Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nick Lee. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Nick , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I found my purpose in this world through the act of painting portraits. My work has always focused on people. The variety of faces and the human condition have motivated my work. During my undergrad career I realized there are only a handful of contemporary Asian American painters that focus on identity. In addition, there was such a lack of representation not only in our Western paintings but in our media as well. It became clear to me that I needed to paint people that looked like me. These portraits are not only cathartic to my experience but to those who look like me as well.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am an artist who focuses on painting the Japanese American experience through figurative painting. I was not educated on Japanese culture growing up due to my grandmother wanting to Americanize her children. I am learning more about Japanese customs and folklore through research. I completed a mural for my residency at Feverdream in Tremont this past fall. The mural titled “This Yokai is a Ningyo ” is based on the Japanese mythology of a mermaid-like creature called a Ningyo. The figure in the mural is a doll with a samurai head, a Ken doll torso, and a fishtail. My mindset while creating this piece was to reflect American pop culture of the time with Japanese folklore. The movies that captivated the nation in 2023 that inspired this piece were “Barbie” and the live-action “Little Mermaid”. It feels fresh because this experience is not often shared to a large degree such as in a mural.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
One quality that changed my path is determination. Firstly, regardless of rejections from exhibitions, people not liking me, or financial struggles, I continued to create my work. This tenacity allowed me to fight for my art during the trials and tribulations I faced. Another quality that helped me is ambition. I am always looking for the next step in my career. I use projects I get as jumping points for new opportunities and to build my portfolio. The last quality is motivation. One has to be motivated to create their work no matter what the circumstance is. I am not always in the mood to paint, but I will be in the studio finishing work for my deadlines. These three qualities have allowed me to be the painter I am and gave me a strong work ethic.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents supported my dreams, which was crucial as a young artist. My parents are not artistic people either, so they did not understand why I would choose this career path. As soon as my parents saw how hard I worked they changed their minds about me being a painter. I owe so much to my parents for their solidarity with my artistic practice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nicholasleeart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sirnicklee/?hl=en
