Rafael Barrios is an American-Venezuelan artist best known for his large-scale public sculptures. Influenced by Alexander Calder, Barrios creates brightly colored geometric metal forms that appear to defy gravity in their construction. “Art without audience does not exist,” Barrios has said. “No matter what you build in your life, it’s a public act.” Born on November 22, 1947 in Baton Rouge, LA, he was raised in Venezuela, before going on to study at New York University. Today, the artist lives and works between Miami, FL and Caracas, Venezuela. His works are found in the collections of the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Caracas and the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto.