Lee Kyoungmi paints surrealistic scenes combining various spaces and times through the use of three-dimensional panels and techniques of hyperrealism. The surrealistic scenes often feature a cat, a symbol of isolation, and a creature that Lee simultaneously views as her persona. Her canvases are filled with buildings, fabric, books, and other seemingly-unrelated objects, but, in fact, each object is filled with connotations personal and private to Lee and symbolizes Lee’s understanding of the world and her attitude in engaging with it. Like the two sides of a coin, irrationality and truth coexist in the world, and Lee strives to fill the gap between them through her paintings, a series of endless questions and answers.

Lee studied printmaking and painting at Hongik University and later received a master’s degree in painting from the university’s graduate school in 2006. Lee was featured in more than 15 solo exhibitions internationally, including Old Way x New Era at Noblesse Collection, Seoul (2022), I Got Life at Lingang Contemporary Art Museum, Shanghai (2019), and others held in Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China. She participated in numerous group exhibitions, with notable shows including The Review at Chosun Ilbo Gallery & Noblesse Collection, Seoul (2021) and Moving and Observing at Liang Project Co Space, Shanghai (2019). Lee received the Seokju Art Award in 2019. Her works are collected by various institutions, including the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Korea and Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation.