First Impressions

The sculptor charts his journey and how it reflects in his work

- Simon Lee

Where did you grow up and how has this influenced your art?

I was born in Beijing, China, and lived there until I was 10. Then I lived in Hong Kong for another 10 years before settling in the United States. My art is closely related to my life, so every cultural influence that I was ever exposed to has shaped my artistic language and expression.

What, outside of art, has most influenced your work?

My art has always been a response to my life, so in a way art itself was least influential to me. Experience has always been the key driving force in the evolution of my art.

Are there any works you saw that changed everything?

I’m a self-taught artist. I started sculpting on my own at age five, but growing up in a traditional Chinese family, the notion of becoming a full-time artist never entered my mind. I went to business school in college and majored in marketing.