Meet Ailyn Lee

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ailyn Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ailyn, what are you inspired by?
I find inspiration in objects and furniture that show signs of age or faded colors. When traveling or visiting a new place, I enjoy exploring nearby antique shops because I immediately envision the type of work I want to create upon seeing certain objects in such shops. I love everything about objects found in antique shops. I prefer items with wood grain and frayed edges over those that are overly polished and pristine. I find comfort in the distinct scent of wood and dust carried by old items. Disassembling, painting, and adding clay to create new forms excite me. Some items even bear labels indicating when and where they were found. They spark my imagination and make me wonder about their previous owners and the stories they hold.

Piles of old and used items also evoke the imagery of a theater backstage to me. I have always enjoyed watching stage performances and found inspiration from them. The concept of creating an entirely new world on a stage and projecting it through the invisible fourth wall is fascinating to me. I also enjoy observing how the stage and the props are used as the story unfolds. I remember feeling a mysterious sensation in the empty prop room and backstage area when I took theater classes in high school. It felt like catching a serendipitous glimpse of a world that only opens up during certain times.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I spent much of my childhood in my grandmother’s antique shop. The store was full of old furniture, mysterious objects, and figurative sculptures by my mother. It was my sanctuary and playground, where I imagined dreamlike scenes, played hide-and-seek, and staged theatrical plays using the old furniture and objects. I myself now collect found objects and furniture from the different places I visit. I mark the date I bring them home, as if I’ve adopted them. By combining them, I create new forms and stories, giving them a new memory and purpose.
Even before starting my artistic career, I would just keep creating without a clear intention of what I wanted to express through my work. I came to the United States as an international student at the age of fourteen and experienced intense insomnia and anxiety for the first time. I started drawing as a way to relieve the frustration and inner turmoil, without any specific purpose or direction at first. Over time, I began to recognize patterns in what I subconsciously expressed through those drawings, which have now led to my current practice.

During my BFA and MFA Fine Arts programs, I had the opportunity to explore a wide range of mediums including video, wood cut, ceramic, painting, installation, 3D printing, and even performance art. These experiences have been crucial in my artistic practice as they later allowed me to become more interdisciplinary. The sheer amount of possible unique combinations of different mediums – thus the opportunities for new experiments – never fails to excite me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
New York City has many breathtaking places. If my best friend were visiting, I would probably give them a list. Here is a selection: 1. Parks: Central Park & Bethesda Fountain
2. Art Museums: The Met Cloisters; The Morgan Library; galleries in Chelsea, the Lower East Side, and Tribeca
3. Broadway Shows: Kit Kat Club; Moulin Rouge; MJ the Musical
4. Restaurants: Blue Dog; Mykonian House; Wayan; Kimura; Blue Willow; Nubiani; Le Gratin
5. Bars: The Back Room; Bathtub Gin; Brandy Library

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate my shoutout to the artists and professors I met through the SVA MFA Fine Arts program. They gave me the courage to continue my career as an artist and provided valuable feedback as I explored different ideas. I was able to step out of my comfort zone and experiment with new mediums or facilities because they supported me with their valuable knowledge and experience. Visiting their studios and observing their work processes was truly an honor. Even after graduating, being able to see their exhibitions and visit their studios brings me great joy.

Website: www.ailynlee.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ailynlee_/

Image Credits
Images provided by the artist