“Repurposed material is the basis of Raul Barquet’s bold yet graceful hand-lettering over whitewashed book pages taken from a bird identification book. He allows the quirky birds to give new meaning to phrases like “Nothing is Sacred” or “Busy Kills Lonely” in his two entries. The original text seeps through the applied background hinting at the original messages from within the book’s pages.”
— Joseph & Barrie Ann George, The Sentinal
“Words have the ability to draw a viewer in, allowing one to see phrases in a new way. “Get Lost” is often an impolite way of telling someone to leave, but Raul Barquet interjects this phrase within a globe formed of repurposed road maps. This pairing creates wordplay, taking on a more positive message of encouraging wanderlust. ”
— Kayla Bischoff, Craig Kaviar Gallery
“Raul Barquet uses vintage magazine pages, monopoly game money and oil paint to send a message to instruct “Do Not Pass Go.” Illustrated with the well-known imagery of the policeman from Monopoly, the hand-lettered message on the diamond shaped sign combines a nostalgic Pop Art image with a message that can either be read as a warning or a call to move forward.”