Sookyi Lee
Sookyi Lee is an American contemporary realism artist who earned her BFA from Hong-Ik University in Korea and her MFA from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. For her, a deep understanding of art is a lifelong mission, and painting is a way to appreciate life. Her works transcend mere representation, as she imagines stories about her subjects while considering the emotional reactions of viewers, aiming to convey their true essence.
Combining Western fine art techniques with the Korean sentiments of her upbringing, she creates a unique emotional depth that is rarely found. Her art revolves around expressing and reinterpreting the ultimate beauty through her expressive ability.
She constantly tries to pioneer her own path by depicting various subjects using new techniques from an open perspective, without being limited to a genre or material. In this exhibition, viewers can appreciate her main genre of portraits, as well as a variety of other subjects, techniques, and materials. Through these paintings, we hope to provide viewers the opportunity to hear their own stories, as if they are listening to a Symphony of Vision that serves as A Treasure Trove of Harmony.
Runa
Runa is Sookyi’s alternate persona who focuses on abstract works that can be seen as the complete opposite to her representational paintings. But looking at Runa’s abstract works, we can still see her sensibility shown through vibrant colors positioned on linen that represents the most natural and comfortable color. It will be an interesting point of observation for Runa’s work to find which parts are connected to Sookyi’s other genre of paintings.
Awards & Exhibitions
●The Treasure Trove of HArmony, Symphony of Vision 2024 Solo Exhibition,
The American Club Singapore, Singapore Link
●The Strokes of Genius 14 International The Best of Drawing competition -Finalist
● The Splash 24 the best of watercolor Competition - Honorable Mention Link
●The Portrait Society of America 24th International Competition - Certificate of Excellence Award
●The Strokes of Genius 13 International The Best of Drawing competition Presented by
Artist Magazine &American Artist competition-Finalist
● Richeson 75 Figure/Portrait 2021 International Art competition- 2nd Place Award
● The Portrait Society of America 22nd International Portrait Competition - Top 50 Award
● The Southwest Art Magazine “Artistic Excellence 2020” – Honorable Mention Link
● BEAUX Arts 2020 “The pathway Back” exhibition, Scottsdale, AZ
● The ARC Salon International Exhibition 2019, Museum of Modern Art (MEAM), Barcelona, Italy Link & SoTheby's presents Contemporary Realizm: 14th International virtual art renewal center salon exhibition Link
● The Haynes galleries “Magic of Realism” group exhibition, Franklin, Tennessee
● The 14th Art Renewal Center Salon Competition - Haynes Gallery Award & Honorable Mention Link
● The Portrait Society of America’s 21st International Portrait Competition &Exhibition - First Place in Drawing award. Atlanta, GA Link
● The Portrait Society of America's 14th Annual 2019 Members Competition - Finalist in Non - Commissioned Portrait category Link
● BEAUX Arts 2019 “Dream, Believe, Achieve” exhibition, Scottsdale, AZ
● The Portrait Society of America's 13th Annual 2018 Members Competition - 9th Place Link
● Guenzel Gallery of Peninsula School of Art's “From the Ashes”: Works in Charcoal exhibition
● The “Wonderful, You are” Lawrence Public Library Solo Exhibition, Lawrence, Kansas Link
● Richeson 75 International ART “Small works2018” Exhibition- Honorable Mention, Kimberly, WI Link
● The Portrait Society of America’s 19th International Portrait Competition & Exhibition - First Place in Drawing award. Atlanta, GA Link
● The Artist's Magazine's 34th Annual Art Competition - Finalist in Portrait/Figure category
● The 19th Annual Pastel Journal's Pastel 100 Competition - Honorable Mention
● Southwest Art Magazine's “Artistic Excellence 2017” Competition - 100 Top Runner up
● The Portrait Society of America 22nd International Portrait Competition - Top 50 Award
● The Southwest Art Magazine “Artistic Excellence 2020” – Honorable Mention Link
● BEAUX Arts 2020 “The pathway Back” exhibition, Scottsdale, AZ
● The ARC Salon International Exhibition 2019, Museum of Modern Art (MEAM), Barcelona, Italy Link & SoTheby's presents Contemporary Realizm: 14th International virtual art renewal center salon exhibition Link
● The Haynes galleries “Magic of Realism” group exhibition, Franklin, Tennessee
● The 14th Art Renewal Center Salon Competition - Haynes Gallery Award & Honorable Mention Link
● The Portrait Society of America’s 21st International Portrait Competition &Exhibition - First Place in Drawing award. Atlanta, GA Link
● The Portrait Society of America's 14th Annual 2019 Members Competition - Finalist in Non - Commissioned Portrait category Link
● BEAUX Arts 2019 “Dream, Believe, Achieve” exhibition, Scottsdale, AZ
● The Portrait Society of America's 13th Annual 2018 Members Competition - 9th Place Link
● Guenzel Gallery of Peninsula School of Art's “From the Ashes”: Works in Charcoal exhibition
● The “Wonderful, You are” Lawrence Public Library Solo Exhibition, Lawrence, Kansas Link
● Richeson 75 International ART “Small works2018” Exhibition- Honorable Mention, Kimberly, WI Link
● The Portrait Society of America’s 19th International Portrait Competition & Exhibition - First Place in Drawing award. Atlanta, GA Link
● The Artist's Magazine's 34th Annual Art Competition - Finalist in Portrait/Figure category
● The 19th Annual Pastel Journal's Pastel 100 Competition - Honorable Mention
● Southwest Art Magazine's “Artistic Excellence 2017” Competition - 100 Top Runner up