Her performances seek to problematize technological routines and expose the drama of everyday life.
Her work critically addresses invisibility and traceability in the processing of physical and digital artifacts, the authority given to archives, and biases in information and history-making. Chen’s work has employed simple machines and early motion picture toys to relate “picture writing” to history writing.
stuff im into rn:
lucinda childs
Craigslist
trains
chess in public places
jello
dumpster diving
radios and flash drives
the faggots and their friends between revolutions
agamben
situationist international
Selected Exhibitions:
2023
October 2023 - March 2024: “WHERE THE CHERRIES END AND THE JELLO BEGINS,” 2023, Group Exhibition: “Digital Iridescence: Jell-O in New Media”, Museum of Fine Arts Boston (Lizbeth and George Krupp Gallery), Curated by Kendal DeBoer
2022
October 13, 2022 -November 12, 2022: WHAT’S THE SECRET: Fall Exhibition Proposal Series, curated by Maya Rubio, Gallery 263, Cambridgeport, MA
2021
Missed Connections Boston January 2021 in Printed Matter Virtual Art Book Fair: BACK IN INK, February 2021
2020
Solo Show Presents: Chapter 5: Behind The Times, Curated by: Abby Lloyd & Alyssa Davis Gallery (Click to Read more)
August 2020, Area Code Art Fair Special Projects, Curated by Ellen Tani and Marla McLeod
2019
February 2019, 8Ball Community x Bedroom Zine Fair, Hong Kong
Selected Residencies/Fellowships
Teaching Fellow, Processing Foundation, Cybernetic Opera Company with Olivia McKayla Ross, Summer 2023
Artist in Residence, Prattsville Art Center, May 2023
Ceramics/Production Residency, Pillowfort Arts Center, Andes, NY, September 2022
Archives Fellow/Ceramics Teaching Artist, Pine Mountain Settlement School, Bledsoe, Kentucky, June 2022
KISS: FLY: AIR: BELT, Rogue Car Production Residency, April 2022
Selected Public Programs
June 2023: Map Dancing at Zone 3 Western Ave, in Body Wash Series: Performance Art Workshops, Curated by Maya Rubio
August/September 2022: DESIRE PATHS: Sonic Walk/Urban Choreographic Scores @ Boston Center for the Arts (alongside M’Kenzy Cannon: PLEASE LET ME IN, August 6 - September 10, Curated by Maya Rubio)
December 2020/January 2021: Disposable Camera Program @ MIT List Visual Arts Center
September 2020: Postcard Program @ MIT List Visual Arts Center
Selected Performances
2024
1/1: Noise Brunch (Firehouse, Worcester, MA)
2023
8/12/23: Northeast Noise Fest 2023 (Worcester, MA)
5/19/23: Cold Spring Hollow, Belchertown, MA (Ross Wightman’s FIDDLEHENGE, Birthday Surprise, NatKat Duo, HSFB)
5/18/23: FIND OUT # 15, First Church in Jamaica Plain, MA (NNUX w/ visuals by LO.FI.SCI.FI, Camilo Angeles, Ross Wightman FIDDLEHENGE)
4/21/23: ELIZA, STARS ARE BLIND with MACHINIAC (An T, Lids, Smiley, and Ellen) (Worcester, MA)
4/15/23: Worcester, MA (Crank Sturgeon, Andrea Pensado, Cost of Living, +DOG+, NxCx, Cursed Image)
4/7/23: Red Ink (Providence, RI) with Web Hex and Cargo
3/24/23: Hampshire College (Amherst, MA) with Playbackers and Beam Splitter
1/20/23: Worcester, MA (Kath Bloom, Staubitz and Waterhouse, Andy McLeod, Cursed Image)
1/6: AS220, Providence, RI
2022
11/19: Kelly Chen/Caleb Chase/Aly Gear @ Sonorium Salem, MA
11/17: Cursed Image @ Firehouse Worcester, MA (Stalwart (Ben Edison, Caleb Duval, James Paul Nadien, Luke Rovinsky, Kelly Bray), Forbes Graham, Michael LaRocca)
11/12: Cursed Image @ Washington Street Arts (Somerville, MA), Playbackers 2.0 (Arkm Foam, Stella Sillbert, Donny Shaw), Joe Burgio
11/10: A Trip to the Moon: Early Special Effects Screenings and Improvisation (Anna Reidister, Leah Gutman, Aly Gear, Caleb Chase, Kelly Chen, Crescent, Diego Salvador Martinez, Evan Haskin, Mackenzie Kourie, Edward Fowler, Alby Pearson, Marie Carroll, Rihards Kolmanis) at Gallery 263, Cambridgeport, MA
10/21: Cursed Image @ The Ridge, Providence, RI (County Conservation District, Sheridan Woika, Instant Messenger, Orgone Splitter)
6/18/2022: Solstice Jubilee @ Tourist Trap Allston, MA (Reggie Pearl, Kira McSpice, The Croaks)
6/4/2022: Cursed Image @ Firehouse Worcester, MA (Wrest, Marie Carroll & Yoona Kim, Michael Rosenstein & Jesse Collins)
4/25/2022: Worcester, MA (Adaa, Nestor, Bromp Treb, PussyVision)
4/10/2022: Root Cellar @ Bard College Hudson, NY (Space Camp, Loren Ames, Aly Gear, B.L.I.X.)
