Ken Miller’s Art Continues Two Years After ALS Diagnosis
The painter uses a power wheelchair and modified brushes to create new work for an upcoming exhibition titled Beyond Terminal.
By Kevin Iyer ·
Ken Miller is preparing a new exhibition called Beyond Terminal. The show will feature his work at the Jack Meier Gallery in Houston, Texas, and the Trimper Gallery in Greenwich, Connecticut. Miller is currently producing paintings for these venues while managing the physical demands of his craft.
Miller was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in March 2024. The disease affects motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, leading to progressive muscle weakness and stiffness. He resumed painting two months after his initial diagnosis. He stated that the new work possesses an energy that did not exist before his diagnosis.
The condition requires specific adaptations for his daily routine. Miller builds his paint brushes with foam to help his hands grasp them securely. His arms do not easily raise above his head, so he uses his power wheelchair to elevate himself to the necessary height for working on canvas. He views these changes as a challenge that he finds exciting rather than a negative factor.
Miller described the disease as a progressive neurodegenerative condition. He noted that while ALS paralyzes muscles, it does not remove feeling or intelligence. He said that people with the disease can still create, write, teach, research, organize, and invent. He emphasized that individuals with ALS offer meaningful contributions to the world at all stages of the disease.
Local organizations provide essential support for his work and mobility. ALS Ride For Life, a Long Island-based group founded by Christopher Pendergast, assisted in making his home and studio accessible. The organization also provided an accessible vehicle for travel. Miller participates in the Christopher Pendergast ALS Association Center of Excellence at Stony Brook University Hospital.
Miller is currently receiving an experimental drug through Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. He also participates in their ALS center. He noted that eighty percent of people with ALS die within two to five years of diagnosis, but each case progresses differently.
Miller is a photographer and author. He published The Hamptons: Long Island’s East End through Rizzoli in 1993. His photography background helps him use space effectively on canvas. He favors bold and intentional representations that may cross into surrealism. His work is available on Instagram under the handle @kcmillerart.
