Huey Lee

Bio

Huey Lee is a ceramic artist from South Korea who has dedicated his career to exploring the expressive possibilities of clay. After completing his training as a traditional Korean ceramic artisan, Lee honed his skills working at various pottery and ceramic studios. During this time, he had the privilege of studying under renowned ceramic artists such as TaeGon Kim, Inchin Lee, and the late Gil-bae Kim, who imparted their knowledge of technique, form, and aesthetics.

In pursuit of further artistic growth and new experiences, Lee relocated to Athens, Georgia, where he received a Master of Fine Arts at the University of Georgia. Here, he has continued to refine his craft and expand his artistic vision through experimentation with form, texture, and glaze. Lee's work is characterized by a deep sensitivity to the emotional and psychological resonance of form and material and a commitment to exploring the expressive potential of clay as a medium.

Lee's work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and venues both nationally and internationally. He has received critical acclaim for his innovative approach to form and his ability to evoke complex emotions through his work. In addition to his creative pursuits, Lee is also an experienced and dedicated educator, passionate about sharing his knowledge and skills with the next generation of ceramic artists. Through his teaching, he strives to instill in his students a sense of curiosity, wonder, and reverence for the expressive potential of clay.

artist statement

My clay works are an exploration of daily emotions and introspection, creating tangible objects that reflect intangible feelings. I believe that the importance of art is to communicate with others and myself, and to find a way to express and understand emotions through visual language. By incorporating memories and experiences, my work reveals my interests, discomforts, and emotional responses. This process of self-exploration is not only a discharge and release of emotions, but also a means of understanding my place in the world.

I focus on various emotions and expressions, using the language of art to communicate their complexity. These emotions can come from physical and psychological issues, or from external events. The resulting objects are abstract structures that capture unstable emotions, created through repetitive organisms and a unique texture that emerges through multiple firing processes. The surfaces are emphasized by the use of glazes and slips, creating unexpected textures and visual effects.

Clay has always been a medium of setting down a period in human history. From prehistoric times to the present, clay objects not only reflect the cultural qualities of the time, but also the individual artist's bodily traces. My work utilizes the unique characteristics of clay to express my emotions and experiences in tangible form. By doing so, I hope to communicate with others and create a shared understanding of what it means to be human in our complex and ever-changing world.

Overall, my art is a reflection of my journey of self-discovery and introspection. By using the medium of clay, I seek to capture emotions and experiences that are difficult to express in words, and to create a shared understanding of the human experience through art.