HIDDEN LORE OF THE HOSPITAL | Annie Chen

“I created this triptych for a medical school capstone project to process the profound interactions and environments encountered throughout my clinical rotations. Inspired by the themes of trust, purpose, and collaboration that define a hospital’s inhabitants, I used light and color to reframe the hospital as a place of sacred duty. This series invites viewers to look beyond the sterile and mundane to find the “lore” of healthcare, as a space where ancient rituals illuminate the modern clinician’s role.”

Annie Chen is a fourth-year medical student and incoming resident at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. A Rice University alumna, she began painting during childhood as a technical exercise to transcribe her outside world; throughout her medical training, it has evolved into a vital tool for processing profound clinical experiences. She sees the artistic process as a bridge between an individual’s inner and outer worlds, using her art to translate the complexities of the human condition into vibrant and reflective works.