Soyoun Lee

Provenance: Directly from the artist

So Youn Lee (B.1984, BFA Art Center College of Design 2012) is a Korean contemporary artist based in Los Angeles, CA. Recognized for her ethereal, dream-like aesthetic with explosions of surreal colors, Lee’s work delves into the invisible aspects of human beings, including the mind, soul, and sense of self. Her art challenges conventional notions of human existence beyond mere physical appearance and societal norms, as she contemplates the essence of being human.

Never Alone, included in her most recent series produced specifically for the Art Gala and her recent solo exhibition at Gallery Stan Seoul, she portrays her signature reimagined world inhabited by the protagonist Mango accompanied by its adored French Bulldog companion, Choco. Together, Mango and Choco journey through a pastel-hued galaxy, rainbow bubbles, and the space between eyes and stars. The softly glowing pastel colors are achieved by delicately layering oil paint with brushes on pre-prepared canvases with multiple layers of acrylic paint and varying textures to create both transparency and depth.

Inspired by the portrayal of virtual realms in comics and animation, the artist's work extends the boundaries of expression through alternative universes. Lee's artistic endeavors are influenced by the ethos of Dansaekwha groups, which emphasize dedication, discipline, and self-reflection through artistic activities. The artist views artworks as spiritual objects, where the artist's essence is manifested in the three-dimensional realm.

She has held solo exhibition in galleries worldwide such as (Gallery Ascend in Hong Kong, May Over the Moon in Hashimoto Contemporary New York, Gallery Stan in Seoul, Arsham Fieg Gallery in New York, Thinkspace Gallery in Culver City and Secret Fresh Gallery in Manila)