Toni Unrein is a US American painter working primarily in oil on canvas, known for her emotionally resonant style of Realistic Expressionism. Raised in Nebraska, she later lived in Seattle, New York City, and Dallas before settling in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Nebraska and a Master of Arts from Arkansas State University.  

Unrein's current body of work is deeply inspired by the ocean—its power, flow, and metaphorical reflection of human experience. She captures the dynamic energy of waves through layers of translucent paint and contrasts of muted and saturated color. Her technique uses shifts in color temperature to create layers of depth and a three-dimensional sense of movement. The interplay of light, seen in wave spray and reflections, creates jewel-like effects in her paintings. 

Her past series have ranged from evocative portraits of women from the 1800s painted on glass, to her 2024 collection of vivid, personality-rich portraits of people from diverse walks of life. Across all her work, Unrein explores emotional depth, human connection, and the elemental beauty of natural forces.