Raco Ruiz Expands His Creative Universe Through Art Toys, Coffee, and Streetwear

The Filipino multipurpose artist brings his distinctive visual language to Dopatopia with Art Toys PH, Plain Sight Coffee’s Snack Attack collection, New Era Philippines’ CO11ECTION, and SM Mall of Asia’s MOA20 anniversary drop.

Filipino visual artist, content creator, and creative director Raco Ruiz, represented by NYMA Talent Management, continues to bring his colorful creative universe beyond traditional art spaces through four recent projects spanning collectible art, specialty coffee, merchandise, and streetwear.

Through collaborations with Art Toys PH, Plain Sight Coffee, New Era Philippines, and SM Mall of Asia, Raco has translated his bold, playful, and nostalgia-driven visual style into objects that audiences can collect, wear, display, and experience in their everyday lives.

Together, the projects reflect Raco’s growing multidisciplinary practice and demonstrate how his visual language can move naturally across galleries, lifestyle products, brand collaborations, public spaces, and contemporary culture.

Dopatopia Takes Shape with Art Toys PH

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.

“Dopa has always been my own little mascot for happiness,” Raco shared. “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.”

Set within a colorful universe where nostalgia meets high-energy contemporary art, Dopa represents the excitement, curiosity, humor, and creative chaos that define much of Raco’s work.

For Dopatopia, participating artists were invited to create their own renditions of Dopa. Each artist used the same base character as a canvas, transforming it according to their own visual language, personality, and creative perspective.

For Raco, 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.

“Seeing other artists reinterpret him was honestly surreal because they brought out emotions and ideas I never would’ve thought of myself,” Raco said. “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.”

Dopatopia also grew from what started as a casual conversation between Raco and Art Toys PH.

“This whole project would not have been possible without Art Toys PH,” Raco added. “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.”

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.

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.

For orders, availability, and other inquiries, collectors may send a message to 0997 845 0527 or email [email protected].

Turning Coffee into a Colorful Experience with Plain Sight Coffee

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,” Raco said. “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.”

The collaboration extends beyond the coffee itself through the Snack Attack Merch Box, a graphic T-shirt, and a limited-edition art print designed by Raco.

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,” he shared. “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.”

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.

The limited-edition Snack Attack collection may be viewed and purchased through Plain Sight Coffee’s official online store:

https://plainsight.coffee/pages/raco-ruiz

Products are available while supplies last.

For product and order inquiries, customers may email [email protected] or message Plain Sight Coffee through Instagram at @PlainSightCoffee.

Celebrating Creative Pride with New Era Philippines

Raco brought his visual identity into streetwear as 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.

For the collection, New Era invited Raco alongside visual artists Jethro Olba, Lei Melendres, and Nicolo Nimor to interpret different values through their respective characters and artistic styles.

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.”

Launched on July 14, 2026, at Uptown Bonifacio Global City, 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, and a green Camper cap with interchangeable Velcro patches.

A graphic T-shirt 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.

By turning New Era’s signature products into wearable canvases, the collaboration brings Raco’s characters and creative philosophy to audiences beyond traditional art spaces.

The project also reflects New Era Philippines’ support for the local visual arts community, providing Filipino artists with a platform to bring their work into streetwear, personal style, and everyday self-expression.

The New Era Philippines CO11ECTION is available at select New Era stores and through its official online store:

https://neweracap.ph/collections/philippine-collection

Products, sizes, and collectibles are available while supplies last.

For questions regarding product availability, sizes, online orders, and participating stores, customers may contact New Era Philippines through the Contact Us section of its official website or its official social media pages.

Reimagining 20 Years of Mall of Asia Through MOA20

Raco is also one of three Filipino visual artists featured in the MOA20 Limited Edition Anniversary Drop, 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.

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 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.

The collaboration was officially unveiled at the MOA20 Limited Edition Anniversary Drop Press Launch on August 12, 2026.

From August 15 to September 15, 2026, shoppers who spend a minimum of ₱7,000 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.

A Creative Practice 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,” he said. “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.”

Across Dopatopia, Snack Attack, CO11ECTION, and MOA20, that philosophy takes different forms but remains rooted in the same ideas that have long defined Raco’s work: curiosity, humor, experimentation, individuality, and play.

With NYMA Talent Management, Raco continues to explore collaborations that extend his creative practice across art, culture, lifestyle, and brand partnerships while remaining true to his distinct visual identity.

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