Rey D'Alfonso

After working extensively with aluminum for more than 15 years, Alfonso now utilizes his knowledge of pure pigments and fire in his paintings on Baltic birch. He builds color, through hundreds of layers, distressing the surface and painting it again, deepening the thought or memory. Writings carved and burned into the wood recall the traces of lives and languages left by migrants and immigrants as they move from place to place. At times, the words reveal themselves to be lines of poetry, cherished verses from youth remembered, even as the artist struggles to recall more. Alfonso's personal experiences provide the iconography and palette for his work. The paintings bask in a serenity that recalls his early childhood and his fondness for the brilliant colors, hues and textures of antique cars and life in Cuba. "At the same time, the pieces are charged with the excitement of discovery, as well as a sense of being at one with the experience of building a new life in a new land."

"Growing up in Cuba formed me as a storyteller and taught me to be resourceful. I work within the visual realm of abstraction, where vibrant color, tactile surfaces, and evidence of process speak of the shared pull of our humanity." Rey begins his unique process with panels of Baltic Birch which he carves and gouges with hand made tools. He saturates the surface with pure pigments and waxes, heats them with a torch, and sears the layers of radiant colors. He finds resonance in motifs of water and the freedom they represent. It was in 1992, that he took to the waters in a daring escape from Cuba in a boat improvised from repurposed materials. His mixed media works are brightly hued reflections of his life's journey. His pieces are found in public and private collections in more than 40 countries. He has created works for organizations ranging from the San Francisco Opera House to the Mayo Clinic. In 2010, he was commissioned by Hilton Worldwide to create over 150 works for the private collections of the company's owners and investors.

Rey D'Alfonso is a Cuban artist whose paintings are energetic expressions of contemporary culture. Rey begins his unique process with panels of Baltic Birch which he carves and gouges with hand-made tools. He then saturates the surface with pure pigments and waxes; heating with a torch and searing the layers of radiant colors. He often embeds artifacts such as historic bronze plaques or vintage cigar boxes which are riveted to the pigmented woods. Rey states: "I am a collector of objects. My process allows me to continue in my fervent search for intriguing artifacts. As I travel through the world – be it in the old textile mills of my region or the street markets of Latin America – I am led by my instincts for compelling textures and objects that speak of the shared pull of our humanity."