Millie Chen, “Turbulence”

Buffalo Arts Studio is pleased to present “Turbulence,” a series of drawings by artist Millie Chen, on view from January 23 through March 14, 2026. An opening reception will be held on Friday, January 23, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm as part of M&T Fourth Friday at Tri-Main.

This new series of drawings emerges from years of Chen walking along both banks of the Onguiaahra (Haudenosaunee) or Niagara River and gazing in awe at its flow. These drawings focus on river sites that have historic and symbolic significance, embodied in the turbulence created by disturbances under the water’s surface.  

All of the drawings are linked by the use of grids. Chen harnesses the grid as a structural and theoretical device for creating complex, contemplative images, tapping into it as a powerful generative mechanism where each part and the whole are interconnected  The grid is used to both retain and release control, embracing unpredictability and “errors” to express the uncertainty of being human. The rigid grid structure, paired with the unstable imagery, invites chance and intuition. 

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