Soft lines, solid colors, and subjects that seem to have come out of a childhood dream. RAKI, an artist and architect from Laguna, Philippines, is one of those names that grabs attention with apparent simplicity. On Instagram, he regularly shares his work: minimal illustrations, decorative rugs, canvas paintings, skateboards, and posters—all unified by a highly recognizable stylistic signature.
RAKI’s style is rooted in the visual memories of Japanese and South Korean culture from the ’80s and ’90s. From manga like Touch to Korean dramas, passing through the vibrant palettes of cartoons that colored afternoons in front of the TV. His characters—often stylized female figures with dreamy gazes—seem frozen in a suspended time, somewhere between melancholy and sweetness.
Within the Filipino art scene, RAKI is carving out a clear niche. He has participated in group shows at independent galleries like The Grey Space and Secret Fresh Gallery, and taken part in pop-up events such as the one at Moon Cafe. His work moves between illustration, interior design, and urban visual culture, creating a hybrid that aligns perfectly with the most current trends.
RAKI succeeds in doing something few artists do well: turning nostalgia into a fresh and contemporary language. And he does it with a personal touch that is accessible and never banal. In short, for anyone who grew up on anime, faded posters, and lo-fi melodies, looking at a piece by RAKI feels like coming home.
