Leelee Chan

Leelee Chan is a contemporary mixed-media artist and sculptor whose artistic repertoire encompasses collages, paintings, sculptures, and installations that merge natural and organic elements with recycled materials and found objects, serving as an exploration of material culture.

Biography of Leelee Chan

Leelee Chan was born in 1984 in Hong Kong. She was raised in Kwai Fong and later pursued her education at a community college in Utah, United States.

The artist received her BFA in Painting from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago in 2006. Three years later, in 2009, she received her MFA in Painting (with honors) from the Rhode Island School of Design in Rhode Island.

In 2020, Chan received the prestigious 9th BMW Art Journey, supported by and BMW. As part of this grant, she embarked on a research journey across Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, and Mexico, immersing herself in the knowledge of traditional crafts and sustainable materials, collaborating with artisans, scientists, and manufacturers.

Her remarkable achievements led to her being recognized as a "Woman of Power" by Prestige Hong Kong in 2022.

Leelee Chan's solo exhibitions include "Silica Meadows" at Capsule Shanghai in Shanghai (2023), "Antinomies" at Klemm's in Berlin (2022), and "Core Sample" at Capsule Shanghai in Shanghai (2019). Furthermore, she has participated in various group shows, including "High Season" at Encounter Gallery in Lisbon (2023), "Poetic Heritage" at Tai Kwun in Hong Kong (2021), "Organs Underground" at M Woods Museum x Plate Space in Beijing (2020), "Holy Mosses" at Blindspot Gallery in Hong Kong (2019), and many more.

Leelee Chan's Art Style

Leelee Chan creates enigmatic sculptures that blend urban debris, ancient relics, natural elements, industrial products, and everyday objects. Her work generates visual paradoxes, seamlessly shifting these objects between the past, present, and future. Drawing inspiration from the evolving urban landscape of Hong Kong, Chan's sculptures undergo a complex metamorphosis through tactile exploration of materials and processes. The artist pushes the boundaries of the physicality of her creations, expanding the possibilities of abstract expression.

Chan's sculptures evoke a distinctive atmosphere, conjuring a poetic reflection of the built environment. Her visceral exploration of the unknown embodies her fascination with urbanism, architecture, material culture, craftsmanship, and antiquities. Through the interplay of abstract forms, intricate details, and unexpected materials, she invites a physical engagement and encourages a fresh perspective on perception.