ARTSY
ARTSPER
BIOGRAPHY
I'm a Korean American artist and pastor based in California, where my journey with art
and faith deeply intertwines.
Since the age of 6, I have found solace and expression through drawing and painting.
My official artistic path began in 1984. However, two years later, amidst a quest for
freedom and peace in both life and art, I faced a significant challenge. I immersed
myself in a performance of painting with my own body—an act of personal struggle that,
unfortunately, provided little relief.
After graduating from art college that same year, I shifted my focus to teaching aspiring
artists while gradually setting aside creative pursuits. In 1995, I decided to step away
from life as a professional artist.
My journey took a new turn when I moved to the United States in 2004 and felt a divine
calling to serve as a pastor. Alongside teaching art to students and conducting art
therapy for disabled individuals, I dedicated myself to church ministry and serving the
homeless community. Though I continued to paint during this time, it was primarily to
inspire my students rather than create personal works.
Upon becoming a U.S. citizen, I sought a new identity through prayer. I was inspired to
adopt the name Paul Art, reflecting a dual commitment to gospel ministry and artistic
expression. Little did I know then that this journey would lead me to actively share the
gospel through artwork.
In February 2023, I resumed my artistic path with renewed purpose. My deep spiritual
and emotional thirst for freedom and peace was ultimately quenched in our Lord Jesus
Christ. This discovery marked a profound turning point in my life.
As a pastor, my prayer to God was to follow in the footsteps of Paul the Apostle. Above
all, I desired to glorify God and live under His gospel, love, and grace. I also prayed that
my artwork would bring people healing, recovery, and consolation. It became clear that
God had prepared me to create works that could save and heal souls through gospel-
inspired art.
My artistic vision centers around the theme of "The Light of Life." During prayer, while
seeking what to paint and how to express it, Isaiah 60:1-3 and John 1:4 came to mind. I
am giving my art the subtitle "The Love Story" starting this year, 2024.
I see my art as a visual journey seeking love, grace, freedom, and peace found in the
gospel. Each piece I create tells a story through symbols—abstract forms and realistic
depictions of animals, insects, fruits, and flowers—all imbued with profound spiritual
meaning. In that sense, my art resides at the intersection of postmodernism and
conceptual art, with lines and water droplets often symbolizing God’s love and kingdom.
My artistic world begins and ends with prayer. The artworks I create are infused with the
presence of Jesus Christ, who is the Light of Life, along with the energy of God’s love
and grace. It is my sincere hope that those who encounter my art will experience
healing, renewal, and spiritual awakening.
CV
Paul Art Lee
American (Born in Korea, Seoul 1962)
Lives & works in Buena Park, CA 90621
Education
Chugye University for the Arts, B.A
Chong Shin University in USA, M.Div. /Th.M./ D. Min.
Artist
Author
Holy One Presbyterian Church in America Pastor
Holy One Mission President
Solo Exhibition
2024 Light of Life – The Love Story, (Invitational
Exhibition) EK Art Gallery. CA. US
2023 Light of Life. bG Gallery. CA. US
2019 The Love Story of The Cross. Arena1 Gallery.
CA. USA
2018 In God’s Love. Arena1 Gallery. CA. USA
2017 God is Love. Park View Gallery. CA. USA
2017 The Cross in Jesus Christ. Santa Monica Art
Studio: Hangar Gallery. CA. USA
1995 Freedom in the Soul Fallen Asleep. Chun
Cheon Art Gallery. South Korea
1992 Breakaway from Freedom. Gallery Yehyang.
South Korea
1991 Life from Freedom. Nau Gallery. South Korea
Group Exhibition
2024 121st Le Salon d’Automne. Champs – Elysees,
Paris. France
2024 Art diversity from Pablo Picasso to the new art
masters. MOCAMAG Museum. Austria
2024 The Biennale Chianciano 2024. Art Museum
and 13 Art Galleries of Chianciano, Chianciano. Italy
2024 Spectrum Gestalt (Invitational Exhibition). bG
Gallery. CA. USA
2024 7th Color. 3 Square Gallery. CO. USA
2024 2nd Flower Moon. Lagunaart.com Gallery. CA.
