of his recent address to traditional realism as such, without any interpretation raised by the art. The Hyper-realism is the gateway to what we want to classify as "surrealism" integral of Art.

When hyper realistic rational analysis separated by the symbolic interpretation-in the artistic work-the abstraction of what is real and figurative, it creates the false realism of contemporary schools that are neither in nor out of touch. The Hyperrealism, clarify, is not "real" but fiction.

But if you do a possible integration of these two aesthetic positions (realism and abstraction) in the art of our time, can be achieved certain conceptual fullness of the overall progress of the arts, which is precisely what we find in the paintings of Rafael Herrero More as surrealism here proclaim.

In the "photographic reproduction" of things, which is also in Rafael, "adds" the novelty of intellectual abstraction, raised to the nth power to define a conception of "comprehensive" philosophical identity beings as beyond the art itself. This finding being not an "ism" in the evolution of art, it is a "new reality" captured on the canvas that blends idea, fiction, reason and creation. This "new reality" is no longer hyper-realism, traditional realism, nor because it is creating "ad divini" the whole man, which comes now to history.

The surrealism is both science than art. Universal reality itself is woven of matter that are made the angels, as the overcoming of Cartesian dualism "matter and spirit" or physical-thought. Is unity where everything is at all generic.

Pizarro Sergio García Bermejo
Professor Arts
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If Leonardo in the Renaissance claimed and made a show of good craftsman, returning to the original meaning of the word "art" as work done with the hands, Rafael Herrero feels no qualms about feeling so proud and so worthy as the master Leonardo to give like him, the real importance of the trade of painter putting, for now, on a quest to transcend through his pictorial projections.

Thus has come into its domain to provide jobs podernos admirable, valuable in themselves, by the painter of his conduct, regardless of the banality of what is represented, taking the natural reference model that serve as mere pretexts to project, no messages of their own philosophies, but the manifestation of himself as ruler of his will achieved through his office.

Seeing their work can feel the dull routine of the charged objects, once painted by Raphael, a new value, uniqueness and finishing that is only real in their recreations of actual reality.

Tomas Llorente Rebollo
Dr. of Fine Arts
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It ceases to be real when interpreted and reflected the vision, unique artist that actually makes their own, special and absolute.

Rafael Herrero more shows in this magnificent work, familiar objects that, in the form of support, they become works of art and we betray the "soul" in them is contained, either in style or purpose.

It is comforting to have the pleasure to observe, from time to time, true work of art with a capital.

Concha Márquez
FCM President