Meet member Jacqui Miller at our January 12 meeting when she shares her story.
My artistic practice began in childhood, shaped first by my love for horses and then by my exposure to the Vietnam War. The moment I encountered Nick Ut’s photograph of the young girl fleeing the bombing, my work shifted from beauty to advocacy. Even at nine, I understood that images can carry moral force—that art can confront, witness, and demand response.
Over the years, my creative life intertwined with a long professional career in the equestrian world and a parallel path in design and communication. These disciplines trained me to observe closely, to understand emotion in form, and to appreciate how visual language shapes perception.
After retiring from the horse industry, I returned fully to art, only to find an oversaturated visual landscape. This challenged me to ask essential questions: Why contribute more images to a world teeming with them? What is my voice? What is the purpose?
The answer lies in my earliest motivations. I am drawn to art that provokes thought, challenges assumptions, and opens space for empathy. My work engages themes of injustice, resilience, and the human cost of political and social systems. I often use found materials and symbolic forms, transforming the familiar into commentary.
My practice is still evolving, but its intention is clear: to create imagery that compels the viewer to pause, question, and feel—and perhaps to see the world, and their place within it, a little differently.
Doors open at DEGALLERY at 5:30pm. There will be light refreshments. Come by a bit early, chat and catch up!