USA
2024 Story Mapping (Invitational Exhibition). AJL Art
Gallery. CA. USA
2024 14th Biennial National Art Exhibition. Visual
Arts Center in Punta Gorda. FL. USA
2024 Sweets Factory. bG Gallery. CA. USA
2024 120th Le Salon d'Automne 2024. The Grande
Halle de La Villette. Paris. France
2024 29th Arts North International, Hopkins Center
for the Arts. MN. USA
2023 Past and Future (Invitational Exhibition). AJL
Art Gallery. CA. USA
2023 Pop Up, bG Gallery (Burbank) CA. USA
2023 Today and Tomorrow (Invitational Exhibition).
AJL Art Gallery. CA. USA
2023 A Small Art Exhibition for Christmas, AJL Art
Gallery. CA. USA
2023 2nd Contemporary Art in Realism. 3 Square
Gallery. CO. USA
2023 2nd Salon at the Triton 2023. Triton Museum.
CA. USA
2023 6th Color 2023. 3 Square Gallery. CO. USA
2023 Spectrum Gestalt (Invitational Exhibition). bG
Gallery. CA. USA
2019 Father and Son. George Billis Gallery. CA.
USA
2017 Jewelry Box of my Heart (Invitational
Exhibition). Park View Gallery. CA. USA
2017 The Fruit of the Light. Park View Gallery. CA.
USA
2012 Christian Autumn Exhibition. Ever Art Gallery.
CA. USA
2012 The King Has Come. Ever Art Gallery. CA.
USA
2012 Cold Love (Invitational Exhibition). Park View
Gallery. CA. USA
2010 Dream of Life (Invitational Exhibition). Andrew
Shire Gallery, CA. USA
2009 Unknown (Invitational Exhibition) Bergamot
Station: Sarah Lee Gallery. CA. USA
2009 Emotion & Expression. Bergamot Station:
Sarah Lee Gallery. CA. USA
2009 Association of Christian Artists. Modern Art
Gallery. CA. USA
2 Paul Art Lee Exhibition
1995 Nat’l Museum of Modern and Contemporary
Art. South Korea
1994 Exhibition of Korean Fine Art Association. Nat’l
Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. South
Korea
1992 Groping for Form and Abstract. Gallery
Yehyang. South Korea
1991 Some Messages 10 Artists Saw on an Autumn
Day. Cheongnam Gallery. South Korea
1991 Unfolding Images. Gallery Doll. South Korea
1991 Infinite 190-1. Kwanhoon Gallery. South Korea
1991 The Gray Zone. Samjung Gallery. South Korea
1991 Expression. Kwanhoon Gallery. South Korea
1991 ’91 Proliferation of Consciousness. Kyung-in
Museum of Fine Art. South Korea
1989 Four Generations. Baegak Gallery. South
Korea
1989 Expression. Na Gallery. South Korea
1988 Four Generations. Sign Gallery in Busan.
South Korea
1987 Four Generations. Dongduk Gallery &
Kwanhoon Gallery. South Korea
1986 Four Generations. Arab Gallery. South Korea
1986 Exhibition of Independants. Nat’l Museum of
Modern and Contemporary Art. South Korea
1986 Expression. Gurimmadang Min. South Korea
1985 Blue Flag. Hangang Museum of Art. South
Korea
1984 Exhibition of Two Artists. Seok Galler. South
Korea
Awards & Achievements
2024 7th Color Exhibition, 3 Square Gallery. Silver
Award. CO. USA
2024 14th Biennial National Art Exhibition. Visual
Arts Center in Punta- Gorda. Merit Award Winner. FL.
USA
2024 29th Arts North International. Hopkins Center
for the Arts. Award of Excellence. MN. USA
2024 29th Arts North International. Hopkins Center
for the Arts. Robbin Gallery Award. MN. USA
2023 2nd Contemporary Art in Realism. 3 Square
Gallery. Honorable Mention. CO. USA
2023 6th Color Exhibition, 3 Square Art, Honorable
Mention. OC. USA
1991 2nd Misulsegye Grand Exhibition Kyung-in
Museum of Fine Art, Winner. South Korea
1984 2nd Seoul International Art Festival Special
Recognition. Sejong Center. South Korea
1984 13th Gusangjeon Contest Exhibit Arts Council
Korea. Winner. South Korea
Miscellaneous
1986 Prelude to Freedom and Peace Performance
at Ui-dong Valley. South Korea
1986 Winter Daeseong-ri 101 Artists Exhibition
Installation Art at Daeseong-ri Field. South Korea
Publications
2017 God is Love. CA. USA
Art show & Fair
2024 Carrousel du louvre art fair 2024, Carrousel du
Louvre. Paris. France
2024 13th Busan International Annual Market of Art.
South Korea
2024 LA Art Show. LA Convention Center. CA. USA
2023 Beverly Hill Art Show. CA. USA
2023 LA Art Show. LA Convention Center. CA. USA
Collection
Park View Gallery
EK Art Gallery
AJL Art Gallery
