Bio
Raya Simpao (b. 2003, Manila, Philippines; lives and works in Brooklyn, NY, USA) grew up in Manila and moved to the United States, a dramatic shift in environment that sparked a deep curiosity about the possibilities of figurative painting. The foundation of her practice is a thoughtful, intentional seeing. For Simpao, painting begins with a sincere awareness of one’s surroundings. Her work serves as a record of time spent with a place, a person, or an idea. As she builds images, she draws from memories of the familiar as well as from encounters with the unfamiliar. Most formal decisions within the work such as shape, color, and light, explore the space between naturalistic and synthetic, often pushing the boundaries between the two. The paintings are often tonally ambiguous and spatially dynamic. We are introduced to each scene through a lens deliberately shaped by the artist's unique sensitivities, experiences, and instincts. At the heart of her practice is an ethic of care. Simpao considers the act of seeing– of looking closely, looking again, and looking with intention–as a form of labor that must be sustained by profound and persistent care.
Simpao received her BFA in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2026 and was an attendee of the Yale Norfolk School of Art in 2025. She was a recipient of the Florence Leif award and the 2026 Spring Innovate Grant. Simpao has been featured by a number of arts platforms such as Nicotine Magazine, The Hopper Prize, House House Magazine, and Booooooom.
Raya Simpao (b. 2003, Manila, Philippines; lives and works in Brooklyn, NY, USA) grew up in Manila and moved to the United States, a dramatic shift in environment that sparked a deep curiosity about the possibilities of figurative painting. The foundation of her practice is a thoughtful, intentional seeing. For Simpao, painting begins with a sincere awareness of one’s surroundings. Her work serves as a record of time spent with a place, a person, or an idea. As she builds images, she draws from memories of the familiar as well as from encounters with the unfamiliar. Most formal decisions within the work such as shape, color, and light, explore the space between naturalistic and synthetic, often pushing the boundaries between the two. The paintings are often tonally ambiguous and spatially dynamic. We are introduced to each scene through a lens deliberately shaped by the artist's unique sensitivities, experiences, and instincts. At the heart of her practice is an ethic of care. Simpao considers the act of seeing– of looking closely, looking again, and looking with intention–as a form of labor that must be sustained by profound and persistent care.
Simpao received her BFA in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2026 and was an attendee of the Yale Norfolk School of Art in 2025. She was a recipient of the Florence Leif award and the 2026 Spring Innovate Grant. Simpao has been featured by a number of arts platforms such as Nicotine Magazine, The Hopper Prize, House House Magazine, and Booooooom.