Bio

I am a Korean-Canadian painter based in Toronto. After studying drawing and painting at OCAD University, I initially focused on creating abstract paintings influenced by Abstract Expressionism, reflecting the state of flux and opposing forces of life. However, due to personal circumstances, I returned to Korea and worked at a private school, putting my art practice on hold amidst the hustle and bustle of life. Over the years, my longing for art-making grew stronger. Finally, I decided to return to Canada and rekindle my passion for painting. After a decade-long hiatus, I’m rediscovering the joy of life through art once again.

Artist Statement

I make imaginary paintings that oscillate between abstraction and representation. My fascination lies in exploring diverse visual experiences. I aim to create paintings that evoke a sense of mysticism, dreaminess, reflection, and healing, drawing inspiration from personal memories, nature, and art history - including Eastern traditional landscape, Post-impressionism, Les Nabis, Spiritual abstraction, and  Post-pop landscape.

My work embraces naturalness, simplicity, and spontaneity. I approach painting in organic and intuitive ways, reveling in the surprises that unfold during the process.  I play with simplified forms and lines, bold colours, shifting perspectives, flatness, and texture.  Nature motifs recur in my works.  Layering little, impulsive decisions is part of the process, involving stretching a preliminary sketch from different directions.  The act of painting is analogous to “the natural world where connections of different kinds alternate, overlap, combine mutually and thereby determine the texture of the whole”, as excerpted from The Tao of Physics, at a multidimensional level. 

I’m intrigued by the strange aspect of painting which imparts a sense of connectivity and sensibility.  I view painting as a tool to console the individual soul and compensate for our psychological frailties.  I hope my paintings can offer a vicarious escape and temporary respite from a fatiguing and monotonous world.

Series of Works

1. Innerscape Series: 

This ‘Innerscape’ series is inspired by the Korean traditional landscape, “San Su Hwa” which depicts mountains and waters with simple lines and spontaneous mark-makings and emphasizes the beauty of naturalness.   The philosophical notion of “San Su Hwa”, expressed mystical connotations of nature and focused on naturalness, simplicity, and spontaneity.   In a spiritual sense, painting is like “a collaborative dance between self and nature”. 

2. The Way Things Are Series:

This ‘The Way Things Are’ series is inspired by the Eastern philosophical teaching that accepting the nature of things and all phenomena as they are in the moment helps reduce suffering. Painting can be a meditative practice where interventions of the irregular and uncontrolled are allowed to discover new forms and feel a sense of immediacy.

3. Walking With You Series:

This ‘Walking With You’ series is inspired by my memories of the places where I’ve taken walks.  I enjoy exploring various parks in the city, discovering the beauty within their landscapes. Using photo references as a starting point, I reconfigure them within the interplay of perspective, colours, lines, and shapes.

C.V.

Education

2006 - BFA in drawing and painting, OCAD University, Toronto

Activities

2024

• Artist Project, juried art fair, Toronto - April

• Partial Group Show as part of DesignTO 2024, Art Intelligence: The Near Future of Art in Canada, Gallery 1313, Toronto - January

2023

• 32nd Annual KASC Exhibition: group show celebrating 60th anniversary of Korea & Canada Diplomatic Relations, Papermill Gallery, Toronto - September

• TOAF, juried art fair, Toronto - July

• Artist Project, juried art fair, Toronto - April

2009

• Solo show “New Paintings”, Greenavi Cafe and Gallery, Toronto

• Participating in the auction for the fundraising at The Silver Lining Gala celebrating the 25th anniversary of Environmental Defence, Toronto

• Group show, the 2nd Exhibition of Art Focus, McKay Art Gallery, Unionville, Toronto

2006

• Graduation show at OCAD, Toronto

2005

• Group show, Korean-Canadian Art Exhibition, Korean Consulate, Toronto

Articles

2023 - Toronto Star “10 Must-See Artists at Toronto’s Artist Project”, April 12, 2023

https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/visualarts/2023/04/12/buying-art-artist-project-hits-toronto-with-everything-from-kitschy-ceramics-to-portraits-to-large-scale-installations-and-a-tower-of-banned-books.html

Gallery Representation

• Riverdale gallery at Riverdale Hub

  https://riverdalehub.ca/product-category/artisan-shop/ellee-sy-lee/

• Partial gallery

  https://elleesy.partial.gallery/