Alberto Rey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alberto Rey
Alberto Rey photographed by David Moog
Born	(1960-08-07) August 7, 1960 (age 64) Havana, Cuba.
Occupation	Artist and filmmaker
Years active	1988–present

Alberto Rey (born August 7, 1960, in Havana, Cuba) is a Cuban-American artist, illustrator, filmmaker, teacher, and writer. His artwork has been shown in over 200 exhibitions. It is also part of the permanent collections of twenty museums. These include the Albright–Knox Art Gallery, the Bronx Museum of the Arts, and the Brooklyn Museum.

Rey is currently a distinguished professor at the State University of New York at Fredonia. In 2012, he was honored by the Burchfield Penney Art Center's Living Legacy Project. He has written several books about his art series. These include Candaway Creek - Western New York (2021) and Lost Beauty: Icebergs (2021). He also wrote Complexities of Water - Biological Regionalism: Bagmati River, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal (2016). This book is about the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal.

His articles and illustrations have appeared in magazines like Buffalo Spree and Gray’s Sporting Journal. In 2021, he gave a video lecture about his work. This was for his exhibition Life Streams. He talked about how his art has changed over thirty years. He also discussed community projects that inspired him.

Life

Alberto Rey was born into a community of Cubans with Spanish roots, known as criollos. His family lived in a small rural town called Agramonte, Cuba. They had many different jobs, like farming and running small businesses. Rey's father had a PhD in Mathematics. After the family moved to the United States, he became a Spanish instructor.

In 1963, when Rey was three years old, his parents took him and his sister to Mexico. They were seeking political asylum. Two years later, in 1965, they moved to Miami, Florida. His family then moved north to Barnesboro, Pennsylvania. This was a small coal-mining town.

Rey graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He specialized in drawing and painting. He studied at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In 2008, he received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the university.

Career

After college, Rey lived briefly in Boston, Massachusetts. Then he returned to Miami, Florida, in 1982. There, he worked on Christo and Jeanne-Claude's Surrounded Islands Project. After working at a studio in Hollywood, Florida, Rey went to graduate school.

He studied at the University of Buffalo. In 1987, he earned his Master of Fine Arts Degree in drawing and painting. He started traveling to many countries. These included Spain, Italy, Mexico, Iceland, and Nepal. These travels helped him appreciate how different cultures connect with their environment.

Since 1982, Rey's Cuban heritage and his immigration to America have shaped his art. His work often explores themes of having a bicultural identity. From 1982 to 1992, his art was abstract. He layered Cuban iconography with his American experiences. This showed the challenges of fading memories and romanticizing one's culture.

In 1987, the Burchfield Penney Art Center added his work "Holy Angels Church and Chair" to their collection. Rey spent the next year teaching at high schools and colleges. In 1988, he studied contemporary art and environmental studies at Harvard University. Soon after, his work joined the collection of El Museo del Barrio in New York City. He also had his first solo show in NYC.

Rey moved to Fredonia, New York, in 1989. He became a professor at the State University of New York at Fredonia. He still teaches drawing and painting there today. In 1989, Rey married Janeil Strong. By 1992, several major museums had collected his art. These included the Brooklyn Museum, the Bronx Museum of the Arts, and the Albright–Knox Art Gallery.

From 1992 to 1999, his art became more realistic. He explored Cuban culture, its religion, food, and politics.

Alberto Rey working on a painting in his Fredonia, NY barn studio.

In 1996, Rey became a curator and director for the Chautauqua Institution’s Center of the Visual Arts. He also joined the Artist’s Advisory Panel of the New York Foundation for the Arts.

In 1998, Rey returned to Cuba for the first time since he was a child. Later, he made his first film, "Seeing in the Dark." It was a black and white film about this trip. Rey also started the SAREP Youth Fly Fishing Program. This program teaches children about environmental conservation. It is now called the Children in the Stream Youth Fly Fishing Program / 4H. He is still its director.

After 1999, Rey became more interested in art history, ecology, and environmental conservation. He started adding more environmental realism to his work. An example is his "Biological Regionalism" series, shown in 2014. From 2000 until now, his work has explored the history of angling art, environmentalism, and biology.

