Today we’d like to introduce you to Mi Young Lee.
Hi Mi Young, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I always have dreamed of being an artist. Yet family expectations were different and I have started as a medical student in Korea. But my passion over being a professional artist urged me to explore a different educational and career path and one summer, I jumped on a plane to US.
While in formal training for BFA and MFA at Univ of South Dakota(USD), I was fortunate to exhibit in solo and group exhibits discovering that my artworks make people happy and healed. I spent many years showing my works around the US and other countries while teaching classes in USD. As a woman with a foreign background, I was honored to be selected as one of ten notable alumni from USD along with a prominent news anchor and US Senator.
Austin has always been one of my top favorite places to show my paintings as the City is full of vibrant and dynamic vibes and I like its diverse open-minded demographics. While I have started my education and career in MidWest, my heart has been with Texas ever since I had a first show at Laguna Gloria museum compound. I moved to Austin in 2010 and I built my main studio home in Pflugerville in 2011, situated between northeast of Weird place and a Rock. Over the last ten years, I have been creating based in Central Texas most of the time. During wintertime, I also have been working out of my small studio in Fort Lauderdale FL.
As I have been exhibiting last 20 years in Korea International Art Fair, I am more focused on international art venues. and commission paintings.
● Please see my website www.miyounglee.com
● Refer article
Refer Social Media
● Please refer 8 minutes of video aired on Public Television.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has never been easy and smooth to get here.
I had to start over as an undergraduate art major in South Dakota since I have ditched my medical school education.
Transition was overwhelming from cultural and educational point of view. Yet I was lucky to have mentors and professors who have guided me to start as a professional artist.
For a while, I had to keep my teaching job at the University of South Dakota while showing my work at competitive art venues over the weekends across the United States.
Styles of my artwork have been evolving over time as I have strived for delivering new ideas and concepts.
Trying new ideas to new customers or existing collectors have been always challenging and nail-biting.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I create energy and optimism through my abstract paintings. The source of inspiration for my work comes from the essence of the objects and events which I observe about me. I perceive this essence as a dynamic energy, changing and flowing as life moves from one stage to another.
My artwork comes in geometric forms, organic shapes, gestures and textures, combined in a kaleidoscope of colors to create an image of harmony, positive energy and optimism.
Along with Art Palm Beach, SCOPE Miami, Cologne Artfair Germany, Beijing Artfair and KIAF Korea, I have participated with various competitive and juried art festival circuits across the United States such as Coconut Grove, Naples National, Bayou City, Main Street, Old Town and Uptown. With the numerous awards and recognitions, I have built a quite broad and strong client base directly interacting the customers and collectors.
I have been honored to have my paintings owned in many public places like schools, airports and law or medical offices and to have my paintings been cherished at many individual collectors’ homes.
I feel excited and very fortunate that my career has made a lot of people feel uplifted and happy through my paintings.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Be bold, aggressive in expressing yourself in your own art. Anything is possible if you are passionate enough and work hard enough and keep your dreams alive and high.
Be tenacious as nothing comes in easy. Sometimes you can benefit a lot from a mentor if you find the right one.
S/he would be the one who can give you neutral and honest, sometimes positive or sometimes negative, opinions.
Be nice to and have a good rapport with your co-workers and fellow artists. At times they might appear as competitors to you but they are the ones who can help you out when you have difficulties.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.miyounglee.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/mylartist
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x2A4QQKotT0
