Jongeun Gina Lee

Jongeun Gina Lee was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, and immigrated to the United States as an adult. Strong influences in her life include cultural chauvinism of her Korean heritage, transitional experiences as an immigrant, and the long wait for a child in her married life. Lee’s faith and resilience carry her through these turbulent experiences, and also influence her artwork.

Lee is a designer-turned-artist. After studying fashion design in Korea and textile surface design at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, she worked as a design director for twelve years in Seoul, Los Angeles, and New York. Lee designed and developed products for major retailers such as Bloomingdale’s, for designer brands Lenox and Waterford Wedgwood, and red-carpet designer Monique Lhuillier. Her experience with three-dimensional home products shifted her personal artistic career. Lee’s exposure to new mediums and manufacturing resources opened new possibilities for three-dimensional work, and eventually led her to ceramics and sculpture.

Lee’s artwork has been shown at the Arts at Harvard Ceramics Program, the Hopkinton Center for the Arts, the Davis Art Gallery, the Molly Harding Nye Gallery at the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society, Webster Financial Center in Wellesley, and the Danforth Art Museum.