4/9/2022: Firehouse Worcester, MA Caleb Chase/Kelly Chen/Aly Gear (Sunk Heaven, Revenge Body)
3/26/2022: Firehouse Worcester, MA (Andrea Pensado, Baby Baby Explores, Precious Metal Lady)
2021
12/10/2021: kirakira @ Purchase College, Purchase, NY (Rada Rada, Aly Gear)
12/4/2021: kirakira @ Hampshire College, Amherst, MA (Foxtails, Owen Manure, Violet Pine)
11/15/2021: kirkira @ Firehouse, Worcester, MA w/ CHS, Cyrovacs, Scald Hymn, Diagram Angelsbreath, Mellified Man, Liam Kramer White, flubber boiler
11/14/2021: kirakira @The Parlor, New Paltz, NY w/flubber boiler, Giant Enemy Cancer Cult, Death Drive, Rhuberry Bluebarb
11/13/2021: 10 Forward Greenfield, MA(Telechrome Cloth Tour: Cal Fish, Itchy Kisses, LUCY, B.L.I.X.(Lena Meginsky and Jake Meginsky)
11/14/2021: Hearts Fan Inflatable for Prattsville Art Center (Fall Residency Show)
10/17/2021: kirakira @Nature’s Classroom, Charlton, MA, THEM Fest w/ The Skirts, Connor Storms & His Boys, Rhuberry Bluebarb, Doctor Medicine
10/16/2021: TOBEYHORSE, PonyHenge, Lincoln, MA, October 2021
7/6/2021: Cybernetic Surf Club Presents: Fruiting Chamber, Soft Surplus, Brooklyn, NY (Bronwen Brenner, Zoey Greenwald, Jo Kwon, Rob Mousavi, Olivia McKayla Ross, Claire Zhang)
2023
October 2023 - March 2024: “WHERE THE CHERRIES END AND THE JELLO BEGINS,” 2023, Group Exhibition: “Digital Iridescence: Jell-O in New Media”, Museum of Fine Arts Boston (Lizbeth and George Krupp Gallery), Curated by Kendal DeBoer
2022
October 13, 2022 -November 12, 2022: WHAT’S THE SECRET: Fall Exhibition Proposal Series, curated by Maya Rubio, Gallery 263, Cambridgeport, MA
2021
Missed Connections Boston January 2021 in Printed Matter Virtual Art Book Fair: BACK IN INK, February 2021
2020
Solo Show Presents: Chapter 5: Behind The Times, Curated by: Abby Lloyd & Alyssa Davis Gallery (Click to Read more)
August 2020, Area Code Art Fair Special Projects, Curated by Ellen Tani and Marla McLeod
2019
February 2019, 8Ball Community x Bedroom Zine Fair, Hong Kong
Selected Residencies/Fellowships
Teaching Fellow, Processing Foundation, Cybernetic Opera Company with Olivia McKayla Ross, Summer 2023
Artist in Residence, Prattsville Art Center, May 2023
Ceramics/Production Residency, Pillowfort Arts Center, Andes, NY, September 2022
Archives Fellow/Ceramics Teaching Artist, Pine Mountain Settlement School, Bledsoe, Kentucky, June 2022
KISS: FLY: AIR: BELT, Rogue Car Production Residency, April 2022
Selected Public Programs
June 2023: Map Dancing at Zone 3 Western Ave, in Body Wash Series: Performance Art Workshops, Curated by Maya Rubio
August/September 2022: DESIRE PATHS: Sonic Walk/Urban Choreographic Scores @ Boston Center for the Arts (alongside M’Kenzy Cannon: PLEASE LET ME IN, August 6 - September 10, Curated by Maya Rubio)
December 2020/January 2021: Disposable Camera Program @ MIT List Visual Arts Center
September 2020: Postcard Program @ MIT List Visual Arts Center
Selected Performances
2024
1/1: Noise Brunch (Firehouse, Worcester, MA)
2023
8/12/23: Northeast Noise Fest 2023 (Worcester, MA)
