In the desert hush of New Mexico, where the sky stretches wide and colors blaze at dusk, abstract artist Charles Anthony Reyna has found his canvas and calling. A self-taught painter whose journey began in 2010, Reyna’s art emerges not from formal schools but from instinct, emotion, and a profound connection to place. For collectors drawn to sincerity over spectacle, Reyna’s work offers a rare, grounding presence—rooted in the land and elevated by the abstract.
A Self-Made Eye for Abstraction
Unlike many contemporaries, Reyna entered the art world quietly. With no formal training, he began exploring abstraction on his own terms—trusting mood, memory, and motion to guide his brush. His work reflects an intuitive mastery of color and composition, reminiscent of the great modernists he cites as influence: Mark Rothko, Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Andy Warhol.
But rather than imitate, Reyna distills. From Rothko, he draws a love of space and emotion. From Kahlo and O’Keeffe, a reverence for place. And from Warhol, perhaps a subtle understanding of the personal made public—though Reyna’s voice is quieter, more meditative.
The Technique: Emotion as Medium
Reyna’s expressive technique lies in layered acrylics, built in washes and blocks of color that shift between fields and forms. His process is slow, observational, and responsive—guided less by outcome than by balance. A painting may begin with the feeling of heat on adobe or the memory of a Chama river breeze, but it ends with a visual poem: equal parts landscape and emotion.
He often paints on smaller square canvases—12″x12″ or 20″x24″—which lends an intimacy to the viewing experience. Each canvas is a window into a place felt rather than seen, crafted with deliberate simplicity and rich tonal depth.
The Colors of New Mexico
Collectors particularly prize Reyna’s Colors of New Mexico series, a body of work that pays tribute to the region’s majestic geography:
- Chama: Serene blues and sandy earth tones evoke the flow of the Rio Chama.
- Santa Fe: Warm reds and burnt oranges recall the city’s storied sunsets and adobe silhouettes.
- Taos Pueblo: Subtle, historic hues layered like memory and tradition.
These are not literal landscapes—they’re emotional landscapes. Abstract meditations on space, stillness, and story. The longer you sit with them, the more they reveal.
Where to Find His Work
Reyna’s pieces are available directly through his official website and via platforms like Etsy and Saatchi Art. His originals are refreshingly accessible, ranging from $85–$275, with open-edition giclée prints starting around $40.
For seasoned collectors or first-time buyers, Reyna offers a compelling entry point: work that is deeply personal, regionally evocative, and aesthetically enduring.
Why Collect Reyna?
Authenticity: Each piece is a sincere expression of time and place—unfiltered by art world trends.
Accessibility: Modest price points make Reyna’s originals and prints highly collectible without compromising quality.
Emotional Depth: His technique invites the viewer to feel, not decode. These are pieces meant to live with, not just look at.
Whether you’re curating a wall or beginning a collection, Charles Anthony Reyna’s work is a beautiful reminder of what abstract art can offer: an echo of the world, filtered through feeling.