Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mi Young Lee. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Mi Young, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
While I was pursuing my graduate degree at the University of South Dakota, I had a chance of showing my paintings at a sólo exhibit. I had great reviews on my work and one of the critics has encouraged me to show my paintings to a larger crowds
During one winter I drove down from Sioux Falls SD to South Florida to show my work at the prestigious Coconut Grove Art Festival. It was the first serious showing of my paintings to a general mass public and art aficionados. Show was a tremendous success and I had a sold-out show. From then on I knew I wanted to be a professional artist making people happy and healed.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I create optimism and positive energy through abstract paintings using oils and acrylics on paperboard or canvas.
As a result of my emotional response to my work and my life’s experiences, I translate my feelings to images.
Ever since my first successful showing at the Coconut Grove Art Festival, I have been invited to show at many competitive and prestigeous art exhibits where I got awarded numerous awards.
At the same time, I started to show my work at international venues such as in Korea and other countries.
I am honored that my paintings are cherished by many individual and corporate collectors. My paintings are found on public places like Sioux Falls Regional Airport or the Scool of Business of University of South Dakota(USD).
As a woman with a foreign background, I was awarded a Distinguished Alumni Award one year. I am proud and honored to be mentioned as one of ten notable alumni from USD along with a prominent news anchor and US Senator. In 2023, I was nominated to USD College of Fine Arts the Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I try to make people happy and healed through my paintings where I carry images of harmony, positive energy and optimism.
I am pleased when people find something beautiful in my abstract painting that they can relate to through geometric forms, organic shapes, gestures, and texture, combined in a kaleidoscope of color in my paintings.
When I find my audiences and collectors who have lived many decades with my paintings and tell me they still love my art, that is the most rewarding part of being an artist.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Since I was a kid, I always have dreamed of being an artist without even knowing what the life of an artist would involve and what kind of challenges I will have to go through. In addition, family expectations were different and I have started as a medical student in Korea to become a physician.
But my passion over being a professional artist urged me to explore a different educational and career path and one summer, I jumped on a plane to US. It has changed my life forever and I never looked back.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.miyounglee.com
- Instagram: mylartist
- Facebook: mylartist
- Twitter: mylartist
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/coyotealumni/notable-alumni/
- Other: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x2A4QQKotT0 https://listen.sdpb.org/rural-life-and-history/2023-04-27/painting-a-dream-dakota-life-25?fbclid=IwAR02r9F4nj6nzwj4xIMY6LDvL0cCoeqU0PZi6AQiOXF5GOFMyC9NsgsWerg