RABI (b. 1984) David Emanuel Mordechai Torres is a first-generation American artist of Puerto Rican and Polish descent from Los Angeles. Growing up in both Iowa and Southern California as a child of two immigrants, Torres quickly found comfort in the multifarious atmosphere of American life. Themes of contradiction, escapism and duality, absurdism, and sociopolitical philosophy loom throughout his aesthetic. […]
RABI (b. 1984) David Emanuel Mordechai Torres is a first-generation American artist of Puerto Rican and Polish descent from Los Angeles. Growing up in both Iowa and Southern California as a child of two immigrants, Torres quickly found comfort in the multifarious atmosphere of American life. Themes of contradiction, escapism and duality, absurdism, and sociopolitical philosophy loom throughout his aesthetic.
The origins of RABI’S art stem from his early life as a graffiti writer and skateboarder. In 2009, RABI cofounded the art collective CYRCLE along with David Leavitt and Devin Liston, which gained international notoriety and allowed him to take his love for public art and installation to a worldwide audience.
RABI has worked throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and North America. His art can be seen
in public and private collections, including that of Shepard Fairey, Ari Emanuel, Sean Combs, The Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, MOCA Detroit, MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and the Contemporary art Center in New Orleans. During his time with CYRCLE RABI collaborated with artists, brands and non-profits including HBO, Google, Uber, Pharrell, TED Prize winner-JR , James Lavelle, Chad Muska, Woodkid, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and Audi, among others. He’s been featured inpublications such as the L.A. Times, The New York Times, L.A. Weekly, Huffington Post, Hypebeast, Lonely Planet and Complex Magazine. RABI and David Leavitt retired CYRCLE in 2020. He continues to live and work in Los Angeles.
