Rei Nao

Born and raised in Germany into a creative family, Rei+ was always surrounded by art but didn’t fully embrace her own artistic potential until just a few years ago. Her travels and eventual move to Los Angeles in her 20s profoundly shaped her perspective, inspiring her to explore the struggles, beauty, and resilience of women.

Living in LA, she experienced firsthand the relentless pursuit of perfection—the pressure to conform to society’s unattainable ideals of beauty and success. Like many women, she once pushed herself to meet these expectations, only to realize how damaging and unfulfilling that pursuit was. This personal journey is at the core of her paintings, where she uses the dancer as a symbol: poised and graceful on the surface yet often concealing deep inner pain and struggle.

Alongside these themes, Rei+ also explores society’s growing disconnection from nature. Her work brings women and the natural world together, revealing the beauty of what has been lost—both in humanity’s relationship with itself and with the planet. By painting the raw, untamed beauty of nature alongside the strength and complexity of womanhood, she challenges societal norms and invites viewers to reconnect with what is real, beautiful, and meaningful.