5/19/23: Cold Spring Hollow, Belchertown, MA (Ross Wightman’s FIDDLEHENGE, Birthday Surprise, NatKat Duo, HSFB)
5/18/23: FIND OUT # 15, First Church in Jamaica Plain, MA (NNUX w/ visuals by LO.FI.SCI.FI, Camilo Angeles, Ross Wightman FIDDLEHENGE)
4/21/23: ELIZA, STARS ARE BLIND with MACHINIAC (An T, Lids, Smiley, and Ellen) (Worcester, MA)
4/15/23: Worcester, MA (Crank Sturgeon, Andrea Pensado, Cost of Living, +DOG+, NxCx, Cursed Image)
4/7/23: Red Ink (Providence, RI) with Web Hex and Cargo
3/24/23: Hampshire College (Amherst, MA) with Playbackers and Beam Splitter
1/20/23: Worcester, MA (Kath Bloom, Staubitz and Waterhouse, Andy McLeod, Cursed Image)
1/6: AS220, Providence, RI
2022
11/19: Kelly Chen/Caleb Chase/Aly Gear @ Sonorium Salem, MA
11/17: Cursed Image @ Firehouse Worcester, MA (Stalwart (Ben Edison, Caleb Duval, James Paul Nadien, Luke Rovinsky, Kelly Bray), Forbes Graham, Michael LaRocca)
11/12: Cursed Image @ Washington Street Arts (Somerville, MA), Playbackers 2.0 (Arkm Foam, Stella Sillbert, Donny Shaw), Joe Burgio
11/10: A Trip to the Moon: Early Special Effects Screenings and Improvisation (Anna Reidister, Leah Gutman, Aly Gear, Caleb Chase, Kelly Chen, Crescent, Diego Salvador Martinez, Evan Haskin, Mackenzie Kourie, Edward Fowler, Alby Pearson, Marie Carroll, Rihards Kolmanis) at Gallery 263, Cambridgeport, MA
10/21: Cursed Image @ The Ridge, Providence, RI (County Conservation District, Sheridan Woika, Instant Messenger, Orgone Splitter)
6/18/2022: Solstice Jubilee @ Tourist Trap Allston, MA (Reggie Pearl, Kira McSpice, The Croaks)
6/4/2022: Cursed Image @ Firehouse Worcester, MA (Wrest, Marie Carroll & Yoona Kim, Michael Rosenstein & Jesse Collins)
4/25/2022: Worcester, MA (Adaa, Nestor, Bromp Treb, PussyVision)
4/10/2022: Root Cellar @ Bard College Hudson, NY (Space Camp, Loren Ames, Aly Gear, B.L.I.X.)
4/9/2022: Firehouse Worcester, MA Caleb Chase/Kelly Chen/Aly Gear (Sunk Heaven, Revenge Body)
3/26/2022: Firehouse Worcester, MA (Andrea Pensado, Baby Baby Explores, Precious Metal Lady)
2021
12/10/2021: kirakira @ Purchase College, Purchase, NY (Rada Rada, Aly Gear)
12/4/2021: kirakira @ Hampshire College, Amherst, MA (Foxtails, Owen Manure, Violet Pine)
11/15/2021: kirkira @ Firehouse, Worcester, MA w/ CHS, Cyrovacs, Scald Hymn, Diagram Angelsbreath, Mellified Man, Liam Kramer White, flubber boiler
11/14/2021: kirakira @The Parlor, New Paltz, NY w/flubber boiler, Giant Enemy Cancer Cult, Death Drive, Rhuberry Bluebarb
11/13/2021: 10 Forward Greenfield, MA(Telechrome Cloth Tour: Cal Fish, Itchy Kisses, LUCY, B.L.I.X.(Lena Meginsky and Jake Meginsky)
11/14/2021: Hearts Fan Inflatable for Prattsville Art Center (Fall Residency Show)
10/17/2021: kirakira @Nature’s Classroom, Charlton, MA, THEM Fest w/ The Skirts, Connor Storms & His Boys, Rhuberry Bluebarb, Doctor Medicine
10/16/2021: TOBEYHORSE, PonyHenge, Lincoln, MA, October 2021
7/6/2021: Cybernetic Surf Club Presents: Fruiting Chamber, Soft Surplus, Brooklyn, NY (Bronwen Brenner, Zoey Greenwald, Jo Kwon, Rob Mousavi, Olivia McKayla Ross, Claire Zhang)