Paul Art Lee
American (Born in Korea, Seoul 1962)
Lives & works in Buena Park, CA
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.
EXHIBITION
Solo Exhibition
2024 Light of Life – The Love Story. 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
2025 Thought Exploration' exhibition. Fukuoka Art Museum. Fukuoka, Japan
2025 The Aesthetics. doarte Gallery. CA, USA
2025 8th Color 2025. 3Square Gallery. CO, USA
2024 Art diversity from Pablo Picasso to the new art masters. MOCAMAG Museum. Austria
2024 Spectrum Gestalt (Invitational Exhibition). bG Gallery. CA, USA
2024 7th Color 2024. 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 Sweets Factory. bG Gallery. CA, USA
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 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
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
2025 8th Color Exhibition. 3 Square Gallery. Gold Award. CO, USA
2025 Salon des Artistes Français 2025. Grand Palace. Bronze Medal. Paris, France
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 Exhibition 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
2025 Focus Art Fair. NY, USA
2025 LA Art Show. LA Convention Center. CA, USA
2025 Palm Beach Art Show. Palm Beach Convention Center. MI, USA
2024 Red Dot Art Fair. MI, USA
2024 Modern Art Masters in Complex du Louvre. Carrousel du Louvre. Paris, France
2024 Art Gwangju 2024. Kim Dae-jung Convention Center. South Korea
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
Biennial & Salon
2025 Fine Art Biennale Basel. Basel, Switzerland
2025 Salon at the Triton 2025. Triton Museum. CA, USA
2025 Canne Biennale. Canne, France
2025 Salon des Artistes Français 2025. Grand Palace. Paris, France
2024 The Biennale Chianciano 2024. Art Museum and 13 Art Galleries of Chianciano. Chianciano, Italy
2024 121st Le Salon d’Automne. Place Georges Clemenceau 75008 Paris. Paris, France
2024 14th Biennial National Art Exhibition. Visual Arts Center in Punta Gorda. FL, USA
2024 120th Le Salon d'Automne. The Grande Halle de La Villette. Paris, France
2023 2nd Salon at the Triton 2023. Triton Museum. CA, USA
Paul, your recent series Light of Life offers a spiritually charged visual language rooted in Christian theology, yet expressed through a contemporary lens. How do you navigate the tension between religious literalism and artistic abstraction to create works that speak universally across belief systems?
I don’t see a conflict between religious literalism and artistic abstraction. Through prayer, I translate the Biblical message into abstraction—using color and brightness as my language. Faith, to me, is not just belief—it’s the irresistible love and grace God has given me through His Spirit. Having received this, it feels only natural to express His message visually—a message of love and grace that speaks to all of humanity.
In your practice, divine light is not merely a symbol but an agent of healing and restoration. Could you elaborate on how light functions within your visual narratives, not just compositionally, but theologically and emotionally?
In my work, there is often a clear compositional contrast: a bright area surrounded by sections that gradually darken. This structure reflects a spiritual truth—the Bible describes Jesus Christ as the Light of Life (John 1:4), the one who brings healing, restoration, and comfort. The brightest part of my paintings represents His presence. Through this visual approach, I invite viewers to encounter the unseen yet present Christ. Some have stood before my work and wept, moved by the realization of His presence, experiencing what the Bible describes as something real and deeply personal.
You’ve spoken about ceasing art-making for nearly a decade and entering a period of spiritual waiting. How did that artistic silence transform your understanding of art's role in personal and collective healing, and how is that transformation visible in your current work?
The period of silence wasn’t just ten years—it began in 1995 and has spanned nearly 28 years. In the early phase, I stopped creating art entirely and focused on teaching students and individuals with disabilities. In the later years, I studied Christian theology while occasionally returning to painting and organizing small exhibitions featuring both my students’ work and my own.
As I received the Word of God, I experienced profound healing and restoration. This spiritual journey led me to a deep conviction: true healing is not achieved through human effort, but by God alone. That transformation has become both the foundation and the driving force of my artistic practice—each work now rooted in and themed around God’s love and grace.
Much of your oeuvre integrates hyperrealistic natural motifs, flowers, animals, and water droplets set against abstract backgrounds. What is the theological or symbolic rationale behind this juxtaposition of precision and mystery?
The theological and symbolic foundation of my artwork is rooted in the Word of God. The abstract backgrounds represent God’s love and grace, Jesus Christ as the Light of Life, and His creation. Onto this, I add natural objects or living beings that I encounter in the Bible.
For example, the lamb and the lion symbolize Jesus Christ. The hummingbird represents a life that brings good influence. The flower reflects our life—one that blooms briefly under God’s protection and preservation, then withers. The water droplet is a bead of sweat—shed in love by the Trinity as it accomplishes redemption.
While my work is primarily based on the Bible, I sometimes incorporate medieval iconography, weaving it into my visual language. I also often depict fruits, using them to pose a question to the viewer: “What kind of fruit are you bearing as you live under the Light of Life?”
Your career spans over four decades across different continents, from Seoul to California, and from traditional gallery settings to the ministry. How have geography and vocation informed your visual iconography and conceptual priorities?
