In their quest, they are sometimes solitary, pursuing their interests with a passion beyond the comprehension of the people around them. At other times, the styles they champion are harbingers of things to come, movements that might stand the art world on its ear and astound the eyes of viewers. Whatever the outcome, society owes a deep debt to its artists who, through experiment, can lead us to new ways of seeing and experiencing the world around us. This is particularly true in the twentieth century, when advances in travel and communication have served to diminish political boundaries and create an unprecedented international art scene. Today’s honored artist, Wenguang  Chen, is just such an international artist. Looking beyond the traditions of native China, he has pursued his interest in Japanese-style painting with admirable determination. Chen has managed to create his own unique style that has earned him recognition both in China and in Japan. It is this spirit of internalization that makes it entirely fitting that we welcome him to other side of the globe.