Maelee Lee
Maelee Lee (b. 1963) is multidisciplinary Korean artist, whose multifaceted practice spans painting, sculpture, installation, photography, video, sound, and projection. Her work delves into the themes of individual existence, essence, and collective memory, using a wide range of media to explore profound questions about humanity and its relationship with time. By transcending the boundaries between past, present, and future, Maelee’s art serves as a reflection on the interconnectedness of life and history.
A significant turning point in her artistic journey came during her experience at the Wolnam-sa Temple excavation site in 2011, where her fascination with geological formations and the earth as a conduit between the past and present was sparked. This experience deepened her exploration of the links between history, humanity, and existence, which continues to shape her work.
Maelee has exhibited her work internationally, including major international exhibitions such as the Gwangju Biennale (Gwangju, Korea, 2010, 2011, 2022), Venice Biennale (Venice, Italy, 2015) and the Kobe Biennale (Kobe, Japan, 2015). Her pieces are held in collections, including the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), the Gwangju Museum of Art, the Gwangju Cultural Foundation, the Rush Philanthropic Art Foundation in New York, the Rush National Contemporary Museum in Sofia, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Crete, among others.
In addition to her practice, Maelee is a visiting professor at Chosun University, where she shares her expertise and passion for art with future generations of artists.
