Rena Tucker is a painter living in Las Vegas whose vivid portraits and murals celebrate the everyday energy of city life. Her work bridges realism with subtle surreal tones, capturing emotion through color and movement.
I paint people as they are — tired, proud, laughing, lost in thought. The stories in their faces tell me what to paint next. My palette is inspired by the city itself: the desert light, neon nights, and fleeting moments that define life here.
My newest series, City Breathing, focuses on locals I meet while sketching downtown — street performers, cooks, bartenders, strangers waiting for the bus. Each one carries a rhythm, and I try to translate that rhythm into brushwork.
Painting helps me pay attention. It slows the noise and reminds me that beauty lives in the ordinary. Every canvas is my way of saying, I see you.
