Exhibitions at the Shaker Historical Society are made possible with current or previous support from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture and the Ohio Arts Council.

What if...Why not? — September 27, 2025 - February 15, 2026 

Chi-Irena Wong invites viewers into a playful and absurd world where the illogical becomes ordinary. Through humorous “what if” scenarios—like grocery shopping in claw machines, wearing shoes as hats, or dining on lint-burgers—her work challenges perceptions of what is normal and what is absurd. Layered with quirky details and whimsical characters, the pieces reward active looking, sparking discovery and delight. Wong’s fantastical worlds encourage us to question our own reality with humor and curiosity, leaving space for joy, laughter, and the invention of our own silly possibilities.

Chi earned her BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2020 and is currently based in Cleveland, OH. She specializes in watercolor drawings and public installations. Wong’s drawings depict a fantastical world that is playful, humorous, and absurd by posing “what if?” and “why not?” questions. Chi has worked with organizations: LAND Studio, Arts Impact, Downtown Akron Partnership, Cleveland Museum of Art, Akron Museum of Art, MoonCat Boba Cafe, Massillon Museum, Cuyahoga County Public Library (CCPL), Art X Love: Akron On Deck, Cleveland Public Library, AsiaTown Cleveland, Midtown Cleveland, LJ Shanghai, Asian Services In Action (ASIA), Cleveland Metroparks, Piano Cleveland, Waterloo Arts District, Art House, Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA), City of Parma, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), and Baker-Nord Square. Chi is part of Summa Health’s private Healing Art Collection.

What if...Why not? opens September 27 during AppleFest and will be on view through February 15, 2026. This exhibition is supported in part by residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.