With marker and ink, Minjae Lee, a self-taught artist, layers bright, intricate patterns over female portraits. The images call to mind his South Korean heritage and push a contemporary aesthetic. Although a fresh face in the art world, Lee has already been commissioned internationally.
Nature plays a dominant role in Lee’s images, and this focus stems from his early interest in zoology. The vibrant colors reflect the emotions he brings to the canvas, and he describes the process of creating art as “a kind of freedom.”
“When I feel something I’ve never felt before, there is a new color palette inside me, bursting to get out,” he says.
See more of Lee’s work in ABN’s Summer 2013 “30 under 30″ feature.
