Raphaella Spence

Raphaella Beatrice Spence (b. 1978, London) is a leading figure in contemporary hyperrealism. Raised between France, the UK, and Italy, she developed her distinctive style inspired by the architectural drawings of her father and grandfather, Sir Basil Spence. After settling in Todi, Italy, she began painting landscapes before gaining international recognition with her New York solo debut at Louis K. Meisel Gallery in 2003. Spence has since exhibited globally, including major museum shows across Europe, the U.S., and Brazil. Her recent work focuses on marine pollution, using high-resolution underwater photography to create striking large-scale paintings. These have entered the permanent collections of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid and the Parrish Art Museum in New York. She is currently preparing a solo presentation for the Museum Frieder Burda (Germany, 2026), where she will unveil a monumental painting of the museum itself. Spence is the only female artist in hyperrealism with this level of international acclaim.