Il Lee
Encyclopedia
Il Lee is a Korean American
contemporary artist currently living in New York City
. He is best known for working almost exclusively in the medium of ballpoint pen
on paper and canvas. His works have been exhibited in Seoul
, Paris
, New York City
and San Jose
. His work is minimalist in style and can be linked to Asian calligraphy.
Lee was born in Seoul
, South Korea
. He received his B.F.A.
in painting from Hongik University
in 1976. He then moved to New York and earned his M.F.A.
from the Pratt Institute
in 1982. It was around this time that he began working with ballpoint pens. His earlier works were all drawn on paper, but in recent years he has begun to work on larger primed canvases.
Lee has been the subject of a critically acclaimed retrospective Il Lee: Ballpoint Abstractions at the San Jose Museum of Art
. and solo exhibitions at major cultural institutions including the Queens Museum of Art
and The Vilcek Foundation
in New York.
In May 2010, Lee had a solo exhibition at the Trammell & Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art in Dallas, Texas
.
Two works by Il Lee will be featured at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, along with works from the museum's permanent collection in a special installation on view from November 23, 2010-March 20, 2011.
Lee is represented by Art Projects International
in New York City.
http://www.aaa-a.org/2011/08/03/conversation-with-il-lee/
Korean American
Korean Americans are Americans of Korean descent, mostly from South Korea, with a small minority from North Korea...
contemporary artist currently living in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He is best known for working almost exclusively in the medium of ballpoint pen
Ballpoint pen
A ballpoint pen is a writing instrument with an internal ink reservoir and a sphere for a point. The internal chamber is filled with a viscous ink that is dispensed at its tip during use by the rolling action of a small sphere...
on paper and canvas. His works have been exhibited in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. His work is minimalist in style and can be linked to Asian calligraphy.
Lee was born in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. He received his B.F.A.
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
in painting from Hongik University
Hongik University
Hongik University, usually known as "Hongdae" for short, is a private university in the Mapo-gu district of central Seoul, South Korea with a second campus in Jochiwon, Chungcheongnam-do. Hongik University offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs...
in 1976. He then moved to New York and earned his M.F.A.
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
from the Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
in 1982. It was around this time that he began working with ballpoint pens. His earlier works were all drawn on paper, but in recent years he has begun to work on larger primed canvases.
Lee has been the subject of a critically acclaimed retrospective Il Lee: Ballpoint Abstractions at the San Jose Museum of Art
San Jose Museum of Art
The San Jose Museum of Art is an art museum in Downtown San Jose, California, USA. Founded in 1969, the museum hosts a large permanent collection emphasizing West Coast artists of the 20th- and 21st-century. It is located next to the Circle of Palms Plaza and Plaza de César Chávez...
. and solo exhibitions at major cultural institutions including the Queens Museum of Art
Queens Museum of Art
The Queens Museum of Art is an art museum and educational center located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in the borough of Queens in New York City, United States.-Overview:...
and The Vilcek Foundation
The Vilcek Foundation
The Vilcek Foundation aims to raise public awareness of the contributions of immigrants to the sciences, arts, and culture in the United States.The Foundation was established in 2000 by Jan and Marica Vilcek, immigrants from the former Czechoslovakia...
in New York.
In May 2010, Lee had a solo exhibition at the Trammell & Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art in Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Two works by Il Lee will be featured at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, along with works from the museum's permanent collection in a special installation on view from November 23, 2010-March 20, 2011.
Lee is represented by Art Projects International
Art Projects International
Art Projects International is a contemporary art gallery located in New York, New York, focusing on works of art by leading contemporary artists from Asia.-History:...
in New York City.
- REDIRECT Il Lee in the Asian Art Archives
http://www.aaa-a.org/2011/08/03/conversation-with-il-lee/
External links
- Il Lee: Ballpoint Drawings at the Queens Museum of Art, New York, 2007
- IL Lee featured at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York