Catherine Lee
Artist Statement
My work expresses the many feelings I have while taking walks. Rather than complexity, I want to show the pleasure of living in a simple world through a walk in nature. Those emotions become the subject of my work. People, dogs, birds, trees, rocks, and the beauty of nature tell different stories, and every day I have a different reaction to these things. But eventually, my thoughts and emotions are sorted and refreshed. I want to invite the viewer to move into a space of speculation. While I have many unique images and emotions in my work, the methodology is always consistent. Mainly, ink is used in traditional Korean paper to form a basic frame, and on top of it, traditional Korean paint, acrylic, and pastel are used. But for my art, I use a mixture of Eastern and Western ingredients without following tradition. I do not insist on Western realism or Eastern traditional painting, but to pursue the most suitable material form of expression to convey my feelings. This project has always been grounded in pleasure and relaxation.
Biography
Catherine Lee is a San Francisco East Bay-based painter. She was born and raised in Seoul Korea and has lived in the United States since 2015. She is a painter and a teacher at a Korean school. She lives in El Cerrito, surrounded by the bay and Hillside Natural Park.
In her formative years, she was deeply impacted by the Korean traditional paper and black ink in Seoul. Catherine received her BFA and MD from Hongik University in 1997 and 2004. She majored in Korean art and used black ink and Korean paint on Jangji, a traditional Korean paper, and mixed materials such as acrylic, canvas, and pastel as necessary. She was selected for many festivals in Seoul from 2000-to 2005.(Dong-A Art, MisulSegye, Danwon Arts) and also worked as an art teacher at school.
Since moving to California in 2015, Catherine has exhibited her work in San Ramon City hall California. She is inspired by nature, especially the sky, trees, roads, flowers, and much more. She expresses the pleasure of nature within everyday scenery.
Education
1997 B.F.A., Oriental Painting, Hong-Ik University, Seoul, Korea
2004 M.D., Oriental Painting, Hong-Ik University, Seoul, Korea
Exhibition
2023 SF Superfine Art Fair
New Artists / New Jersey-Art Mora Gallery
Artworksdowntown Landscape Perspectives
2022 ART IN THE TIME OF CORONA™, https://artist.callforentry.org/
ART TO AMUSE & DELIGHT, FALKIRK CULTURAL CENTER
2019 San Ramon City Hall, California
2005 Yeobaekjjeon, Sydney, Australia
2004 Dong-A Art Festival, National Modern Art Gallery
2003 MisulSegye Arts Competition Award, Danwon Gallery
Danwon Arts Competition, Danwon Gallery Korea Modern Arts Festival, the west coast In China
2001 MisulSegye Arts Competition Award, Seoul Arts Center
2000 Painting in the literacy invitation exhibition, Dong-A Gallery