BIOGRAPHY
Haerim Lee = Rim Lee’s art stimulates dialogue with communities through painting, public murals, ceramics, artist books, and photography. Her practice is rooted in ethnographical research: She investigates the history of an architectural site—such as the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago, Cabrini Green, or the murals on the South Side of Chicago or in Gary, Indiana— and translating into in her studio practice. Her practice critiques of institutionalized demarcations of power. Originally from S. Korea, a monoethnic country, she is interested in multi-racial dynamics, particularly in the South Side of Chicago where she currently living in the neighborhood with diverse ethnicities from different backgrounds and cultural heritage. Unlike homogenous culture, living in the particular environment helps her to learn other people stories and create a learning space together. Although it creates racial complexities, it generates to think power dynamics and how to understand one another.
CV
Selected One-Person Exhibitions
2023 Here I am Standing, Woodland Pattern, Milwaukee, WI
2021 STARTNET Solo Booth, Saatchi gallery, London, UK
2021 Site Specific Memories, Parlour and Ramp, Chicago, IL, USA
2017 What is Revealed/ Concealed, gallery noone, Chicago, IL, USA
2014 Father’s Law, Kasia Kay Art Projects, Chicago, IL, USA
2012 Painter’s Daughter, Youngeun Museum, Gwangju, South Korea
Retrospective, Kasia Kay Art Projects, Chicago, IL
2008 Rim Lee, Jinsun Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2007 To Share, Zein Zeno Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
Selected Group Exhibition
2022 The Community Art Collection, BPAI + Baird & Warner Art Collection, Berwyn, IL, USA
2022 Jewels Fundraising Auction, Architreasures, Chicago, IL, USA
2022 READINGS (Fall), Printer Row’s Wine Shop, Chicago, IL, USA
2022 Back to Life, Heaven Gallery 22nd Anniversary Art Auction Benefit , Chicago, IL, USA
2022 Midway Art Fair through Intersect Art Space, Mana Contemporary, Chicago, IL, USA
2022 Nubes Art Fair, Heaven Gallery Chicago, IL, USA
2022 Steuben International Biennial, ACRE, WI, USA
2022 K Auction Summer Premium Auction, K Auction Exhibition Space, Seoul, S. Korea
2022 Expo Chicago International Art Fair, Navy Pier, Chicago IL, USA
2022 READINGS (Spring) , Printer Row’s Wine Shop, Chicago, IL, USA
2022 Touch Points, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL, USA
2021 Taipei Dangdai International Art Fair, through Artnutri Gallery via Artsy, Taiwan
2022 K Auction Fall Premium Auction, K Auction Exhibition Space, Seoul, S. Korea
2021 Foremosa International Art Fair through Artnutri Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
2021 Signs O’ The Times, 5 Points Art Gallery + Studios, Milwaukee, WI, USA
2021 Off the Wall , 5 Points Art Gallery + Studios, Milwaukee, WI, USA
2021 Absence, Artnutri Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
2021 This is America, 5 points art gallery + Studios, Milwaukee, WI, USA
2021 Autoethnography (duo show of Yasmin Shapiro and Haerim Lee), curated by Adina Jade Cosden, Heaven Gallery Chicago, Chicago, IL
2021 Art for Art’s Sake, Virtual Artists Online Exhibition, UK
2021 Contemporary Venice Art Fair, THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space, Venice, Italy
2020 WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS, Brooks Stevens Gallery, MIAD Galleries, Milwaukee, WI, USA
2020 Artist Run 2.0, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL, USA
2020 Border Festival International Art Fair: Future Landscape, THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space, Venice, Italy
2020 Youngun Special Exhibition, Young Eunji Keeps Memories: Consistently, Youngun Museum of Contemporary Art, S.Korea
2020 Woman Made’s Exhibition: 3rd Midwest Open, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL
2019 Korean Eye: Korean Eye 2020, KEB Hana bank, Seoul, S. Korea
2019 Career and Professional Experience (CAPX) groups exhibition, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2019 Wabash Window three people show: Haerim Lee, Mijung So, Amira Hegazy, Wabash Window gallery, Chicago, IL, curated by Adina Jade Cosden
2019 Out of Context, Chicago Artist Coalition, Chicago, IL, curated by Sabrina Greig
2019 Urban/Suburban, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL, curated by Audery Moyer
2019 Port of Call, Chicago Art Department, Chicago, IL, curated by Ahmed Ozsever
2019 ALTERNATIVE SPACE, Heaven Gallery, Chicago, IL
2019 OUR HOUSE: 19TH ANNUAL BENEFIT, Heaven Gallery, Chicago, IL
2018 The Strange Fields of the City, Chicago Artist Coalition, Chicago, IL, curated by Greg Ruffing
2018 The Art as being Dangerous, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL
2017 MFA Thesis Presentation, Sullivan Galleries, Chicago, IL
2017 L A S T I N G, Panel Discussion, Sullivan Galleries, Chicago, IL
2017 Compassion Show, Wellness Center, School of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
2017 To Listen. To Speak. To Act. School of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2017 City, Spring 2017, Latitude Chicago, Chicago, IL
