Today we’d like to introduce you to Mi Young Lee.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born in South Korea where as a child I was steeped in the philosophical and artistic traditions of my culture. During my early years, my progressive parents saw to it that I was also introduced to philosophies and concepts of art as they have developed in other cultures around the world.
As I began my development as an artist I found that the traditional Korean art forms of portraiture, landscapes and floral paintings left my desire for self expression unsatisfied. I then decided to continue my development as an artist outside of South Korea where I could experience a culture where abstraction was more prevalent as an art form. To that end I decided to continue my art education in the United States and completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1985, and then a Master of Fine Arts degree in 1988.
After attaining my MFA I began my career as a professional Fine Artist, participating in competitive juried group art exhibitions locally, regionally, and then nationally, many in which I won awards for my artwork. Additionally, I have had numerous solo exhibitions in galleries throughout the United States. In 1995 I took my career abroad, making my international debut to critical acclaim with a solo exhibit in a prestigious art gallery in my home country of South Korea. I have since continued to expand my resume with exhibits in China and Germany as well.
In addition to my career as a Fine Artist I also served as a Professor of Fine Art and Visiting Artist at The University of South Dakota College Of Fine Art and periodically gave talks to students about making a career as a professional artist.
In 2011 I moved my primary studio home to Pflugerville, northeast Austin Texas and started to create impressive paintings and engage with local artists.
As I approach retirement, I have gradually scaled back my participation in outdoor art exhibits, shifting my creative focus toward indoor gallery exhibitions and private commission work. At the same time, I have embraced a passion for international travel, exploring new cultures, sights, and experiences around the world. To stay active at home, I have taken up pickleball, investing dedicated time and energy into the sport while building meaningful friendships and connections within the community.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Balancing constant creative output with seasonal client expectations was a continuous challenge. To connect with a diverse regional client base, I had to stay sharp, keeping up with shifting color palettes and design trends.
Dealing with illness in my family was another challenging period, and I had to scale back most of my art exhibits to prioritize caregiving in Korea.
Afterwards, the COVID-19 pandemic brought further disruptions, making travel and exhibitions nearly impossible as public events were cancelled across the board.
Year 2021 was exceptionally exhausting and overwhelming as I had to stay in Korea over 6 months away from home to support my family member who had to attend to caregiving and I began to withdraw from entire outdoor exhibits.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Working primarily in oils and acrylics on canvas or paperboard, I create abstract paintings based on personal expression. My artwork is not intended merely for decoration, nor is it aimed at defining the external origins of my inspiration. While I am always glad when viewers connect with a piece and find beauty within it, my primary purpose is to visually communicate inner emotion.
My paintings are non-representational, drawing instead from the impressions left by my environment, surroundings, and life experiences. Each piece forms a composite of geometric structures, organic forms, dynamic gestures, and layered textures—blended in a kaleidoscope of color to evoke harmony, energy, and optimism.
One of my commissioned paintings is on permanent display in the Student Lounge at the Beacom School of Business, following its formal presentation to the University of South Dakota in 2009. Travelers passing through Sioux Falls Regional Airport (Joe Foss Field / FSD) can also view my artwork on display in the terminal.
My work is frequently highlighted in private residences and commercial spaces featured across design media.
Recognized by the University of South Dakota Alumni Association as one of ten Notable Alumni, I was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus and presented with the Alumni Achievement Award.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Artificial Intelligence has been impacting artist and markets. The narrative is moving away from “AI replacing painters” toward AI being absorbed into studio practice—much like photography was in the 19th century.
While generative AI floods markets with instant digital imagery, the value of physical, tactile, human-made artwork is still getting more attentions from art collectors. Art works that clearly display a unique creation, complex physical labour or human touch will see the increased demand as counterweights to digital saturation.
Painters might use digital imagery or AI primarily for early conceptual exploration, compositional thumbnailing, color palette testing, and spatial planning. However, the primary market will remain cautious about selling AI-generated output directly, favoring finished traditional media.
Pricing:
- 48×72 or bigger $7500
- 36×72 $6000
- 36×60 $4500
- 30×60 $4000
- 20×40 $3000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.miyounglee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miyoungleeart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mylartist/
- Youtube: https://miyounglee.com/gallery0/