I’ve come to recognize God’s providence through my life journey across East and West. After being called to serve as a pastor, my artwork began to reflect His glory and the message of the gospel.
Over time, my focus shifted more toward the spiritual and inner world, rather than the concerns of this present life. Visually, my work often features lines forming a square—symbolizing the gate of heaven that leads to eternal life.
Since my pastoral calling, I’ve created and shared artwork with a clear mission: to expand God’s kingdom and proclaim the life-saving gospel to the world.
Unlike many contemporary artists who gesture toward spirituality through ambiguity, your work directly visualizes the gospel. What are the risks and responsibilities of working so explicitly within a faith-based framework in today’s pluralistic and often secular art world?
My work centers on the gospel, but its use of abstraction, metaphor, and symbolic realism often draws viewers first to its visual elements rather than its underlying message.
Once the message becomes clear, some art professionals—especially those aligned with other religions or focused on minority rights—may distance themselves or even reject the work. Those who hold strong humanist or non-Christian convictions may dismiss or ignore it entirely. Still, as long as the artistic value of the work is acknowledged, I don’t consider such rejection a major concern. In fact, the spiritual meaning embedded in my art can sometimes transcend boundaries, allowing even those outside the faith to resonate with its message of love.
I see art as a conversation between expression and perception: the artist expresses, and the viewer interprets. My expression is metaphorical, allegorical, and symbolic. While my work carries a clear gospel message, its balanced composition, vivid color, and dramatic detail allow it to stand on its own.
Though deeply rooted in a specific faith, I feel no burden of responsibility as an artist—because my work is, above all, a sincere and sorrowful expression of someone who has been healed and restored through the Word. My personal and spiritual existence comes before, and gives rise to, my artistic practice.
You’ve exhibited in sacred and secular spaces alike, from churches to major art fairs in Paris and Basel. How does context affect the reception of your work, and do you approach creation differently depending on where a piece may ultimately reside?
My work tends to be well received in Christian contexts—sometimes even purchased by visitors before the paint has dried. In secular spaces, there are moments when my work is excluded. Even so, I’ve encountered many people in the art world who engage with sincerity and offer thoughtful, honest responses based on their conscience. I’m deeply grateful to those who appreciate and embrace my work beyond the boundaries of religion or ideology. Regardless of where my art is shown, I never alter the message of the gospel or change my creative process to fit the setting.
Your early performance piece, Prelude to Freedom and Peace (1986) marked a pivotal moment of surrender and transformation. Do you see echoes of performance or ritual in your current studio practice, particularly in the act of painting as spiritual devotion?
When I was 24, I was deeply troubled—not only by the absence of true freedom and peace in my own life, but also in the world at large. At that time, even painting felt meaningless. Through the performance piece Prelude to Freedom and Peace, I cried out to God for true freedom and peace. In response, God healed and restored me through the Holy Spirit and the Word.
Today, before I begin painting, I pray and seek ways to bring meaningful influence to art and culture, grounded in the gospel. However, unlike some religious artists, I do not incorporate performance or ritualistic elements into my work. I’m not drawn to symbolic gestures or spiritual formalities; my focus remains solely on Jesus Christ—the eternal Light of Life—and the gospel of the kingdom of God. Through my art, I hope to share His story.
As both a pastor and an artist, you are engaged in dual forms of storytelling, through sermon and through image. How do these practices inform each other, and what truths are you able to express visually that words alone cannot convey?
Just as I spread the gospel through sermons, I also spread it through art—one through words, the other through visuals. What I come to understand and reflect on while preparing sermons often finds its way onto the canvas. My artistic practice brings emotional depth and spiritual warmth to theological knowledge, which can sometimes feel distant or dry.
I believe there is no truth that cannot be communicated through preaching. Even when a sermon feels lacking, I have witnessed the Holy Spirit move and lead people to transformation. On the other hand, visual language can at times mislead or distort meaning—a challenge Christian art has long faced. Yet when it comes to conveying sacred emotion and inspiration, images can speak powerfully. Unlike spoken words that fade with time, visual impressions often grow deeper and more resonant.
In the end, I believe every truth can be conveyed through words—and equally through visual art. Each medium offers a different but complete path to understanding.
Your paintings have been described as bearing a “modern chiaroscuro,” drawing comparisons to both Caravaggio and Chagall. Do you see yourself in dialogue with art history, and if so, how does your work expand or reinterpret the legacy of Christian art for the 21st century?
I reinterpret the legacy of Christian art at the intersection of postmodern and conceptual art. My work explores diverse modes of modern expression that move beyond the iconographic rigidity of traditional Christian imagery. Unlike many contemporary Christian artists who seek spirituality through abstraction, I directly visualize the gospel. By combining compositional division, light-informed color, and realistic depiction, I introduce new concepts and aesthetics not previously seen in Christian art. Through this approach, I invite viewers to experience God’s love and grace in a visual form—offering messages of love, freedom, and peace, as well as healing, restoration, and salvation.