Ivory Yeunmi Lee

San Francisco-based artist Ivory Yeunmi Lee received her BFA and MFA from Kookmin University in Seoul. Her paintings are ironic and witty, existing on the border between fantasy and reality. While at first glance her works appear very graphic, Lee employees a variety of very traditional media, including oil, acrylic and colored pencil, to compose each piece. Each composition is centered on Lee’s concept of ‘The Garden’ as the basic matrix from which everything else in this universe originates. Executed in a lightly saturated color palette, her whimsical landscapes are inhabited by anthropomorphized plants and creatures. Despite the playful demeanor of these cartoon like creations, it is easy to sense the darkness that lurks beneath the surface. 

Selected Solo Show


2022

 'Hide & Seek-  Alison + Olivia into the garden' ,  Atelier Aki,  Seoul,  South Korea

2012

'After the garden is closed',  Pyo gallery LA,  Los Angeles

2009

'The garden inferno, Interalia, Seoul, S.Korea

2008

'The closed garden',Tokyo gallery+B.T.A.P, Tokyo,  Japan 

2005

'Fantastic Nature', Da Vinci gallery, Seoul , S.Korea
EXHIBITIONS

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITION


2023

Inaugural group show
Hashimoto Contemporary SF


2‌022

Powerlong Artcenter
Shanghai
‌‌'Ascend 11'
‌by gallery ascend, 
‌k11 Musea,
‌Hongkong


2017

'Sweet n low'
an international show of cute
Bedford Gallery, walnut creek, CA

‘BOTANICA; ALL THINGS PLANT LIFE"
national Juried Exhibition 
and was juried by Ken Harman of Hashimoto Contemporary and Spoke Art, San Francisco, CA and MacKenzie Stevens of the Hammer Museum, 
Los Angeles, CA.

Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA

2014

'Tiny'
Studio Gallery, 
San Francisco, CA
2013

'Gleaming Apollo' 
Gallery 825, LAAA,
Los Angeles, CA
       
2011

Gone fishing'
Pyo Gallery LA,
Los Angeles, CA

2009

'Enliven- In Between Realities and           Fiction - Animamix Biennial 2009-2010'
Today Art Museum, Baijing, China

'Metaphors of  Un/Real - Animamix Biennial 2009-2010'
Shanghai MoCA, China
'Wonderful Pictures'
ILMIN Museum of Art , Seoul, S. Korea

'Fashion, Art, Raising Translation'           Aramnuri Museum of Art, 
Goyang, S. Korea
       
2008 

Selected emerging artist "IYAP"      Interalia, Seoul, S. Korea
2007 

Work in progress
B.T.A.P +Tokyo gallery, 
Beijing, China

2006

'SeMA2006'
Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul, S. Korea
        
'Trend-Spotting 2006'
Gallery HYUNDAI,      
Seoul, S. Korea
         


RESIDENCIES & Art Fairs

ART FAIR

2023

Art Central HK




2022

ART BUSAN
Art Jakarta
  KIAF SEOUL 
ART021-SHANGHAI



RESIDENCIES

2011
Selected artist for Los Angeles Art Association (LAAA, Gallery 825)




Publication and Press

Artscene, July, 2011 by Scarlet Cheng
Art and Culture, Feburary, 2010 by Sunyoung Lee
Japan Times, September 4th, 2008 by Donald Eubank

Illustration
Auction

2016
Christie's online Auction'Half the sky'