Born in Camp 3, a Karenni refugee camp along the Thai–Burma border, Maw Reh moved to Phoenix, Arizona, with his family at age eleven. Navigating the transition between two distinct cultures directly shaped his focus on identity, memory, and belonging.

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Reh uses painting, drawing, and photography to document the Karenni diaspora, focusing on cultural continuity and the resilience of a community shaped by displacement. After studying Fine Arts at Phoenix College and continuing his education at Arizona State University, his practice expanded from the studio into public spaces. Today, his work ranges from gallery exhibitions to large-scale community murals and youth art workshops both in the United States and internationally.

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Having recently returned to the refugee camps on the border to lead community art initiatives, Reh’s work serves as a practical bridge—preserving collective stories while inviting a broader audience to reflect on the realities of displacement.