On the corner of Milwaukee and Francis in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago... Hulk is perpetually propping up the world from falling down around him. Referencing an Incredible Hulk Jim Steranko cover from 1968, I believe the image is something with which we all can identify, as we feel the pressures of our lives and do the best we can with the weight we have to carry.
February 6th - 27th / Winter Group Show: Vertical Gallery 2016 /
Vertical Gallery is proud to present our first exhibition of 2016 with a massive group show, February 6 - 27, 2016, with all artists contributing two 24 x 24 in. original works.
Participating artists include: Stormie Mills (AU), Word to Mother (UK), Martin Whatson (NO), Hebru Brantley (US), Pure Evil (UK), Miss Van (ES), Collin van der Sluijs (NL), E. LEE (US), Chad Hasegawa (US), Pam Glew (UK), FAKE (NL), Alice Pasquini (IT), Ben Slow (UK), Jason Brammer (US), Xenz (UK), My Dog Sighs (UK), Greg Gossel (US), Greve (US), Jack Chappel (Nice One) (US), Ermsy (FR), James Starr (UK), Inkie (UK), Stinkfish (CO), Lie (US), Chris Cunningham (UK), Brad Novak (NZ), David Soukup (US), Niels Shoe Meulman (NL), The Thomas Brothers (UK), Toasters (UK), Mr. Cenz (UK), ASVP (US), Max Kauffman (US), Pizza in the Rain (US).
My two works for the show: "Ode to Stik No. 1" (top photo) and "Ode to Oakoak No. 1" (bottom photo). I was excited to create the Odes to Stik and Oakoak because they are two of my favorite contemporary street artists. And I feel the simplicity and whimsy of their work creates a beautiful foil to the ornate and opulent frames. I was very happy with the way the paintings were received and both sold to different collectors before the show ended in February. A very successful show I was proud to be a part of.
Behind the scenes - "Kiss of Death" at Atlas Brewing (Lincoln Park / Chicago) /
Photos by Peter Hinsdale (IG: @chippercentral)
This was my biggest street piece to date and took three days to finish. It's in the alley behind Atlas Brewing and the Mini Cooper dealership at Lincoln and Diversey. All the people at Atlas Brewing were really great. The building owner brought me cookies his wife made for me and invited me to dinner the first night... very generous and thoughtful people.
Peter Hinsdale came out to photograph the process and in addition to taking some great photos was an unbelievable help... giving me a hand to tape off the walls, pulling up his car to shine his headlights when it got too dark to see.
I've been asked many times who the female character is in the piece. The image references an Ernie Chan '76 Detective Comics cover. The woman is not a regular Batman villain, rather only in one issue. She was hired by a rival company to kill Bruce Wayne, not even knowing he was Batman. They went on a date and she kissed him with poison lipstick at the end of the evening before he suited up. When he realized something was wrong he found her and got the antidote before it was too late.
The background to the comic has nothing to do with why I painted it however. Women are and have always been alluring and intriguing to me. The electricity between the characters and the power dynamics of the relationship really drew me to it.
It's also important to me that I put a realistic light source on the scene and make it feel believable in the space. These characters are from a myth, but the challenges they face are real and universal. I want everyone to be able to see themselves as a character in the story.
Write up on WideWalls /
WideWalls featuring the Vertical Gallery Winter Group Show opening on February 6th, 2016
Group show write up
My page on WideWalls:
E.LEE write up
Behind the scenes - Wonder Woman at Trencherman (Wicker Park / Chicago) /
"When an Amazon girl permits a man to chain her bracelets of sub-mission together she becomes weak as other women in a man-ruled world!" - Quote from a 1940's Wonder Woman comic
Such a strange weakness... losing her powers when bound by a man. But when you get past the sexual overtones, I really think it was a positive message to young girls in the 40's:
To break her bonds, Wonder Woman must do so as a normal woman. But after she has emancipated herself from the oppression of men, she is a superhero once more.
This piece is based off of a 1973 Ric Estrada and Vince Colletta cover. This was in the age of Green Lantern and Superman, when most of the comics were almost solely men physically beating on each other. The creator of Wonder Woman, William Marston, wanted to create a female protagonist that would be a good role model for young girls... in his words:
"Wonder Woman is psychological propaganda for the new type of woman who should, I believe, rule the world"
It made even more sense to me when I found out Marston was in college at the tail end of women's suffrage and witnessed women chaining themselves together during sit-ins to fight for the right to vote. It evidently made quite an impact on him.
