SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento artist Raphael Delgado recently displayed his work at the Red Dot Miami 2023 art fair and was named a Best New Exhibitor.
With three large-scale murals across the city and a collection of colorful paintings, Delgado said he decided to take his work to Miami Art Week and see how people react.
"It was kind of slow sales wise. I was like 'Dang,' I couldn't get a sale," he told ABC10. "Then the second day, I see these cameras coming and a bright light. They had an award for me, so it really caught me off guard."
The Red Dot Miami show director Eric Smith came to Delgado's booth to present him with the 'Best New Exhibitor' recognition.
"I couldn't wait to call my dad, call my sister, call my family—you know? I always want to bring a big fish back to the campsite," Delgado said. "I was an athlete growing up, a wrestler. So it's like bringing home a medal. You always want to get recognized. It's just an exhilarating, humbling and gratifying feeling."
Delgado creates contemporary art through painting, sculptures, murals and printmaking at his studio on 1200 S Street in Sacramento's arts district.
