Ivan Reyes was born in Havana, Cuba in 1971 into a family suffering from the poor economic climate of that country. Reyes found respite from this situation through music; while playing the congas was at first a hobby and a spiritual experience, he was soon able to support himself by playing and teaching music. Reyes first came to the USA as part of a touring musical group, giving him his first insight into the flourishing art world that was suppressed in Cuba. Reyes received political asylum in 1999 and came to the United States. Free to explore, experiment, and focus on his art, Reyes' traditional training flourished and expanded into the vivid, vibrant style that characterizes his work today.

Reyes primarily works on large-scale canvases and uses spontaneous drawing and collage techniques to create the remarkable artwork he sells all across the country.