Rafael Balderrama Carrington (active in the 20th century), whose life before becoming an artist little is known, began his studies in 1927 at the Escuela Libre de Escultura y Talla Directa (Free School of Sculpture and Carving). He enrolled at the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes (National School of Fine Arts) a year later, which was renamed  Escuela Central de Artes Plásticas (Central School of Fine Arts) in 1929, following Diego Rivera's appointment as director. He began studying under Rufino Tamayo during this period.

His first group exhibition took place in 1930 at the Galería de Arte Moderno (Modern Art Gallery), founded by Carlos Mérida and Carlos Orozco Romero in the lower level of the current Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts). He participated in the exhibition titled 8 Young Painters, where he presented his work The Dancer, which won an internal student competition. During this period, he was also a student of photographer Agustín Jiménez. He later succeeded Francisco Gutiérrez as director of the Escuela de Pintura al Aire Libre (Open-Air Painting School) in Taxco. Additionally, he was a member of the Liga de Escritores y Artistas Revolucionarios (League of Revolutionary Writers and Artists) and participated in the exhibition organized by María Izquierdo titled Propago de la deuda petrolera (Propagation of the Oil Debt).

In 1949, he exhibited collectively in the Primera exposición de 500 obras de arte (First Exhibition of 500 Works of Art) at the Galería de Arte Moderno led by Francisco Rodríguez Caracalla. During the 1950s, he devoted himself to teaching art, setting aside his painting practice. Although his career was not extensive, his work remains significant.