Rafael López (BFA 85 Illustration) is an award-winning illustrator and muralist whose work is rooted in social justice, and community empowerment. Born in Mexico City to architect parents, he draws on his rich cultural heritage to create books that honor the lives of all young people, especially those too often left out. An advocate for representation, he is the illustrator of three New York Times bestsellers, three Pura Belpré Medals, the Jane Addams Book Award, the Schneider Family Book Award, and the Tomás Rivera Book Award. Rafael’s art doesn’t just live in books, it lives on walls and in communities. He created two official Artists for Obama posters in 2008 and 2012, using art to mobilize the pivotal Latino vote. As a founder of the Urban Art Trail he works with communities around the nation transforming city streets with murals that uplift and unite. As the first guest artist of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in 2022 he continues to redefine the role of the artist as activist. That same year he created 57 portraits documenting Latino heritage and culture in the U.S. for the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino. Rafael splits his time between a downtown San Diego loft and his studio in the historic town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.