2016 Project: Space Intervention curated by Dawit Petros, Mana Contemporary Chicago, Chicago, IL.
2016 Art Wanted pop-up show, Throop Studio, Chicago, IL, USA
2016 New paintings, Elu Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
2015 Post-bac Salon, Maclean Center, The School of Art Institiute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
2015 Fall Gallery Walk of the River North Design District, Lightology, Chicago, IL
2014 Can Can China! Space Can Beijing, Beijing, China
2013 Love Actually, Seoul Museum, Seoul, South Korea
2011-2012 Korean Eye: Energy and Matter, Museum of Art and Design, New York, NY
2011 SCOPE Miami Art Fair, represented by Kasia Kay Art Projects, Miami, FL
2011 Art Chicago Art Fair, represented by Kasia Kay Art Projects Gallery, Chicago, IL
2010 Claudia Hart and Rim Lee, Chicago Festival of the Humanities: The Body, Kasia Kay project, Chicago, IL
2010-2011 Korean Eye: Fantastic Ordinary, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
2010 Art Chicago Art Fair, represented by Kasia Kay Art Projects, Chicago, IL
2009 Korean Eye: Moon Generation, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
2009 10th Cutting Edge, Seoul Auction, Seoul, South Korea
2009 Star Wars Episode, UNC Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2008 My Private Collection, Gana Art Center, Seoul, South Korea
2008 Blue Dot Asia, Seoul Art Center, Seoul, South Korea
2008 We-Now, Insa Art Center, Seoul, South Korea
2008 NEXT Art Fair, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, USA
2008 SOAF Seoul Open Art Fair, COEX Mall, Seoul, South Korea
2008 Cutting Edge, Seoul Auction, Seoul, South Korea
2007 We-Now, Gallery All, Seoul, South Korea
2007 Affordable Art Fair Autumn Collection, London, UK
2007 Open Studio, Studio Unit, Seoul, South Korea
2007 Artist Day, Studio Unit, Seoul, South Korea
2007 Preview, Team Preview, Seoul, South Korea
2006 Fringe Festival, Hongink University, Seoul, South Korea
2006 The Power of Korean Young Artists, Bunam Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
Education
2020 MA in the Visual Critical Studies, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2017 MFA in the Painting and Drawing Department, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2014 Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Studio in the Painting and Drawing Department, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2012 Professional Artist Growth Educational Program, Arko Art Center, Seoul, South Korea
2010 MFA in Painting, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea
2007 BFA in Painting, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea
Grants and Awards
2022 Ignite Fund, 3 Arts, Chicago, IL, USA
2021 Parade of Hearts, LUV institute Chicago, IL, USA
2021 Ox-bow: Conversation in Practice Fellowships, Ox-bow, The School of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
2020 Make Together, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL, USA
2020 Graduating Student Leadership Award – Honorable Mention Recognition, The School of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
2017 Legacy Foundation Recipient: Downtown Gary Public Art Competition, Gary, IN, USA
2017 Leadership Award Recipient, The School of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
2016 Leadership Award Nominee, The School of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
2016 Nancy Crouch Scholarship Recipient, The School of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
2015 Ox-bow Neiman Scholarship Recipient, The School of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
2013 Nominated for the Prudential Eye Award
2010 Nominated for Celeste Prize
Nominated for the Perrier Jouet Award
2009 Nominated for the Sovereign Art Foundation Art Prize
2007-2010 Honor’s Scholarship, Sookmyung Women’s University
Public Art Work
2022 Graceland Mural Projects, Uptown, Chicago, IL, USA
2022 Community Wealth Garden, indoor mural at Plant Chicago Organization, Chicago, IL, USA
2021 Parade of Hearts: Values of creating safe space, LUV institute, Chicago, IL, USA
