Paul Lee’s work is a testament to the transformative power of art, turning ordinary objects into compelling visual meditations. The collages in this exhibition are composed of sandpaper, a material typically associated with abrasion and preparation. Lee subverts this function, using the sandpaper as a canvas and a medium to create delicate compositions of color, shape, and texture. The works explore the contrast between the material’s coarse surface and the subtle, nuanced forms he creates, inviting viewers to engage with both the tactile and visual qualities of the pieces.

The new series continues Lee’s career-long exploration of unconventional materials and the poetry of the found object. His practice, which encompasses painting and sculpture, is deeply concerned with the quiet beauty found in domestic and overlooked items. By elevating a material as humble as sandpaper, Lee not only challenges traditional artistic mediums but also creates a unique visual language that is at once intimate and formally rigorous.

Lee’s work has been the subject of numerous solo exhibitions, including recent shows at Karma in New York (2024, 2019), Michael Lett in Auckland, New Zealand (2022), and Modern Art in London (2018). His work is represented in major public collections, including the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Morgan Library & Museum, and the Walker Art Center, among others. Lee lives and works in New York.