STEPHANIE S. LEE

ARTIST STATEMENT:

Stephanie S. Lee reimagines Minhwa (Korean folk art) through her New York experience, using traditional materials to bridge cultures while exploring resilience, identity, and finding happiness "nevertheless" within one's own story. Through her Munjado series reflecting life as a female artist using the form of letters and Chakegeori depicting bookshelves with valuable items she loves, Lee transforms traditional motifs. Her reinterpreted zodiac animals serve as guardians of perseverance in a multicultural context, celebrating the beauty in everyday moments and suggesting that contentment comes from embracing our unique journeys rather than seeking happiness elsewhere..

Bio:

Queens-based artist Stephanie S. Lee creates paintings inspired by minhwa, traditional Korean folk art. Her work has been exhibited internationally in prestigious venues including the Korean Cultural Centers in Paris, Madrid, and Washington, D.C.; the National Museum of Korea; and numerous museums and galleries across the United States. She has also participated in major art fairs in New York, Miami, and Hong Kong.

Lee is the recipient of multiple grants and honors, including recognition from the New York Foundation for the Arts, Queens Council on the Arts, and selection for the U.S. Department of State's Art in Embassies program. Her work has been featured in prominent publications such as Hyperallergic, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. A graduate of Pratt Institute with BFA and MS degrees, Lee continues to live and work in Queens.