João Rei is a Portuguese self-taught surfer born in Faro (1971). Father, husband, designer, curator and event organizer, João started surfing at the age of 13. This discovery revealed to him a new world of colors and emotions, which he used to reimagine the world in his own way through design and through multiple creative languages and means of expression. One could therefore say that his career in art began when he stepped on a surfboard for the first time.

Surfing has been his main influence ever since, both personally and professionally. He dedicated ten years of his life to the B.Side project (1998 to 2008), in which he developed his own brand focused on the creation of products related to surf and skate.

In 2009 he moved to Sagres, Vila do Bispo, following his passion for this region and fulfilling his childhood dream - to live on Costa Vicentina. There his three children were born, between 2011 and 2016.

He was mentor, programmer and organizer of "Sagres Surf Culture", an event that between 2012 and 2016 brought together surfers - artists, thinkers and activists - from various creative areas and geographies at the former "End of the World". Always in constant search to give a visual voice to his work, João crosses different areas such as graphic design and illustration, in an aesthetic influenced by vast creative latitudes - from urban art to contemporary art.

His work has been published in several books and magazines and he has had the opportunity to present it in several lectures and conferences related to design and entrepreneurship.

He was an "Artist-In-Residence" at the Memmo Baleeira Hotel, where he created the "Surfactory - Design Studio".

After 7 years living in Sagres, João Rei moved to São Miguel Island (Azores) in August 2016, in search of an even closer connection with Nature. There is where he currently lives with his family, positively surrounded by the sea, dividing his time between freelance work and his passion for surfing.

In São Miguel he implemented "Maré Alma - Estúdio & Oficina". Here he divides himself between work for clients and projects signed by himself, where themes such as environment and sustainability are increasingly included, which João has been deepening in recent years.