We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicholas Lee. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicholas below.

Nicholas , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

As a child, I always felt that my path in life would be in the arts. Although, I was not sure how one becomes an artist. As I got older, I learned how hard artists work for little to no pay. I decided to go to college for my undergraduate degree in Art Education. This decision was practical for me at the time. In my junior year of college, I decided to go on the New York trip on a whim. While in New York, I saw the portraits of Amy Sherald in her solo exhibition “The Heart of the Matter” at Hauser and Wirth. I had never seen a room full of paintings of only Black Americans before this moment. These paintings made me realize I had not seen portraits of my people in any gallery or institution. This experience changed my whole trajectory in life and gave me a new perspective of what I could be. When I got back to Ohio, I switched my major to painting. I have been pursuing painting seriously ever since then.

Nicholas , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Nicholas Lee and I am a painter from the Akron / Cleveland area. I got my Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in painting from Kent State University in 2021. My work is based on the Japanese American experience through figurative painting. There are only a handful of contemporary Asian American artists that deal with identity and I am one of those painters. I chose this topic to focus on in my work because there is such a lack of Asian representation in our galleries and institutions. When you do not see yourself reflected in your culture then that affects you personally. I used to think that it was my goal to educate with my work, but I see my paintings now as simply cathartic for my own experience. These paintings will hopefully add more narratives to the Western art canon.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal has always been to be consistent with my artistic practice. I set my life up so I can focus solely on my work. Not everyone can have that privilege with their bills and jobs. I continue to try to be a better painter every day and to share my ideas through paintings. The most crucial task is to create the work. It can be physically and mentally draining, but making paintings gives me so much fulfillment in life. I look back on my achievements and I seek to aim higher with all the new projects I do.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect for me is seeing the body of work hung in the gallery space. I do not mean when I see my work in exhibition opening, but when I am alone with the work. I feel accomplished that I physically completed these works and said what I needed to say in each piece. It is a nice feeling to get the paintings out of the studio so I can start new works.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nicholasleeart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sirnicklee/?hl=en

Image Credits
Meryl Engler