Writing in the Galleries: Rupture, Action, Gesture, Collage

Inspired by the eclectic array of visual languages in Beyond Form: Abstraction at Midcentury, this session of Writing in the Galleries offers open-ended prompts that roughly mirror compositional techniques of abstraction such as rupture, action, gesture, and collage.

Writing in the Galleries is a program series that invites visitors to write in response to the art they see. Participants are encouraged to bring their favorite notebook and pencil. Writing materials will be available for those who need them, and folding stools will be provided.

About the Facilitators

Roy Zhu (they/them) is a Chicago-based writer. They received the Jean Meyer Aloe Academy of American Poets Prize in 2025, and their poetry has been published in Helicon. As a museum educator, Roy has facilitated public programs at Northwestern’s Block Museum of Art and at the Art Institute of Chicago. They hold a BA in environmental science and creative writing from Northwestern University.

Nancy Chen (she/her) is associate director of Gallery Activation, part of the department of Interpretation at the Art Institute of Chicago. She manages a portfolio of gallery programs that encourage adult and multi-generational audiences to creatively respond to artworks across the museum's vast collections. Nancy's personal practices include drawing, printmaking, and writing about art. She received an MA in the Humanities from the University of Chicago, concentrating in Creative Writing.