Contemporary Portrait Artist | South Korea

Lee.K is a Seoul-based contemporary artist known for delving into the complexities of human emotion and inner struggle. Working across oil, pencil, and charcoal, his practice bridges classical aesthetics with minimalism, resulting in emotive grayscale portraits that explore the silent language of the eyes.

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His ongoing series Denial of Language captures emotional turmoil by challenging the mouth’s traditional role as a communicative tool. Through intentionally damaged mouth depictions, rough textures, and layered surfaces, Lee.K confronts the emotional misfires of language—loss, miscommunication, and psychological wounds—presenting silence as a powerful space for empathy and resonance.

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In contrast, his Blooming series celebrates emotional recovery and resilience. Using vibrant colors influenced by his background in children’s illustration, these works offer a visual counterpoint—where healing and joy emerge from the same well of emotional depth. The duality between monochrome stillness and colorful revival reveals the artist’s evolving relationship with self-expression.