About

Ko-Lee is a Los Angeles-based painter using dyes on unprimed canvas and paper. The works are inspired by the beauty of nature, depicted through immersive pools of color, where she expands the possibilities of abstract painting, while at times referencing figuration and landscapes.

Through experimentation, she created her unique style by soaking dyes and incorporating mark-making found in traditional Asian ink painting and calligraphy. Treating the canvas like it's hanji, a traditional handmade paper known in Korea, she sequentially pours the heavily diluted dyes directly onto the canvas in layers and marks in calligraphic gestures.

The works are time-consuming and progress slowly. Due to the contrasting characteristics of the materials, the diluted dyes are suspended by the surface tension and waxy coating of the cotton canvas. The pigments seep into the fabric slowly; with the accumulation of time, the different rates of absorption can be seen in the multiple layers of color. She oftentimes waits hours or days for the first layer to fully adhere and dry before she is able to apply the next layer or mark.

Ko-Lee is inspired by her mixed cultural heritage as a Korean-American woman. She was born in Los Angeles, and raised by her immigrant parents from South Korea. She chooses to paint subjects from her personal experiences and from her bicultural background. The notions of identity, beauty, and time are important to how she approaches her art.