About
David Yonghwan Lee is a Korean-American artist, raised in South Korea and the UK by Korean parents, whose body of work focuses on the philosophical and emotional connection between humans and the environment that shapes and changes their lives. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from the University of the Arts in London in 2018 and has been pursuing his artistic career in New York City since 2020. In 2021, he presented Nomadic Pop-Up: ‘How's Your Day?’, a three-day public art event at St. James Park, as the recipient of the City Artist Corps Grant. In 2022, he was selected for the Bronx Recognizes Its Own (BRIO) award. Since then, he has participated in various public art events and group exhibitions, such as ‘Building Together’ by the Korea Art Forum and ‘Synthetic Zero’ by the Bronx Art Space. He also organized the group exhibition ‘Summer Show 2023’ at Studio Artego, aiming to create an environment where artists at diverse stages of their careers can connect with new audiences.
Recently, he participated in Bronx Art Space’s artist residency program at Governors Island, where he presented the exhibition ‘New Home is Here’ and expanded on its themes through the audience-engaged program ‘Draw Together’ at AnkhLave’s Governors Island house. Ankhlave invited him back this year, where he exhibited ‘Door.’
Education
2018 Bachelor (Hons) Fine Art, University of the Arts London: Central Saint Martins, London, England
Exhibitions
2025 Door, AnhkLave Artist Alliance, Governors Island House, Manhattan, USA
2024 Dot on a wall, AnhkLave Artist Alliance, Governors Island House, Manhattan, USA
New Home is Here, Bronx Art Space Governors Island House, Manhattan, USA
Envisioned Futures Benefit Exhibition, The Living Gallery, Brooklyn, USA
Guest Show: Days Between 693rd and 1,559th, Studio Artego, Queens, USA
Blurr, Temple Gallery, Manhattan, USA
2023 Cement, Tail of a Gecko, Tutu Gallery, Manhattan, USA
2022 Shared Dialogue, Shared Space, 601 ArtSpace, New York, USA
Synthetic Zero, Bronx Art Space, The Bronx, USA
Six Feet, K&P Gallery, New York, USA
2021 In honor of the late Michael Yun, Jersey City Hall, New Jersey, USA
KCC Young Artist Open call exhibition, Korean Community Center, New Jersey, USA
2019 We are Shinjayeonist!, Moonlight art warehouse, Dam yang, South Korea
2018 Urbanites, Cultural Center Generator, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Degree show one: Art, Central Saint Martins Main building, London, England.
All sorts, Degree Art Gallery, London, England.
AUCART first show, University of the Arts London: Central Saint Martins Main building, London, England
2017 Wander, Calthorpe Project, London, England.
Spring roll exhibition, University of the Arts London: Chelsea Main building, London, England.
2016 The big white wall exhibition, University of the Arts London: Central Saint Martins Main building, London, England.
Other Events
2024 Draw Together: audience engagement art project, AnhkLave Artist Alliance Governors Island House, Manhattan, USA
2023 Curatorial Art Event: Summer Show 2023, Studio Artego, Queens, USA
2022 Public Art Event: The AnkhLave Holiday Community Art Workshop, Poe Park visitor center, The Bronx, USA
Public Art Event: Building Together, Maple Playground, Queens, USA
2021 Public Art Event: Nomadic pop-up: How's your day?, St. James Park, Bronx, New York, USA
Awards
2022 Bronx Recognize Its Own Award, New York, USA
2021 City Artist Corps Grant, New York, USA
2021 Shortlist - KCC Young Artist Open call exhibition, New Jersey, USA.
2018 Shortlist - Clyde & Co Art Award 2018, London, England
Publication
2022- Bronx Recognizes Its Own (BRIO), 2022 BRIO awardees page.
2022- Korea Art Forum 2022 Shared Dialogue Shared Space in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean
2022- Korea Art Forum Social media page - Building it together/May the 14th.
2022- Shared Dialogue, Shared Space: Virtual Artist Talk - The Loft
2021- Rotunda Art Gallery, Jersey City Hall
2020 - 신자연주의 선언 26주년 기념전: 당신의 몸이 신자연이다(2019) (Shinjayeonist 26 years old celerabration show: Your body is Shinjayeon)
2018 - Urbanites Sofia