Abstract artwork in earthy green and brown tones with layered marks resembling tall grass and foliage.

Recess opens a window into the creative practices of TWU's emerging artists

TWU's inaugural artists-in-residence transform humour, play, and rest into engaging new works. 

Trinity Western University’s Department of Art and Design is pleased to present Recess, an exhibition of new work by TWU students and alumni Rachel Kehler, Oli Nicholson, Yesom (Ben) Kim, Isaiah Baek, Zoe Towne, and Letong (Pink) Chen on display at the SAMC gallery from Oct. 3 to Nov. 1, 2026 

Recess presents works created during Trinity Western University's inaugural Artist-in-Residence program, which hosted two current students, two new graduates, and two alumni. These six artists occupied TWU’s art and design studios for ten weeks over the summer months. Working across media and exploring community and collaborative practices, the artists-in-residence embrace humour and play through the works presented in this exhibition.  

The Artist-In-Residence program was created with the goal of fostering community and mentorship relationships amongst artists. SAMC Gallery Curator and Art and Design Department Chair Alysha Creighton noted the lack of studio spaces in the Fraser Valley, saying, “We saw this residency as a way to use the resources we have—our studio spaces—to support emerging artists as they establish their practices. We believe we have a responsibility to continue to support alumni after graduation and to nourish the art ecosystem in the region.”

Colourful drawing of a segmented blue fish with a large yellow eye against a bright yellow and orange background.
Yesom Kim, from the series I Think I Threw Up (Highlighters on Paper) 

The title Recess invokes ideas of play and rest, as, for many of the artists in the exhibition, the studio became a place to relax and connect over the summer. Some works feature imagery from childhood vacations or evoke the saturated colours and imagery of early life. While works in the exhibition have light-hearted and playful overtones, they also touch on serious themes, such as AI and what makes us human, fears, relationships to home, and memory. For example, the collaborative project Organic Intelligence by the Third Space collective invites viewers to “insert a prompt to generate a picture.” Collective artists then swiftly generate a drawing in response to the prompt, inviting us to consider the difference between human and AI responses to image generation.

Two artworks displayed side by side: a stylized painting of a person riding a pink-red horse beneath the words “I am scared of horses,” and an abstract green-and-brown pastel work resembling tall grass.
Rachel Kehler, Equinophobia (Acrylic on canvas), and Isaiah Baek, Grass (Soft pastel on wood panel).

Engaging with diverse media from pastel drawing, painting, and sculpture to performance and video, the artists of Recess invite viewers to laugh, reflect meaningfully on their lives, and even consider their perception and understanding of reality.  

Recess runs from Oct. 3 to Nov. 1 at the SAMC Gallery on Trinity Western University’s Langley Campus. The exhibition and events are free and open to the public.

Opening Reception + Artist Talk: Oct. 8, 7–8:30 p.m.  

SAMC Gallery Location: Alloway Library, Trinity Western University, 22500 University Drive, Langley

Exhibition Opening hours:  
Monday–Thursday 7:45 a.m.–11 p.m.
Friday 7:45 a.m.–6 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Sunday 1:30–5 p.m. 

Holiday hours available here.

About the SAMC Gallery

The SAMC gallery was founded in 2017 and is the main exhibition space for the Department of Art and Design at Trinity Western University’s School of Arts, Media, and Culture. It hosts exhibitions of two to three professional artists and designers per year as well as two student exhibitions. The gallery is an important pedagogical space for the department of art and design, exposing students to diverse professional art practices while also serving the wider campus community and the Langley public. The gallery is located in the Norma Marion Alloway Library building, directly adjacent to the Learning Commons, positioning it as an important learning space for the entire campus community.  

Media Contact
Alysha Creighton, SAMC Gallery Coordinator
alysha.creighton@twu.ca  
604.440.5236

Exhibitions website: https://www.twu.ca/life-twu/arts-media-music/samc-gallery-exhibitions  
Social Media: @samc.at.twu

About Trinity Western University

Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students for life. Uniting faith and reason through Christian teaching and scholarship, TWU is a research institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in the humanities and sciences as well as in several professional schools. TWU has its main campus in Langley, B.C. and campus sites in Richmond, B.C. and Ottawa, Ont. 

Learn more at twu.ca or follow @TrinityWestern on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. For media inquiries, please contact media@twu.ca.