At HEARTS Harvest ’25: Milk & Honey on November 8, 2025, and HEARTSongs ‘25: Poetry of Freedom on February 22, 2025, guests experienced the powerful mixed-media and collage works of John “Trey” Miles through the Into the Fields and Unspoken Poetry exhibits in Cedar Grove’s Center Hall, presented in partnership with Nine-Eighteen-Nine Gallery. Trey’s compositions focused on the lived experiences of African Americans across both historic and contemporary contexts, using layered imagery to convey complex social narratives. His large-scale diptychs and award-winning America Gentrified series recognized as “Best Exhibit” in Charlotte in 2023, served as visual commentary on identity, memory, and cultural space, inviting viewers into meaningful and unspoken reflection. Through his dynamic and socially grounded practice, Trey’s ability to translate emotion and history into visual form soundly defines HEARTS’ work.

John “Trey” Miles III is a mixed-media and collage artist based in Charlotte, North Carolina. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Western Carolina University, where he developed the foundation for his multidisciplinary artistic practice.

His work has been exhibited at institutions including the Mint Museum, the Harvey B. Gantt Center, the VAPA Center, the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) in Raleigh, and the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. His artwork is also part of the collection at Nine Eighteen Nine Studio Gallery.

Through collage and mixed media, Trey explores visual storytelling, layering imagery and materials to create works that invite reflection, discovery, and new perspectives.