Rey is perhaps best known for his series. This body of work marks a shift from purely personal identity to a scientific, environmental focus. He doesn't just paint landscapes; he documents the "biological interconnectedness of life in nature".
: Projects like his exploration of the polluted Scajaquada Creek in Buffalo or the sacred but endangered Bagmati River in Nepal combine art, film, and environmental research to foster a sense of local ownership and responsibility. The Orvis Guide of the Year alberto rey
Born in Havana, Cuba, in 1960, Rey’s journey was shaped by displacement. His family received political asylum and moved to Miami in 1965 before eventually settling in the coal-mining town of Barnesboro, Pennsylvania. This early history of migration and bicultural identity fueled his early abstract work, which grappled with "layered memories of Cuban iconography" and American life. Rey is perhaps best known for his series
: In a poignant sub-series, Rey paints the carcasses of fish he finds on riverbanks. He views these "silent still-lives" as metaphors for his own life and the noble, if tragic, cycles of survival. : Projects like his exploration of the polluted