By Kira Frech on June 24, 2025
At ModernRugs.com, we continually seek innovative ways to integrate contemporary art with interior design. Our latest collaboration with Harrisburg-based artist Reina, also known as R76, does just that—transforming bold abstract expressionist works into vibrant, high-quality rugs.
We surprised Reina by transforming one of her standout pieces, "Eat the Rich," into a rug. Her reaction? “Shocked… but amazed.” Seeing her work reimagined in textile form offered not only a new dimension of energy and texture but also a fresh way to share the piece’s powerful message.
Reina's art is unapologetically political and deeply rooted in community consciousness. Inspired by the revolutionary quote—“When the poor have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich”—the original artwork blends raw emotion with a Basquiat-like approach to symbolism and color. “I wanted to create a piece that asked questions,” she explains. “That made people stop and wonder what was happening in the world when it was made.”
Born in Harrisburg and raised in Philadelphia, Reina eventually returned to the capital city two decades ago. Since then, she's grown into one of the most recognizable voices in the region’s art scene. “Harrisburg is where I evolved as an artist,” she says. “The local art and music community helped me tap into something real.”
That vibrancy is on full display in her studio at The Millworks (Studio 104), where her canvases pulse with color, movement, and intention. “My work is alive,” she says. “You should be able to feel it, see it, smell it, touch it.”
With upcoming shows in both Harrisburg and Philadelphia, R76 continues to champion creative expression in Pennsylvania. And now, with her work translated into rug form, her message is reaching even more people—and floors.
Artists unite.
Find Reina at www.reina76artist.com
