Chai Miller is from the small rural town of Zuni, Virginia, and he delves into the intricacies of identity and environment through his photography and oil painting. Inspired by the Bay Area Figurative Movement, the influence of his artistic uncle, Jon Bolles, and many more contemporary artists and styles,
Chai channels emotions of loneliness, uncertainty, and the sense of displacement in his work.
His pieces, showcased in exhibitions like Stockley Gardens and juried shows at the Governor's School for the Arts, offer a glimpse into his everyday life in rural Southeastern Virginia. In his fusion of photography and oil painting, Chai authentically captures the essence of his surroundings, inviting viewers into a visual narrative that transcends the boundaries of his small-town existence.
I’m inspired by and drawn towards the subtle beauty embedded in the ordinary moments of my life and environment. My creative process typically begins when I'm taking photos—capturing a moment of my life to appreciate it and keep it frozen in time. My camera is glued to me and I'm never without it, yet I feel like I’ve never documented enough.
My work represents lonely, yet comforting scenes of my experiences growing up in a small town. If there’s a photo I’ve taken that I'm particularly drawn to, then I’ll take it a step further and add a little more emotion; most of my paintings start from this process. My art is a blend of observation and introspection, a balance between my external and internal worlds. I've been interested and inspired by my surroundings within my work since the winter of 2020, when I started “Abandoned,” a photography series where I document abandoned rural structures in my county from homes, to grain silos and barns. I make my art for myself, but also in hopes that other people can resonate with it, find comfort, and maybe stop to notice the nuances of their own lives.