Won Lee
South Korean, 1946 - 2021
Won Lee (1946 - 2021) was a Korean-born sculptor renowned for his focus on the human figure. He honed his craft through extensive drawing and clay modeling, often transforming realistic shapes into abstract forms before firing them in his studio kiln. When not in his studio, Lee traveled to countries like China and Mexico to cast his creations in bronze.
Despite facing the challenges of polio during his childhood in Korea, Lee's prolific output and energetic spirit shone through his work. His determination was evident as he constructed two-meter-high clay models with unwavering focus, often working without breaks or assistance. In this regard, he shared a heroic tradition with early Abstract Expressionist sculptors like Reuben Nakian. However, unlike Nakian's classical formalism, Lee maintained a dynamic engagement with his models, paying close attention to every detail. His approach echoes the late existentialist works of Alberto Giacometti, with figures characterized by a holistic pattern that emphasizes texture and exaggerated proportions.
Lee's sculptures exude a tactile resonance, enhancing the surface with facets that draw viewers in. While he initially started as a figurative painter, he made a powerful transition to sculpture in the last decade, after a hiatus from his artistic pursuits. This shift highlighted the plasticity of the medium and his evolving artistic vision.
As noted by art critic Robert C. Morgan, Lee's sculptures navigate the space between expressionist realism and abstract formalism, embodying the artist's emotional responses to both art and life. Rather than simply replicating the external visual world, his work emerges from a deeper engagement with the concept of sunyata, or emptiness, found in Zen Buddhism. Morgan further observes that Lee's sculptures reflect a move away from the "expanded field" defined by Rosalind Krauss, gravitating instead toward a confined psychological space filled with anxiety and a quest for intimacy.
Lee earned his B.F.A. from Pepperdine University and his M.F.A. from Johnson State College, also attending the Otis Art Institute. His sculptures have been featured in various publications, including Sculpture magazine, and he lectured globally on postmodern art theories and practices. An internationally acclaimed artist, Won Lee's impactful body of work continues to resonate in exhibitions around the world.
Despite facing the challenges of polio during his childhood in Korea, Lee's prolific output and energetic spirit shone through his work. His determination was evident as he constructed two-meter-high clay models with unwavering focus, often working without breaks or assistance. In this regard, he shared a heroic tradition with early Abstract Expressionist sculptors like Reuben Nakian. However, unlike Nakian's classical formalism, Lee maintained a dynamic engagement with his models, paying close attention to every detail. His approach echoes the late existentialist works of Alberto Giacometti, with figures characterized by a holistic pattern that emphasizes texture and exaggerated proportions.
Lee's sculptures exude a tactile resonance, enhancing the surface with facets that draw viewers in. While he initially started as a figurative painter, he made a powerful transition to sculpture in the last decade, after a hiatus from his artistic pursuits. This shift highlighted the plasticity of the medium and his evolving artistic vision.
As noted by art critic Robert C. Morgan, Lee's sculptures navigate the space between expressionist realism and abstract formalism, embodying the artist's emotional responses to both art and life. Rather than simply replicating the external visual world, his work emerges from a deeper engagement with the concept of sunyata, or emptiness, found in Zen Buddhism. Morgan further observes that Lee's sculptures reflect a move away from the "expanded field" defined by Rosalind Krauss, gravitating instead toward a confined psychological space filled with anxiety and a quest for intimacy.
Lee earned his B.F.A. from Pepperdine University and his M.F.A. from Johnson State College, also attending the Otis Art Institute. His sculptures have been featured in various publications, including Sculpture magazine, and he lectured globally on postmodern art theories and practices. An internationally acclaimed artist, Won Lee's impactful body of work continues to resonate in exhibitions around the world.
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