Rafael Roncato (Brazil, 1989) is a photographer, editor, project manager, visual artist, and tutor living in Brazil and the Netherlands. With a Master's in Photography & Society at the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague (KABK) and a Bachelor's in Multimedia Journalism, Rafael seeks to highlight the connection between images, power structures, and belief systems through semifictional narratives.

Passionate about comics, cinema, Brazilian modernism, creative processes and identity in mass culture, he uses non-linear methods to put the current media landscape in perspective. In 2021, he was co-idealizer and curator of the open call The Urban Between Reality and Utopia, an international partnership between Tiradentes (BR) and Rotterdam (NL) photo festivals.

Rafael's influence extends beyond his own work, as he has curated exhibitions and contributed to major press outlets such as Folha de S.Paulo, UOL, and El País. His collaborations span cultural institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art of São Paulo (MAM), Itaú Cultural, SESC, and Luisa Strina Gallery, and international organizations including FOTODOK (NL), Kubik Gallery (PT) and ChaXArt (NL/CH).

During his tenure at MAM São Paulo, where he held responsibilities as research, exhibition curation, and the production, editing, and publication of catalogues, he had the privilege of collaborating with diverse curators and artists. Among them Aracy Amaral, Paulo Herkenhoff, Pablo León de la Barra, Miguel Rio Branco, Cildo Meireles, and Barbara Wagner.

Rafael's photobook, Tropical Trauma Misery Tour, has garnered significant acclaim, winning the 1st Prize at (Kassel) Dummy Award '23 (GER), 1st Prize at Imaginária Festival Dummy Awards '23 (BR), and the Special Mention Award at Hong Kong Photobook Festival Photobook Dummy Award '23. It was also shortlisted at the Images Vevey Book Award '23, Fiebre Dummy Award '22, Beyra Festival '23 and Encontros da Imagem '23 portfolio review, further solidifying his status as a maker.