Bio
Eun Mi Lee is a Korean-Canadian ceramic artist based in Texas. Lee received her BFA in Craft Design from Suwon University in 2005 and her MFA in Ceramics at Hongik University in 2009. Further to her studies, she was an Artist-in-Residence at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, Canada from 2011 to 2014.
Lee's artwork expresses the beauty and complexity of the interconnection of a microcosm and the collective it represents, exploring how we are shaped and transformed through interactions with everything that exists.
She hopes to inspire her audience to embrace diversity and recognize the interconnectedness of all things. Lee has received numerous grants and awards, and her work has been showcased in various media including television, magazines, and online articles. She has been recognized by the Ontario Arts Council, the Ontario Crafts Council, and the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, receiving multiple grants and awards for her contributions to the arts.
Artist Statement
My work explores the interaction and interconnection between a microcosm and all of its surroundings. Within the small world, I discover the hidden beauty and complexity, where individual forms and textures interact and evolve, mirroring the world in which we live. We each have our roles and values, coexisting harmoniously as unique beings. Just as small pieces come together to form a larger shape, our individual efforts and values converge to shape our present society. A result of the interplay between materials inspired by the microcosm and the power of imagination, my work gives birth to new forms to capture the essence of time and experience through the interaction with clay, tools, and natural elements. Respecting individual and collective identity, a thought provoking visual is presented as a reminder of the importance of harmonious coexistence as distinct beings and interdependence of each personal journey aiming to create a more enriched society.
CV
Education
2006 – 2009 M.F.A. in Ceramics, HongIk University, Seoul, South Korea
2000 – 2005 B.F.A. in Craft Design (Ceramics), Suwon University, Suwon, South Korea
Professional Experiences
2011 – 2014 Artist in Residency at Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2009 Hongik University Ceramic Art Research Institute, Hongik University Ceramic Art Research Institute, Seoul, South Korea
Juror
2017 Craft Projects – Connections and Craft Projects – Ontario Art Council Creation and Development programs
Awards/ Grants/ Scholarships
2015 2015 Toronto Outdoor Exhibition - Honourable Mention Ceramics, Turker's Pottery Supplies Inc., Canada
Exhibition Assistance Grant, Ontario Art Council, Canada
Craft Projects: Creation and Development Grant, Ontario Art Council, Canada
Exhibition Assistance Grant, Ontario Art Council, Canada
2014 Exhibition Assistance Grant, Ontario Art Council, Canada
Craft Ontario Volunteer Committee Emerging Professional Award, Craft Ontario, Canada
Herman Miller Jurors Award, Toronto Design Offsite Festival 2014, Canada
2013 Exhibition Assistance Grant, Ontario Art Council, Canada
Ontario Crafts Council Scholarship, Craft Ontario, Canada
Exhibition Assistance Grant, Ontario Art Council, Canada
Craft Projects:Creation and Development Grant, Ontario Art Council, Canada
2012 Exhibition Assistance Grant, Ontario Art Council, Canada
Access and Career Development Grant, Ontario Art Council, Canada
2009 Cheongju International Craft Competition ‘Out of the Box' - Honorable Mention, Cheongju Biennale, Cheongju, South Korea
2007 Personal work added to permanent collection, Cube Art Museum, Beijing, China
2006 The 3rd Modern Ceramic Art Award of Korea - Honorable Mention, Incheon Seogu Culture Centre, Incheon, South Korea
2002 Beautiful Hwasung Contest - Honorable Mention, Suwon University, Suwon, South Korea
Hwasung Si Cultural Craft Design Contest - Honorable Mention, Suwon University, Suwon, South Korea
The 8th Haengju Art Contest – Special Award, Korean Fine Arts Association, Koyang, South Korea
The 38th Gyeonggi Art Contest – Special Award, Korean Fine Arts Association, Gyeonggi, South Korea
Solo Show
2016 Grace Eun Mi Lee 1st Solo Show “Dust” , Art Gallery of Burlington - Perry Gallery, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Selected Group Exhibition
2024 Poetry in Ceramic Invitation, Turning Point Beer , Benford, TX, USA
ClayFest, Schacht Gallery - Saratoga Clay Arts Center, Schuylerville, NY, USA
Craft + Design Show 2024, Main Street Station, Richmond, Virginia, USA
The Branch's Haunted House, Branch Museum of Architecture and Design, Richmond, Virginia, USA