2021 Listen Together : Architreasures public program, Chicago, IL, USA
2020 We Stand For : Architreasures mural project, Chicago, IL, USA
2019 Community Wealth Garden; Mural Finalists for Miriam Apartment in Chicago, IL, USA
2018 Living Portrait; mural Project from the Legacy Foundation Recipient: Downtown Gary Public Competition, Gary, IN, USA
2018 Assistant for Chicago Muralist Bernard Williams’ mural project, Major Talyor Trail, Chicago, IL, USA
Collections
Joan Flasch Artists’ Book Collection in the School of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Parallel Contemporary Art (PCA), London, UK
Youngeun Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwang-ju, South Korea
Standard Chartered Bank in Seoul South Korea and New York, NY
Private Collections: Australia, Europe, South Korea, USA, and United Arab Emirates
Teaching/ Professional Experience
2022-current
Adjunct Faculty, Richard J. Daley College, City College of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2022-current
Lead Art Instructor, Hyde Park Art Center partnership with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), Chicago, IL
2021- 2022
Art Specialist, Arts of Life, Chicago, IL
2020-2022
LEAD ART INSTRUCTOR, Fun With Embroidery, Botanicals, and LED Lights workshop, Rebuilding Exchange, Chicago, IL
2020- 2022
LEAD ART INSTRUCTOR, mural workshop, Plant Chicago Organization, Chicago, IL
2020- 2022
LEAD ART INSTRUCTOR, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) workshop, Plant Chicago Organization, Chicago, IL
2021
Guest lecturer, Illinois State University (ISU), Chicago, IL
2021
LEAD ART INSTRUCTOR of teaching mural class, After School Matter, After school Art Program, Chicago, IL
2020-2021
LEAD ART INSTRUCTOR, ARCHITRESURES, After school Art Program, Chicago, IL
2020 -2021
LEAD ART INSTRUCTOR, MAGICAL MINDS STUDIO, After school Art Program, Preschool Program, Summer Camp, Oak Park, IL
02/2020-05/2020
COLLEGE ART ACCESS PROGRAM (CAAP) Mentor for CPS High School Students, Early College Program, Continuing Studies, SAIC, Chicago, IL
06/2019
INSTRUCTOR, Early College Program Summer Institute (ECPSI): Art and Street Culture, Continuing Studies, SAIC, Chicago, IL
06/2019-08/2019
COLLEGE ART ACCESS PROGRAM (CAAP) Mentor for CPS High School Students, Early College Program, Continuing Studies, SAIC, Chicago, IL
09/2019-12/2019
TEACHING ASSISTANT, Inside Innovative Minds Early College Program, Continuing Studies, SAIC, Chicago, IL
09/2019-12/2019
TEACHING ASSISTANT, Portfolio Prep, Early Collage Program (ECP), Continuing Studies SAIC, Chicago, IL
Artist Talk
2021 Autoethonography virtual artist talk, Chicago, IL
2018 Contemporary Practices: Core Studio Practice Class Artist Talk, the School of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2016 Noontime Lecture, the School of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2007 Sookmyung Women’s University Artist Talk, Seoul, S.Korea
2010 Sookmyung Women’s University Artist Talk, Seoul, S.Korea
2012 Sookmyung Women’s University Artist Talk, Seoul, S.Korea
2013 Sookmyung Women’s University Artist Talk, Seoul, S.Korea
Licensure / Certificate
Illinois State Board of Education Paraprofessional Educator License
Illinois State Board of Education Substitute Teacher License
Selected Bibliography
2019
Newcity Art Magazine, “Art Top 5”, March 2019
E-Korea, “KEB Hana Bank sponsors ‘Korean Eye 2020’ ,”June20, 2019, by Lim Haewon
Weekly today “KEB Hana Bank sponsors Korean Eye 2020,” June20, 2019, by Shin Min-ho
Metro Press ,“KEB Hana Bank Supports New Artists Go Global Sponsored ‘Korean Eye 2020’,” June20, 2019, by Hong Minyoung
Force Journal, “KEB Hana Bank Supports Korean Eye 2020,” June20, 2019, by Oh Kyung-sun
Digital Times, “KEB Hanaeng joins new artists Participated as Korean Eye Main Sponsor, ” June20, 2019, by Jin
Hyun Jin
Newsway, “KEB Hana Bank Sponsored Korean young artists global entry project,” June20, 2019, by Cha Jae seo
Asia Today, “KEB Hana Bank Supports Korean Eye 2020,” June20, 2019, by Jung Dan-bi
Global Economy Times, “KEB Hana Bank Sponsors Global Project for Korean New Artists,” June20, 2019, by Lee Seulbi
