Hi, I’m
Milly.
Hi! I am Milly J, a Haitian-American visual artist originally from Miami, Florida. I always had a creative spirit and initially thought my future would be in fashion. In 2018, I moved to New York City to attend my dream school—Parsons School of Design.
After experiencing a personal tragedy during my time at Parsons, I discovered painting as a powerful outlet for healing, identity, and expression. What began as an emotional escape became a calling. I now create bold, abstract, and mixed-media works that celebrate the beauty, resilience, and individuality of Black people—especially through vibrant color, expressive form, and storytelling without limits.
Follow the studio @chx.8 ↗Why I paint.
My art is a reflection of the beauty and resilience within the Black community. I aim to capture the essence of Black individuals—our features, culture, and style—with each piece. Each painting is rooted in a deep sense of identity, honoring who we are beyond surface and stereotype. Through colorful lines, I move beyond traditional shades of brown to represent our skin.
The lines that move through my figures reflect my curiosity about what makes each of us who we are. I think of them as fingerprints, but also as paths: where we began, where we thought we would be, and the unexpected turns that brought us somewhere else. As we grow and age, our lives take directions we could not have imagined. I’m interested in how those experiences shape us, and how we continue becoming ourselves along the way.
Along these changing paths, I’m also drawn to the moments when we can pause and simply be. I love depicting Black people in moments of stillness, in spaces where they feel safe enough to rest and connect. I want to show us living without constantly looking over our shoulders—existing and navigating everyday life like everyone else. My paintings make room for that ease: the quiet, familiar moments when we can feel at home in ourselves and our surroundings.