In 2006, Rey started the Canadaway Creek Conservation Project. This is an annual stream clean-up program. He also founded the Brook Trout Restoration Project. This teaches children how to reintroduce brook trout into local waterways. The CCCP project involves volunteers removing harmful plants, planting native trees, and cleaning up local waterways. The Brook Trout project takes children on fishing trips. It has helped brook trout populations grow again.

In 2007, the SUNY board of trustees gave him their highest honor. He was named a SUNY Distinguished Professor for Research and Creativity. In 2012, Rey was inducted into the Burchfield Penney Art Center Living Legacy Artist program.

Installation of Alberto Rey's "Biological Regionalism" at the Burchfield-Penney Art Center in 2014.

In 2014, the first book about Rey's work was published. It was called Life Streams: Alberto Rey's Cuban and American Art. Art historians Lynette M.F. Bosch and Mark Denaci wrote it.

In 2016, Rey wrote and illustrated a book about his project in Kathmandu, Nepal. It was called Complexities of Water: Biological Regionalism: Bagmati River, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. He worked with Jason Dilworth, a graphic designer from SUNY Fredonia. The project's exhibition opened in Kathmandu, Nepal. It showed fourteen paintings, water samples, and a documentary called "BAGMATI."

The project collected scientific data about water quality and pollution. It also looked at human impact and climate change. The goal was to explain how the holiest river in Nepal became a health risk. It also aimed to teach people safer ways to get water for their families.

In 2018, Alberto finished his next big project. He published his second book, Extinct Birds Project. This book tells the story of seventeen extinct bird species from around the world. The specimens are kept at the Roger Tory Institute of Natural History in Jamestown, NY. They are also at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University.

The first exhibition for this project opened in August 2018. It featured 18 paintings of the extinct birds. It also included rare audio and video recordings. In 2019, Rey worked with the Anderson Gallery and the Buffalo Museum of Science. They created the “Lost Beauty Series.” The first part of this exhibit opened in 2019. It included more rare audio and video recordings. The second part opened in 2021. It showed new large paintings of 15 items from the museum's collection.

Works

Alberto Rey, "Coccothrinax alexandri subsp. alexandri," black underglaze over 182G clay with clear glaze, 2021.

Painting Series

Critical Endangered Palms of Cuba (2021-2022)

This is Rey's newest series. It is inspired by a book about the palms of Cuba. He explores palm species that are in danger. These plants are threatened by soil erosion, farming, and natural disasters. This series includes ceramic art showing palm species. It also has a map icon of where each species is found in Cuba. This project continues Rey's interest in art that helps conservation. It also looks deeper into his home country of Cuba.

Canadaway Creek - Western New York (2021)

In 2021, Rey released a book called Canadaway Creek - Western New York. This book was a team effort. Community members, teachers, and students from SUNY Fredonia helped. Rey is a distinguished professor there.

The book explores the history of Canadaway Creek. It also covers its plants, animals, and environmental impact. The project aimed to help people understand the creek better. It also wanted to encourage them to protect the local environment.

Lost Beauty Project Series (since 2019)

Installation shot of Alberto Rey's exhibit "Lost Beauty II" at the Buffalo Museum of Science, 2021.

Lost Beauty: Icebergs This series started after Rey's second trip to Iceland in 2003. It shows how the landscape of Jökulsárlón is changing. This area near the Arctic Circle is losing land because of climate change. In 2021, Rey published a book with drawings, paintings, and photos from his trips. It also included his research on the area.

One of his paintings, "Lost Beauty: Icebergs XVI," was shown in an exhibition. This painting shows the Breiđamerkurjökull glacier. The exhibition was called "Life Streams: Alberto Rey, Cuban-American Artist." It was held at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art in Maine in 2021.

Lost Beauty: Part II - The Art of The Museum Stories Rey is the first artist asked by the Buffalo Museum of Science to create a special exhibition. Part II was shown in 2021. It featured items and specimens from the museum's collection. Many of these had never been seen by the public. Rey's large paintings were displayed next to 15 small items. Some paintings were as tall as six feet. They showed each item in detail. The exhibit also had stories about the items and videos of Rey creating the paintings.

Alberto Rey, "Blue Spotted Salamander", oil on board, 2019.

Installation shot of "Bachman's Warbler", Lost Beauty: Part I, Anderson Gallery, Buffalo, NY. Image by Nicholas Ostness, 2019.