London Korean Links, “START Art Fair, including Korean Eye:2020 Teaser,” August 2019: https://londonkoreanlinks.net/2019/08/27/start-art-fair-inclucing-korean-eye2020-teaser/
2018
Newcity Art Review, There Goes the Neighborhood: A Review of “The Strange Fields of This City” at the Chicago Artists Coalition, May 30, 2018 by Christ Reeves
Chicago Tribune, “Winter preview: The most anticipated Chicago art exhibitions at the Chicago Artist”, December 20, 2018, by KT Hawbaker
Sixty Inches From Center,“The Aesthetics of Displacement at The Strange Fields of This City”, June 14, 2018 written by Jennifer Patiño Cervantes
The Architect’s Newspaper, Opening Reception: The Strange Fields of This City, https://archpaper.com/?tribe_venue=chicago-artists-coalition&page=1&tribe_event_display=past
Black Audacity, “Someone to know: Haerim Lee” September 10, 2018 by Tanner
2017
The Chicago Crusader, “Vote for your favorite Gary Downtown Public Art Project to win a share of $67,000”, August 24, 2017, by Lu Ann Franklin
NWI Times, “Online voting underway for Downtown Gary Public Art Competition winners”, August 24, 2017, by Lu Ann Franklin
USA Art News, “Sensual Hyperrealistic Paintings From Rim Lee”, May 31, 2017: https://usaartnews.com/events/fine-art/sensual-hyperrealistic-paintings-from-rim-lee
Morning Calm Magazine of Korean Air (Chinese and Japanese Version), September 2017, by Yeilim Lee
2016
Fresh Paint Magazine, Curated Selection for the International Issue 14, August 2016, p.72-73
The Annual Magazine of Korean Student Association in the School of Art Institute of Chicago, Issue no.8 (Dahm-so): KGSC Mentoring
Gallery no one, Annual Catalogue Publication, edited by Guanyu Xu, Auguest 2017
2015
Newcity Art Review: Rim Lee by Chris Miller
2015 Post- bac Exhibition edited by Sysan Kraut, Katy O’Malley, Lynn Tomaszewski, and Stacia Yeapanis, published by School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2015
2014
Artnet Blog Review, Gallery Hopping by Michael Dodson
2013
My Modern Met, “Hyperrealistic Paintings of a Woman Covered in Paint”, by Pinar Noorata on October 24, 2013
Time Out Singapore, Korean Eye, October 21, 2013
Hi Fructose Contemporary Art Magazine, “Rim Lee’s Sensitive and Sensual Self-Portraits, by Nastia Voynovskaya, November 1, 2013
2012
Wolgan Misool, August 2012, Vol.331, “Review: Rim Lee Solo Show at Youngeun Museum of Contemporary Art,” by Park Yong Taek, p. 142
Art Rader: Emerging Korean artist Rim Lee exhibits new surrealist works in Chicago
Art in Culture, August 2012, “Review: Rim Lee Solo Show at Youngeun Museum of Contemporary Art,” by Park Kyung Lin, p. 172
Onepiece Magazine, Vol 3, “Self-Consolation”
2011
Artnet, “Chicago, Our Fair City”, Apr. 21, 2011: http://www.artnet.com/magazineus/news/artnetnews/artropolis-chicago-2011-4-21-11_detail.asp?picnum=24
2010
The Sookmyung Times, October 2010, “Play me, Click me on Canvas,” by Bae Hyewon, p. 02-03
Chicago Reader, “Morning Art: Rim Lee” by Julia Thiel on October 28,2010: https://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2010/10/28/morning-art-rim-lee
Koran Eye: Contemporary Korean Art, Serenella Ciclitira, Dae Hyung Lee, Jiyoon Lee, publication by Skira
Impact Asia, “Korean Eye: Fantastic Ordinary”, Published on Oct 7, 2010
T-Today, “Go K-Art: What do Marilyn Monroe, a shark, and Van Gogh have in common?”, Mayo Martin, October 19, 2010
The Art Newspaper, “Saatchi Gallery Korean Eye: Fantastic Ordinary”, July/Auguest 2010
The Guardian Guide, “Saatchi Gallery Korean Eye: Fantastic Ordinary”, July 03, 2010
FAD Online “Korean Eye: Fantastic Ordinary presents new work from Korea’s leading contemporary artist at the Saatchi Gallery from Tuesday 6th to July 2010”, July 05, 2010
The List, “Korean Eye: Fantastic Ordinary”, July 06, 2010
BBC World Service Online, July 07, 2010
Joins Online, “Saatch Gallery surprised by 250,000 people last year, Korean Eye continues”, by Moon So-young, July 07, 2010
JoongAng Daily, “Peering through a second Korean Eye” by Moon So-young, July 15, 2010
Art and Collector, Jan-Feb 2010, p96.