Smithsonian Craft Show, National Building Museum , Washington, DC, USA
Interplay - NCECA Venue Originated Exhibiton Shokoebottom Clay, Richmond, Virginia, USA
Nature & Coalescence - NCECA Show , Crossroads Art Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
The Shop - NCECA Pop-up Shop , The Visual Art Center of Richmond, Virginia, USA
2023 Bizarre Market , The Visual Art Center of Richmond, Virginia, USA
Craft + Design Show 2023, Main Street Station, Virginia, USA
2020 ONE… OUT OF MANY, Shockoe Bottom Clay, Richmond, Virginia, USA
Tools of the Ceramic Trade, Richmond Main Street Station, Richmond, Virginia, USA
2017 The Brain Project 2017, Gardiner Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2016 Citizens of Craft : A Canadian Perspective, Institut National Metiers D’Art, 23, Avenue Daumesnil, Paris, France
2015 2015 Holiday Group Show, Atelier Ascenseur Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2015, Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2015 One of a Kind Spring Show, Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2014 2014 Holiday Pop-Up Shop, Craft Ontario Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Cabinet of Curiosity, Gallery House, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
8th Annual Simple Cup Show, KOBO Gallery, Seattle, Washington, United States
Fish Tank Installation, Craft Ontario Shop, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Don’t Touch, Redhead Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TODO Auction, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Objectified Matter, Ascenseur Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
AGH Art+Design / Show+Sale, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Toronto Gift Fair, The International Centre & Congress Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
NOT FORKCHOPS, Hashtag Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2013 Holiday Pop-Up Craft Shop, Ontario Crafts Council Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2013 Shop Studio Huddle, Studio Huddle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2013 One of a Kind Spring Show, Direct Energy Centre Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
“Fly By Night” Nuit Blanche 2013, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Wall Installation, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Constructor, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
52nd Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2013, Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Bluebird Shop Window Display, Bluebird Shop, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto Design Offsite Festival Opening Event, Lightform Showroom, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2012 Art Brownie Galaxy 2012, Index Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Shop Studio Huddle, Studio Huddle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2012 One of a Kind Christmas Show & Sale, Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Queen West Art Crawl, Trinity Bellwoods Park, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
ACF Magazine Event Show, Sunny Choi Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Art Brownie Rainbow, INDEXG Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
“LookOut” Harbourfront Center Artist’s Residency Biennale Show, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2009 Left-handed Depictions of Spring, My Necessities, Door/Incheon International Ceramic Center, Seoul, South Korea
Cheongju International Craft Competition, Cheongju Biennale, Cheongju, South Korea
Korea-China-Taiwan-Japan Contemporary Ceramics, Gallery Ichi Hyun, Japan
An Unfamiliar Journey of Existence Confirmation, Gallery Terra Ignis, Seoul, South Korea
MFA Graduate Show, Gallery Hyundai, Seoul, South Korea
2007 Annual Student Show, Gallery Hyundai, Seoul, South Korea
Open The Door: 580 Miles, Cube Art Museum, Beijing ,China
Korea-China-Japan Contemporary Ceramics, Korea Craft Promotion Foundation, Seoul, South Korea
2006 Annual Student Show, Gallery Hyundai, Seoul, South Korea
The 3rd Modern Ceramic Art Award of Korea Prize Show, Incheon Seo Gu Culture Centre, Incheon, South Korea
Mimomo, Gallery Sungbo, Seoul, South Korea
Artist’s Idea, Gallery Lotte Art, Ilsan, South Korea
2004 Graduate Exhibition, Gallery Insa Art, Seoul, South Korea
2002 The 8th Haengju Art Contest Prize Show, Goyang Flower Exhibition Center-Ilsan Lake Park, Gyeonggi, South Korea
The 38th Gyeonggi Art Contest Prize Show, Gyeonggi Culture Art Center, Gyeonggi, South Korea