Lost Beauty: Part I This project was a collaboration with the Buffalo Museum of Science. It was shown at the Anderson Gallery at the University at Buffalo in 2019. Part I included Rey's paintings and ceramics. It also had audio files, videos, and specimens from his Extinct Birds Project. This part focused on the history of 18 extinct bird species.

Extinct Birds Project Series (2016-2019)

In 2018, Alberto published his second book, Extinct Birds Project. It tells the stories of seventeen extinct bird species. The specimens are kept at the Roger Tory Institute of Natural History in Jamestown, NY. They are also at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University.

The first exhibition opened in August 2018. It showed 18 paintings of the extinct birds. It also had rare audio and video recordings. In 2019, Rey worked with the Anderson Gallery and the Buffalo Museum of Science. They created the “Lost Beauty Series.” The first part opened at Anderson Gallery in 2019. It included more rare audio and video recordings from the Macaulay Library. The second part opened in 2021. It showed new paintings at the Buffalo Museum of Science. These featured items from the museum's collection.

Biological Regionalism Series (since 2005)

Alberto Rey, "Biological Regionalism: Steelhead", oil on board, 2014.

Bioregionalism is a field that studies the plants and animals of an environment. It also looks at related geography. This helps to tell native species from non-native ones. It also helps to protect the variety of life.

The Biological Regionalism Series began as a way to connect people to their local environments. It uses images of native fish, landscapes, and waterscapes. Rey uses different art forms, including painting, sculpture, and video. He also includes scientific data.

Rey's work in this series shows fish swimming in their natural homes. Some of these waterways are polluted by human activities. By combining art with his research, Rey invites people to reconnect with nature. He wants them to discover natural wonders in their own areas.

Bagmati River Art Project Series (2014–2016)

Alberto Rey, "Bagmati River flowing into Kathmandu, Nepal", oil on board, 2014.

In 2016, Rey wrote and illustrated a book about his project in Kathmandu, Nepal. It was called Complexities of Water: Biological Regionalism: Bagmati River, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. He worked with Jason Dilworth from SUNY Fredonia. The project exhibition opened in Kathmandu. It showed fourteen paintings, water samples, and a documentary called "BAGMATI."

The project collected scientific data about water quality and pollution. It also looked at human impact and climate change. The goal was to explain how the holiest river in a country became a health risk. It also aimed to teach people safer ways to get water for their families.

Alberto Rey, "Black Mamo", oil on board, 2019.

Alberto Rey, "Aesthetics of Death: VII", oil on board, 2014

Alberto Rey, "Studio Retablos: Mexican Figure," oil on board, 1999.

The Aesthetics of Death Series (2006–2016)

Alberto Rey, "Cuban Portraits: Alberto, Agramonte, Cuba", oils on plaster, 1999.

Alberto Rey, "Las Balsas XII", oil painting in handmade shadowbox frame, 1998.

This series was inspired by the deaths of Rey's sister and father-in-law. Rey's paintings directly show sick, dying, and dead steelhead fish. The paintings use bright colors and bold brushstrokes. This contrasts the harshness of death with the temporary beauty of life.

The large size of the paintings makes the dead fish seem important. They become like monuments. They capture a special moment for people to study and think about.

Trout Encounters Series (2000–2004)

After visiting Cuba in 1998, Rey's art changed. He started exploring other parts of his identity. He looked into his passion for environmental conservation and art history. Like the Hudson River School artists, Rey showed nature in his art.

His Trout Encounters series brought together two worlds. It showed the underwater world of specific trout species. It also showed how people in growing urban areas were losing touch with nature.

Studio Retablos Series (1998–2000)

This series combines many different subjects. These include art history from America, Italy, Mexico, and Spain. It also includes biology, pop culture, and politics. For 25 years, Rey collected images and old paintings by amateur artists. He wanted to give these abandoned works new life.

He removed layers of old paint and added new images from his travels. This series was also about self-reflection. While painting, Rey wondered about the lives of the original artists. He felt connected to them through his work.

Cuban Portraits Series (1998–1999)

Rey was inspired by the Mexican portrait painter Hermenegildo Bustos. Bustos created a visual record of an ethnic group at a certain time. Rey's series shows Cubans living in Cuba and in the United States. He focuses on their character, social and economic class, and ethnic identity.