JoongAng Ilbo, “Young Korean Art Which Stirred Up London Returns” by Jaesook Joung, November 18, 2010
Korea Herald, “London, Singapore and now Seoul: Korean Eye”, November 10, 2010
Yonhap News Agency, “ Korean Eye to Be Held in Korea”, November 4, 2010
Weekly Hankook, “The World’s Eye On Korean Modern Art”, November 24, 2010
Asia Business, Creative Interpretation Crossing The Line Between Reality And Fantasy, November 24, 2010
Arts News, “Korean Rising Modern Artists Exhibition, ‘Korean Eye: Fantastic Ordinary’ thorough November”, November 3, 2010
Newswire, “Korean Eye: Fantastic Ordinary” Opens in Seoul through November”, November 3, 2010
Yonhap News Agency, “Korean Contemporary Art Dominates London’s Saatchi Gallery”, July 7, 2010
JoongAng Ilbo, “Korean Eye at Saatchi Gallery to Continue, Following Last Year’s Sweeping Popularity”, July 7, 2010
Digital Times, “Korean Eye Exhibition To Be Held in July, Sponsored By Standard Chartered”, May 31, 2010
Munhwa Ilbo, “Korean art takes centre stage in the world”, by Saeme Shin, May 27, 2010
JoongAng Ilbo, Youthful Power of Korean Art yKA , Takes London by Storm Again, by Jaesook Joung, May 26, 2010
Segye Times, Standard Charted, Sponsors Korean Contemporary Art Exhibition, Hanbee Cho, May 25, 2010
Herald Business, “Exhibit by Contemporary Artists ‘Korean Eye’ held”, May 25, 2010
Prime Economy, “Standard Charted, Sponsors Korean Contemporary Art Exhibition”, May 25, 2010.
2009
Noblessse, July 2009, “London Show is just a Beginning,” by Jo So-young, p. 307
Korea Tomorrow Exhibition Publication, edited by Daehyung Lee, 2008
2008
Public Art, November 2008, “Lee Rim’s Self Portraits Rendered through Communion with Others,” by Hwang Hye-ryun p. 110-115
Art in Culture Magazine, Feburary 2008, “Blue Dot Art Asia: Alternative Art Fair”, by Daehyung Lee, p.134-135
Residencies
2022 ACRE, Wisconsin, WI, USA
2021 Parlour and Ramp residency, Chicago, IL, USA
2021 Ox-bow residency: Conversation in Practice, Chicago, IL, USA
2018 Center Program Artist, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL, USA
2017 Hatch Projects, Chicago Artist Coalition, Chicago, IL, USA
2012 Youngeun Residency, Youngeun Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwang-ju, South Korea
2012 Space Can PSB, Beijing, China
Collection
Joan Flasch Artists’ Book Collection in the School of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Parallel Contemporary Art (PCA), London, UK
Youngeun Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwang-ju, South Korea
Standard Chartered Bank in Seoul South Korea and New York, NY
Private Collections: Australia, Europe, South Korea, USA, and United Arab Emirates
STATEMENT
In the series Site Specific Memories (2021-), A Story that Need to be Told (2021-), Object and Subjective Painting (2018-),and Whitewashed: All of Mankind (2017-), I investigate the past and the present of the Strangers Home Missionary Baptist Church in Cabrini Green. The architecture itself represents the transformation of the community from mainly Italian-American to African-American families. In 1972, Chicago based muralist William Walker painted All of Mankind (1972) on the façade of the church. Walker is known for creating the Wall of Respect (1967), which started the community mural movement in the US.
The mural All of Mankind reflects the national movement for human and civil rights during the sixties and seventies and symbolizes the unity of the human race with four intertwined figures —Jesus, Dr. King, Malcolm X, and Anne Frank. The building was sold in 2015 to a new private owner. On December 10th, 2015, the owner whitewashed the mural while a small group was trying to raise funding in order to preserve it. After the demolition of the Cabrini Green public housing, there no longer was a community interested in preserving the mural.
In this project, Whitewashed: All of Mankind (2017-), I juxtapose found photographs of All of Mankind with film photographs taken of the current building on the site. I employ the photograph to create a subjective experience of history. I collapse the contemporary and historical moment on the two-dimensional surface. Through the interplay of grainy black-and-white photographs with chromatic positive film, I attempt to layer time and space.
In investigating the history of the mural All of Mankind, I pose the questions—How to preserve an oral history? How to create inclusive space by examining, as well, a counter narrative? what is the socio-political implication and impact of whitewashing? Who has the authority to preserve and destroy history? What is revealed and what is concealed on the walls of the church?
