“Making these works makes me happy, so that’s what I’m trying to achieve.”
Clay creatures that will put a smile on your face
In 2017, everything changed for Taylor Lee. "I had this revelation," she explains. "I just quit everything and focused on making ceramics". And Lee has never looked back. Her bulbous, fun and lovable creatures have made it possible for her passion to be her full-time job. In the studio (a light and airy warehouse in LA), she experiments with many different types of clay and glazes. In traditional pottery, the wheel is the standard technique. But Lee usually builds her sculptures by hand – not because she's trying to be anti-tradition, but because she loves it. Ultimately, the process is about...
In 2017, everything changed for Taylor Lee. "I had this revelation," she explains. "I just quit everything and focused on making ceramics". And Lee has never looked back. Her bulbous, fun and lovable creatures have made it possible for her passion to be her full-time job. In the studio (a light and airy warehouse in LA), she experiments with many different types of clay and glazes. In traditional pottery, the wheel is the standard technique. But Lee usually builds her sculptures by hand – not because she's trying to be anti-tradition, but because she loves it. Ultimately, the process is about having fun. And the creatures emanate this energy – full of warmth, joy and comfort.
Lee's creative process is all about mixing up the past and present. She takes inspiration from the symbolism of prehistoric art, the storytelling of folk art and the alluring glow of pop nostalgia. "As I grew up in Henderson, Nevada, where Asian culture and influences were scarce, my connection with my heritage blossomed through Korean and Japanese comics and pop culture," she says. Lee's passion for manga and superheroes has continued her whole life – from '60s and '70s hits like Ultraman and Godzilla to cult classics Dragon Ball and Astro Boy. "I'm not an artist that's trying to be so serious about issues or life or anything," she remarks. But, even without trying, Lee's work is quietly profound – that's the magic of it. These heartwarming sculptures are overflowing with all the best bits of human kindness.
Bio
Taylor Lee (she/her) is a Korean-American artist born in 1981. She is currently based in Los Angeles.
Art school
Part of the reason Lee doesn’t use a wheel is because her teacher “hated the idea of ceramics being crafty”, so didn’t teach the skill. “I wish I learned it though because there’re so many other skills I can apply to my artwork", she says. But her hand-built technique is a huge part of the work’s style – and we like it just the way it is.
Did you know?
Lee is one half of an artist power couple. In 2022, she collaborated with her husband Peter Chan on a duo exhibition called Toy Show at Over The Influence in Hong Kong. She also used to fire the work of Venezuelan ceramistMagdalena Suarez Frimkess in a studio she used to work in.
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