Las Balsas (The Rafts) Series (1995-1999)

Rey researched Cuban archives in Key West, Florida. He learned about the Cuban Refugee Center on Stock Island. When Cuban immigrants arrived in Florida on rafts, the center helped them. It provided housing, medical care, and food. It also connected them with relatives in America. The center displayed various rafts used by refugees.

Rey had relatives who traveled to America on rafts. His grandmother did not survive the journey. So, Rey created this series to make viewers think about the rafts. He wanted them to imagine what the journey was like for Cuban refugees. The success of the people traveling on the rafts is not clear in the art. Rey hoped the raft images would be quiet but powerful reminders of human struggles and victories.

Appropriated Memories Series (1996–1997)

For thirteen years, Rey's art focused on reclaiming his Cuban heritage. During this time, he worried about feeling disconnected from his surroundings in America. To understand what he valued, he painted cherished memories. These included moments with his family, cultural religious symbols, and images from his childhood.

Since then, his work has tried to blend his Cuban spirituality with his everyday life. The Appropriated Memories Series aims to capture the joy of finding and painting images from what he felt was a lost time. The images are an abstract collection of his memories and interpretations of Cuba.

Alberto Rey, "Appropriated Memories, San Juan Hill", oils on plaster,1997. Collection of the Frost Art Museum, Florida International University, Miami, FL.

Alberto Rey, "“Ancel Guava Paste" oil on plaster, 1994. Collection of the [Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale

Alberto Rey, Madonnas of Western New York: Niagara Mohawk, Dunkirk, New York," oils on wood, 1991-1993

Alberto Rey, "Binary Forms: LXXIV," oil and encaustic wax on board, 1990–1992

Alberto Rey, “Postnuptial Gold: Time”, ink, ink wash, oils, flour compound, and rabbit skin glue on canvas, Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York, 1991.

Alberto Rey, "Floating Series: Breckenridge Apartment, Buffalo, New York, Remembering: 1968-1987," ink on paper, 1985

Icon Series (1993–1995)

Rey wanted to reconnect with his Cuban identity. He had no actual memories of his home country. So, his art started to show objects and experiences that meant “Cuba” to him. These were things described in stories told by his relatives. Rey painted Cuban food on a large scale. He turned everyday dishes into important cultural symbols. An example is “Ancel Guava Paste” (1994). This painting is in the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Madonnas of Western New York Series (1991–1993)

Rey and his wife lived in Fredonia, New York. They began exploring the cultural symbols of Chautauqua County. He built small wooden boxes. He painted well-known local symbols inside them. An example is the Niagara Mohawk Power Plant (now NRG). This is seen in his work “Niagara Mohawk: Dunkirk, New York” (1992).

The way he built the boxes and transformed ordinary sights was like creating altars. This connected Rey's new home to his Cuban heritage and traditions. This series marked a big change in Rey's art style. He moved from abstract art to more realistic paintings. This was important so people could recognize the Western New York icons.

Binary Forms Series (1998–1992)

His marriage in 1989 renewed his interest in showing religion and its impact on marriage.

Black Lace Series and Nuptial Series (1987–1989)

Rey's Black Lace Series came from his interest in Catholic rituals and saints. It also came from his exposure to Santería, a Cuban mix of Catholic and African religions. The veil and lace, often seen on veils, became important symbols in this series. This is especially clear in the work “Fertility” (1989). In “Postnuptial Gold: Time” (1991), the color gold represents how precious metal is. It also refers to Catholic marriage ceremonies.

Autogeographical Series and Floating Series (1985-1987)

The Autogeographical Series was inspired by Rey's experiences in graduate school. It often directly showed the places he lived. An example is “Holy Angels Church and Chair.” This work was collected by the Burchfield Penney Art Center in 1987.

The Floating Series took a more dream-like approach to the same topic. It included his own dream language. It showed landscapes and cityscapes from a bird's-eye view. The series aimed to show the changing and temporary parts of memory and dreaming. An example is “Transitions” (1988). This work was collected by the Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University.

