Stephen Eric Lee, better known as E.LEE, is a full time artist living in Chicago. His work is an exploration into how art moves us emotionally, creates status, and how we assign value to it. Communicating through popular culture, E.LEE brings flat images to life with an illusion of light and space to tell a story in a new context. Regularly collaborating with other artists and art forms, he creates immersive installations and public work with humor and narrative. Simplification and the viewer’s point of view are driving forces in his work.
Receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Millkin University in 2002, E.LEE has exhibited work in Chicago / NY / Atlanta / Miami / Paris / Brisbane and created murals throughout the United States and around the world, including: London, Bristol, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Nagoya, and Osaka.
American, b. 1980
Education:
Millikin University Decatur IL, B.F.A Painting/Printmaking, 2002
Solo Exhibitions:
2023 - All Star Press - “Breaking the Bank” - Chicago IL
2022 - LOOT Pop up - “In Cahoots” - Chicago IL
2022 - Krause Gallery - “A Familiar Feeling” 2 person solo - NYC
2021 - Spectrum Fair for Art Basel Miami - “E.LEE: A Luxury Brand” - Miami FL
2020 - University of Chicago’s Logan Center - “In the Red” - Hyde Park IL
2019 - Chicago Art Department “… and Smell the Roses” - Chicago IL
2018 - Chicago Art Department “Out of the Frame” - Chicago IL
2018 - ALLCAPSNOSPACES “All That Glitters” - Chicago IL
2016 - Good Details “From the Shadows” - Chicago IL
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2023 - Krause Gallery “Emerging to Established” - NYC
2023 - Artist Replete “Economical” - Chicago IL
2023 - ABV Gallery “Season Two” - Atlanta GA
2023 - Chicago Truborn “Nostalgia…ish” - Chicago IL
2022 - Stupid Krap / Sun City Gallery “Small” - Noosa AUS
2022 - Chicago Truborn “Islands & Bridges” - Chicago IL
2022 - All Star Press “Naturally Beautiful” - Chicago IL
2021 - Krause Gallery “Emerging to Established” - NYC
2020 - Stupid Krap “Batcave” - Brisbane AUS
2020 - Krause Gallery “Emerging to Established” - NYC
2019 - ALLCAPSNOSPACES “Stockpile” - Chicago IL
2019 - Hyde Park Arts Center “Not Just Another Pretty Face” - Hyde Park IL
2018 - CC’s Art Garage “Complex II” - Bridgeport IL
2017 - Linedot “Juried Holiday Show” - Chicago IL
2017 - Le Lavo matik “Paris Group Show” - Paris France
2016 - Good Details Gallery “Bad Reception” - Chicago IL
2016 - Le Lavo matik “Stencil Group Show” - Paris France
2016 - Vertical Gallery “Winter Group Show” - Chicago IL
2015 - Paper Crown Gallery “Cutout” - Arlington Heights IL
2015 - Vertical Gallery “Heroes & Villains” - Chicago IL
2014 - Vertical Gallery “Artmageddon” - Chicago IL
2013 - Vertical Gallery “Deck the Halls” - Chicago IL
Public Art Work:
2023 - “Caution: Bridge Out” - Paramount Lodging Advisors / Chicago IL
2023 - “When it Rains it Pours” - Lake View Roscoe Village / Chicago IL
2023 - “The Medallion” - Lake View East / Chicago IL
2022 - “Rising” - Catherine Cook School / Chicago IL
2021 - “Hide & Seek” - (Lake View East) Chicago IL
2021 - “Lasso” - Chicago IL
2021 - “Salvation” - Flint MI
2020 - “The Midas Touch” - Flint MI
2020 - “Your Life as a Comedy” - Chicago IL
2020 - “Looming Large” - Chicago IL
2019 - “Caution: Falling Rock” - Chicago IL
2019 - “Escape Tunnel” - Berwyn IL
2019 - “The Robber” - (Collaboration with Oakoak) NYC
2019 - “ATM Available” - (Collaboration with Oakoak) Chicago IL
2018 - “Center Stage” - Spring Green WI
2018 - “Elevating the Arts” - Chicago IL
2018 - “Wall of Frames” - Berwyn IL
2017 - “Sorry” / “Ode to Camellias” - Nagoya JP
2017 - “Express” / “Rising Water” - Osaka JP
2017 - “Free Bird Seed” / “Walking Away” - Chicago IL
2017 - “Mounted” - Bloomington IL
2016 - “The Weight” - Chicago IL
2016 - “Remorse” - Amsterdam NL
2016 - “Hanging Around” - London UK
2016 - “Kissing feet” - Barcelona ES
2016 - “Framed” (Collaboration with Copyright) - Bristol UK
2015 - “Sorrow” / “Kiss of Death” / “All Tied Up and Nowhere to Go” - Chicago IL