Expanding his colorful creative universe beyond traditional art spaces through four recent projects spanning collectible art, specialty coffee, merchandise, and streetwear.
Filipino visual artist, content creator, and creative director Raco Ruiz has recently collaborated with different brands to translate his bold, playful, and nostalgia-driven visual style into objects that audiences can collect, wear, display, and experience in their everyday lives.
These projects, which reflect Raco’s growing multidisciplinary practice, also demonstrate how his visual language can move naturally across galleries, lifestyle products, brand collaborations, public spaces, and contemporary culture.
CUSTOM ART TOY
First of, Raco expanded his original character universe through Dopatopia, a collaborative custom art toy project presented with Art Toys PH.
At the center of the project is Dopa, an original dog character created by Raco as the playful embodiment, or “puppification,” of dopamine. It represents the excitement, curiosity, humor, and creative chaos that define much of Raco’s work, all within a colorful universe where nostalgia meets high-energy contemporary art.
“Dopa has always been my own little mascot for happiness,” Raco told. “He’s that little reminder that when it’s hard to find happiness within yourself, sometimes you just need something outside of you to help you get there.”
Raco also created his own versions of Dopa, including Neon Dopa and Strawberry Dopa. Both pieces were created in 2026 using acrylic on resin and measure 6 × 5 × 7 inches.
The project also includes two original paintings by Raco, giving collectors another way to experience the visual world surrounding Dopa.
For Dopatopia, participating artists were invited to create their own renditions of Dopa. Each artist used the same base character as a canvas and transformed it according to their own visual language, personality, and creative perspective.
“Seeing other artists reinterpret him (Dopa) was honestly surreal because they brought out emotions and ideas I never would’ve thought of myself. That’s what I love most about collaboration. Other artists will always see things differently, and watching them expand this little world I created was really special,” Raco shared how he felt seeing a character that began as something deeply personal take on new identities through other artists was one of the most meaningful parts of the project.
Dopatopia also grew from what started as a casual conversation between Raco and Art Toys PH.
Raco shared, “This whole project would not have been possible without Art Toys PH. It actually started with me passing by their booth last year and casually saying, ‘Hey, we should make a toy together one day.’ I honestly didn’t think it’d happen so soon, and then a year later, here we are.”
As Dopa’s original creator, Raco provides the creative foundation for Dopatopia, while the participating artists expand the character’s world through their own interpretations.
Selected customized Dopa figures, Raco’s Dopa pieces, and his original paintings are available through Art Toys PH, subject to availability.
SPECIALTY COFFEE
Meanwhile, Raco also partnered with Plain Sight Coffee for a limited-edition collection combining specialty coffee with his colorful and playful artwork.
At the center of the collaboration is the Snack Attack Blend, a 200-gram whole-bean coffee developed around Raco’s personal coffee preferences and packaged with his original artwork.
“The coffee itself was really Plain Sight’s genius. They asked me what I liked in coffee, came up with the blend based on my preferences, and we just went back and forth until it felt right,” Raco said.
The collaboration also featured Raco’s Strawberry Yogurt Latte, a limited-time signature beverage developed as part of the Snack Attack experience and offered through Plain Sight until the end of July 2026.
Beyond the coffee itself, Raco also designed the Snack Attack Merch Box, a graphic T-shirt, and a limited-edition art print, with products available in digital platforms until supplies last.
For Raco, one of the highlights was having the creative freedom to translate his visual language across the packaging and merchandise.
“My favorite part was designing the packaging and the merch. They gave me so much creative freedom that I was basically giving myself comments instead of getting them. It’s rare to have that kind of trust from a brand, so the whole process just felt really fun and effortless,” he shared.
STREETWEAR
He is also one of four Filipino artists featured in New Era Philippines’ CO11ECTION, a special release celebrating the global headwear brand’s 11th anniversary in the country, alongside visual artists Jethro Olba, Lei Melendres, and Nicolo Nimor.
Together, they interpret different values through their respective characters and artistic styles in the collection that was launched on July 14, 2026 in Taguig City.
Raco’s contribution explores pride, but deliberately moves away from its association with ego or superiority.
“I wanted to steer away from the ego side of pride, where it’s all about ‘I’m right and you’re wrong.’ That’s not what pride means to me,” Raco explained. “For me, pride is about being unapologetic about who you are and what you create. It’s about standing by your work and not feeling pressured to make something else just because other people expect it. I think that’s the healthier version of pride, and that’s what I wanted to represent in this collection.”
The CO11ECTION features three New Era headwear silhouettes and a special graphic T-shirt incorporating illustrations from the participating artists.
The collection includes a red 59FIFTY cap featuring embroidered artwork and interchangeable enamel pins, a navy blue 9TWENTY cap, a green Camper cap with interchangeable Velcro patches, and a graphic T-shirt also brings the four artists’ illustrations together in one design.
Each purchase also comes with a blind-pack illustration card featuring the work of one of the participating artists.
The New Era Philippines CO11ECTION is available at select New Era stores and through its official online store. Products, sizes, and collectibles are available while supplies last.
SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY COLLECTIBLES
Raco is also one of three Filipino visual artists featured in the MOA20 Limited Edition Anniversary Drop, which is a special collection created to celebrate SM Mall of Asia’s 20th anniversary.
Together with artists Bitto and Jill Arteche, Raco was invited to reinterpret two decades of Mall of Asia memories through his own distinctive creative lens.
Each artist drew from everyday experiences, pop culture, nostalgia, and contemporary Filipino life to transform familiar MOA moments into collectible designs.
Thus, for Raco, whose work often transforms familiar imagery and nostalgia into something colorful, surreal, and unexpected, the project offered an opportunity to reinterpret a place woven into the everyday lives and shared memories of Filipinos.
The collaboration was officially unveiled at the MOA20 Limited Edition Anniversary Drop Press Launch last August 12.
The limited-edition collection translates the three artists’ work into statement shirts and premium canvas tote bags, turning memories of one of the country’s most recognizable destinations into pieces that can be worn, carried, and collected.
From August 15 to September 15, 2026, shoppers who spend a minimum of PHP7,000 in a single receipt at any establishment at SM Mall of Asia may receive a complimentary MOA20 anniversary shirt or premium canvas tote bag, while supplies last.
Redemption is available at Level 2 of the Main Mall, in front of Abercrombie & Fitch. Terms and conditions apply.
CREATING WITHOUT BOUNDARIES
From an art toy to a coffee bag, a cap, or a commemorative shirt and tote, Raco’s work is increasingly finding its way into spaces where audiences may encounter art without necessarily setting foot inside a gallery.
For Raco, that accessibility is part of the appeal. “Honestly, I just hope it sparks a little curiosity. I hope it reminds people to just enjoy life a little more and not take everything so seriously.”
Rather than limiting himself to one discipline or format, Raco approaches each collaboration as another opportunity to build a larger creative world and create small moments of connection with the people who encounter his work.
“If something I made can make someone smile or brighten their day, even for a moment, then I feel like I’ve done my job,” he added.
Under NYMA Talent Management, Raco also continues to explore collaborations that extend his creative practice across art, culture, lifestyle, and brand partnerships while remaining true to his distinct visual identity.