Other interesting facts about William Marston:
- he was credited with developing the prototype to the lie-detector
( helps shed light on Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth)
- No surprise he was super into bondage (to the point it bordered on his life philosophy), and lived with his wife AND his mistress in the same home where they all raised their children together. It's an understatement to say this was quite progressive for American suburbia in the 40's and 50's.
Click the image below to see the process...
I tried a new concoction of acrylic paint and gesso to create the cast shadow of the door. It worked well for me in the studio, but turned out horribly dark and blotchy outside... probably too much gesso (as you can see in the 6th photo). I went back a second day and ended up repainting each color. Definitely worth the extra time...
You can see the finished product in the side alley of Trencherman on North Ave in Chicago.
Oh... and the woman tied up with Wonder Woman is her mother, Hippolyta. Everyone asks... figured that needed to be in here as well
New "Gold Frame" Series Taking Shape /
I've been thinking about and working toward this body of work for over a year. It's taken many intricate steps to see them "come to life."
But here they finally are! This series is an opportunity to hightlight artists I'm inspired by. Using trompe-l'oeil techniques, I help the subjects break free to interact with the viewer outside the confines of their opulent gold frames. Keith Haring's images have transcended the art world and made their way into our everyday lives. I'm amazed at how he created such concise, seemingly simple work that spoke volumes.
Stay tuned... more are on the way
"Down Came the Rain" limited edition print (SOLD OUT) /
A lot of people told me this painting was their favorite piece of mine at Vertical Gallery's Heroes & Villains show. With the original pre-sold to a collector in Australia, I was glad I could offer more people the opportunity to own it through this edition of 15 prints. I believe we're all searching for deeper connection with one another. My goal with the Superhero series is to create work that makes the viewer feel that connection. Spider-Man's body language is heart-wrenching, the composition echos this feeling of isolation, and his physical surroundings mirror an internal drowning of emotions. I couldn't be prouder of this painting and would feel fortunate to create more work that speaks as clearly moving forward.
"Sorrow" - Five Star Bar Chicago /
Thank you to Five Star for the opportunity to use an old beat-up door in an alley to take an idea from my head and put it out into the real world. I hope any viewer can find an unexpected quiet moment to pause and feel a connection.
March 7 - 28 / Heroes & Villains Group Show /
Vertical Gallery presents a group show with artists' unique interpretation of comic characters. Featuring new work from:
E LEE (US), Chris Cunningham (IE), Cept (GB), Steve Seeley (US), Parlee (GB), Gregoire Guillemin (FR), Adam Lister (US), Cieu (FR), Greg Gossel (US), Brad Novak (NZ), and The Thomas Brothers (GB).
Opening reception: Saturday, March 7, 6-10pm
Artist Statement for "Heroes & Villains":
E.LEE is a painter living and working in Chicago. He received his B.F.A. in painting from Millikin University. He has had solo exhibitions at Lower Gallery in Decatur, IL, and a pop-up gallery in Barrington, IL. Recent group exhibitions include Deck the Halls in 2013 and ARTmageddon in 2014, both at Vertical Gallery.
E.LEE's work asks us to challenge the way we define our popular culture. His current Superhero Series captures our childhood heroes during their most vulnerable moments. Stripping the context from iconic comic book scenes, each superhero's story is reduced down to a raw emotion etched in wood and paint. Seeing ourselves in their struggle allows us not only to identify with their pain but also with their power and ability to overcome.
November 15 - December 24 / ARTmageddon: Vertical Gallery 2014 Holiday Group Show /
50 local, national & international artists will participate in this year's holiday show with all artists contributing 12" x 12" artwork. 10% of proceeds go to the Chicago-based non-profit The Simple Good.
Participating artists (alphabetical by first name): Adam DeVarney, Alex Yanes, Ali6, Amose, Ben Frost, C215, Chema Scandal, Chongo, Chris Cunningham, Chris Uphues, Collin Van Der Sluijs, Cope2, Copyright, Czr Prz, David Soukup, Denial, Dot Dot Dot, E LEE, Etnik, Florence Blanchard, Foresaken, Grant William Thye, Grégoire GUILLEMIN, Hebru Brantley, Icy and Sot, Indie 184, Ivy Jacobsen, JC Rivera, Julie Murphy, Kid Acne, Lauren Feece, Left Handed Wave, Martin Whatson, Mary Iverson, Max Kauffman, Mighty Mo, Mr.E, My Dog Sighs, Never2501, Nicholaus Jamieson, Oryx, Philip Lumbang, Pizza in the Rain, Priya Shah, Revise, Rodrigo Level, Ruben Aguire, Sean McMahon, Sirus Fountain, Steve Seeley, Stinkfish, The Lie, Traz, T-Money, Vexta, and Xenz.
Reception: Saturday, November 15, 6-10pm