Documentaries

• "BAGMATI (Biological Regionalism: Bagmati River, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal)" (2016–2017): This video documents the Bagmati River Art Project. It includes interviews with health experts and community members. It also features traditional Nepalese folk songs.
• "Biological Regionalism: Atlantic Cod" (2007): This video was made for a residency at the Peabody Essex Museum. The artist explores the history of the Atlantic cod fish. He also looks at its impact on the economy of New England.
• "Primal Connections" (2006): This video explores how people in modern times connect with nature. It was shown and added to the collection of the MEIAC in Spain in 2013.
• "An Unkept Promise" (2005): This video shows Rey's emotional journey. It is about his first trip back to Cuba after 36 years. He had left as a child with his family. This video was also added to the MEIAC's collection in 2013.
• "Waters off of Caribarien, Cuba" (2004): This video shows the waters around a small island. Many Cubans traveled by raft from here to Florida. This video was added to the Burchfield Penney Art Center's collection. It was also shown and acquired by the MEIAC in 2013.
• "Seeing the Dark" (2001): This 16mm film shows Rey's return trip to Cuba. It marked a change in his art. He stopped showing his home country in a nostalgic way.

Other Videos

• 2014: "Biological Regionalism: Tunnel, Scajaquada Creek, Erie County, New York, USA" and "Biological Regionalism: Leech, Scajaquada Creek, Erie County, New York, USA." These videos were made for an exhibition. They show the polluted Scajaquada Creek in Buffalo, New York.
• 2013: "Biological Regionalism: Reiter Creek, Sheridan, New York, USA." These videos show a 180-degree view of a steelhead migration site. The MEIAC in Spain held an exhibition of Rey's videos in 2013. They acquired several of his films for their collection.
• 2010: "Biological Regionalism: Lower Falls, Genesee River, Rochester, New York, USA." This video and two large paintings were made for an exhibition. They explored the migration of steelhead trout and the history of the Genesee River.
• 2010: "Biological Regionalism: Ellicott Creek, Amherst, New York, USA: III," "Biological Regionalism: Ellicott Creek, Amherst, New York, USA: II," and "Biological Regionalism: Ellicott Creek, Amherst, New York, USA: I." These underwater videos were made for an exhibition at the University at Buffalo. They explored the migration of largemouth bass and the history of Ellicott Creek.
• 2008: "Biological Regionalism: Big Mary’s Creek, Vesuvius, VA." This video was made during a residency. It explored a native fish species (brook trout) and the local environment in Virginia.
• 2007: "Biological Regionalism: Atlantic Cod." This video was made for a residency at the Peabody Essex Museum. It explores the history of the Atlantic cod and its impact on New England's economy.
• 2005: "Great Lakes Tributary, New York, United States, March 12th, 2005."
• 2005: "Los Jardines de la Reina (The Queen’s Gardens), Cuba, July 10th, 2004." This video was collected by the Art Museum of University of Virginia.

Publications about the Artist

• "The Search for Home: From Exile to Preservationist," by Lynette M.F. Bosch (2021)
• “Seeing in the Dark: The Aesthetics of Disappearance and Remembrance in the Work of Alberto Rey," by Stephanie Lewthwaite (2016)
• “Life Streams – Albert Rey’s Cuban and American Art”, by Lynette Bosch and Mark Denaci (2014)
• “Painting Borges: Philosophy Interpreting Art Interpreting Literature”, by Jorge J. E. Gracia (2012)
• “Cuban-American Literature and Art: Negotiating Identities,” by Isabel Borland and Lynette Bosch (2009)
• “Identity, Memory, and Diaspora: Voices of Cuban-American Artists, Writers, and Philosophers,” edited by Jorge J. E. Gracia, Lynette Bosch, and Isabel Alvarez Borland (2008)
• “Cuban-American Art in Miami,” by Lynnette Bosch (2004)

Honors and awards

Rey has received many honors and awards:

• Finalist for Orvis Guide Freshwater Guide of the Year (2020)
• Visiting Artist at the Masur Museum (2012)
• Distinguished Alumni Award from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (2008)
• Visiting Artist Residency at Peabody Essex Museum (2008)
• State University of New York Distinguished Professor for Research and Creativity (2007)
• State University of New York Chancellor's Research Recognition Award (2005)
• State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activity (2003)
• Kasling Lecturer Award for distinguished scholarly and creative activity (2001)
• William T. and Charlotte N. Hagan Young Scholar/Artist Award (1994)
• Minority Visiting Scholars Award (1994)

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See Also

• List of Cuban-American artists