In the summer of 2019, gallerist and dealer Gary Snyder observed person along the banks of the Gallatin River in Big Sky Montana that, at first, appeared to be fly fishing. Upon closer inspection, however, Snyder realized that the man was actually using the casting of the fly rod, which had a specially made lure that conveyed acrylic paint, to make contact with a piece of clear polycarbonate, which serves as a canvas. He was creating in effect, a reverse painting, whereby the first marks constituted the foreground, and subsequent layers building the background.
The man behind this intriguing practice is Ben Miller, an artist and environmental advocate based in Bozeman. He spent over a decade as an educator in Washington before relocating to Montana in 2016, where his practice evolved to center the endangered rivers of the American West, and, more recently, other regions of the United States.
Ben Miller. Courtesy of Gary Snyder Fine Art.
Miller’s “Endangered Rivers” series features paintings born out of a dual passion for the natural landscape and raising awareness of the imperative work involved in its preservation. The artist described his initial inspiration for this series as a desire to share the stories of waterways. “Every watershed has a story, and people can use the paintings to tell those stories, share experiences, and discuss the external elements affecting the health of a river’s value,” said Miller.
Deploying his signature method of painting, which he describes as “fly cast painting,” Miller uses abstraction to harness the dynamism of his subject, as well as its distinct light, color, and movement. “Rivers are nothing more than what is perceived when looking into them, as a smear of color,” said Miller. “The entire genre of painting is dedicated to this very practice as resulting in a ‘smear of color.’ Taking inspiration from nature and the natural landscape is to wander into the unknown.”
Ben Miller, Ice Fly from “Fly Brushes.” Courtesy of Gary Snyder Fine Art.
Part of the artist’s unique technique includes designing bespoke flies, which he sketches in a notebook alongside extrapolations on its use, effect, as well as commentary on the flies’ inspiration. These sheets provide invaluable insight into the artist’s process—both technically and thematically.
Ben Miller, Raft River, AZ (2/26/25) (2025). Courtesy of Gary Snyder Fine Art.
Beyond the compositional and conceptual, a cornerstone of Miller’s practice is based on a mission to bring greater awareness to a multitude of endangered rivers. In 2025, he created Duwamish River, WA (7/2/25) (2025) in association with Gary Snyder Fine Art MT, the Duwamish River Community Coalition, and the Seattle Art Fair. The work benefits the coalition, which offers resources and support to counter the negative impacts of the river’s high pollution levels (it is considered one of the most polluted rivers in the U.S.).
Next up, Miller is slated to collaborate with leading river conservation group American Rivers, producing works based on waterways from their list of “America’s Most Endangered Rivers,” with plans in 2026 to paint Virginia’s Rappahannock River to benefit the group’s local causes.
Ben Miller, Atlantic Ocean, Miami, FL (1/4/25) (2025). Courtesy of Gary Snyder Fine Art.
Situated at the juncture of environmental responsibility and contemporary art, Miller’s work addresses a broad audience and some of the most pressing concerns today. His paintings, however, still leave room for viewers to bring their own thoughts and experiences to the work, resulting in a dialogue that dares to imagine a better future.
“I hope that what viewers take away from my work is how they see a river,” said Miller. “They will walk over a bridge or stand on a shore and look into the water with a compositional eye, with reverence to its flow and the colors of its stones, and think ‘this would make a great painting.’ I would love for folks to come away from a river painting and think about which rivers affect their lives. To feel nostalgia or excitement and anticipation at the prospect of exploring a water’s shores, and hold their experiences interacting with water in high regard, all spurred on by a painting.”
Installation view of work by Ben Miller at ExpoChicago presented by Gary Snyder Fine Art.
Explore the work of Ben Miller with Gary Snyder Fine Art here.