Exhibitions
WESLEY RODEN + ELENA NIKOLAEVA: STILLNESS IN MOTION - THE LONG DRIVE HOME
Tri-Star Arts / 4450 Candora Ave., Candoro Marble Building November 20th (Reception: November 20 5:00pm - 8:00pm)
Wesley Roden, Elena Nikolaeva
Tri-Star Arts is pleased to present a site responsive pop-up exhibition titled Stillness In Motion: The Long Drive Home feat. works by Wesley Roden (Knoxville, TN) and Elena Nikolaeva (Chattanooga, TN) in the carriage house at the historic Candoro Marble Building on Friday, November 20, 2026 from 5:00 until 8:00 pm (one night only).
Wesley Roden is a mixed media artist currently working in Knoxville, Tennessee. His work prior to 2019 consisted of illustrations in acrylic and ink, referencing the saturated colors and storytelling of comics. After studying under Chattanooga based muralists, Wes began collaging and painting to convey narratives unique to Southern Appalachia. In 2023, Wes received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where his work shifted from depicting personal experience to narratives surrounding community. The resulting work explored architecture as well as multi-media installation, employing each medium's ability to facilitate shared experiences. Since then, Wes has balanced oil painting, sculpture, and mixed media installation, exploring the intersection of each to reflect commonalities within his audience.
Elena Nikolaeva is a video and performance artist whose work captures moments of emotional intensity and vulnerability. Working primarily with video, temporal dislocation, and improvised spoken word, Elena captures the emotional residue of time passing, weaving scenes within a public yet intimate digital space where vulnerability and self-recognition are preserved. She navigates processing of memories and imagined futures, finding ground within. Elena holds a BFA in Graphic Design and a Bachelor's in Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Her background also includes theater and improvisational training, both at the university and with various organizations throughout the region. Drawing on this foundation, her work focuses on deepened connection with herself, with others, and her surroundings.
