Rodrigo Oñate, known as Roco, is a talented artist who blends the visual languages of graffiti, comics, and pop culture in his vibrant paintings. With a creative spirit that spans across Chicago and Querétaro, Mexico, Roco brings to life a colorful world filled with a mix of characters, patterns, and surreal details like a gloved hand with an eye embedded in it.
Describing his process as intuitive and akin to graffiti writing, Roco explains, “I throw some lines and from there, I start staging characters and elements adding textures and intricate forms. I like movement and fluid forms, (and I’m) also always looking for a good balance of color and texture in the composition.”
In Roco’s energetic works, you’ll often see recurring cartoonish characters that hold personal significance. For instance, birds symbolize ancestors visiting from another realm, inspired by Roco’s mother’s stories of birds flocking to their family garden. Dogs in his paintings mirror his real-life companions, while jaguars and large cats evoke the spiritual guides of Mexican mythology. And the playful primates? They bring a sense of joy and playfulness to his art, reflecting the artist’s desire to convey these emotions in every piece.
Roco’s art is not only captivating but also accessible through prints and other goods available in his online shop. If you want to dive deeper into his vibrant world, you can follow him on Instagram for more colorful creations.
The artist’s work is a vibrant celebration of life, blending elements of graffiti, comics, and pop culture into a unique visual language that resonates with viewers. Through his intuitive process and love for movement, Roco creates dynamic compositions that invite viewers to explore and discover the joy and playfulness hidden within each painting.
