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

Hi Agnes, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I once took a marketing class a long time ago. In the class, we were given three assignments: the first was to research the food market, the second was to look into any type of business, not a specific field, and the last was to analyze and research a famous large corporation.

At that time, I was able to learn about the gallery business from my brother-in-law, who was operating an art gallery. He told me that although the public might view art galleries as making a lot of money, the reality is that it’s not an easy business to generate large profits, as one might think. The statement that the business goal was to approach the break-even point was quite shocking to me, actually.

I had been running a private business handling accounting for a long time. During that time, the opportunity to manage an art gallery came to me. I had secured a large office rental space to use with my artist sister’s studio. However, my sister moved to another state, leaving me to handle the vacant space alone. After much consideration, I decided to decorate the empty space as an exhibition area and start it as a cultural space. Over time, it developed and became the Lee & Lee Gallery, which has been in the same location for 22 years now.

Most galleries that deal with artwork are either run by wealthy people or are sometimes used as a tool for tax benefits. However, when I started the gallery, all my income sources were sufficient to cover the operation through my accounting work, and I also agreed with my brother-in-law’s idea of aiming for the break-even point.

I’m not a wealthy businesswoman, but I pride myself on being a diligent businesswoman. While working hard at my primary business, I gradually completed the gallery’s appearance, tearing down and renovating walls and floors. The many experiences gained from managing exhibition rentals and large and small exhibitions after the gallery was completed have become an asset and driving force that allows me to protect the gallery. Even without huge profits, I was able to reach the goal of the break-even point.

While operating the gallery, I always reinvested a portion of the revenue earned from artwork commissions back into the artists’ work. This is because I made it a business principle that the gallery manager has a duty to protect artists.

The cultural business is not one where sales are made through advertising, and the purchasers of artwork are a very small minority. Nevertheless, the reward I’ve gained from running the gallery is the invaluable comfort that comes from always being around artwork. I continue this business despite the difficulties because I know that a cultural space is needed for many artists. I hope that this unchanging conviction of mine will be a small help to the future of the cultural business.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Introducing artist Kyungsoo Lee, my sister, who is proud of Lee&Lee Gallery.

Kyungsoo Lee was born, raised, and educated in Seoul, Korea. She began painting as a small child, displaying a precocious talent for art, and for painting in particular. She continues today, many years later, as she has always done.
After receiving her MFA from the Graduate School of Sungshin Women’s University in 1983, she moved with her family to California in 1984. She is among the first generation of artists to be fully trained in a combination of oriental and Western European aesthetics.
She approaches her canvas with apparently little or no preconceived notion of what will occur.
She has the disciplined ability to quiet the verbal, analytical part of her mind and allow that silent, creative half of the brain to dominate. Her painting is a process of discovery, evolving from the repetition of gestures and the layering of color over color. Her perceptive color sense lends strength to the delicate line and soft tones of her imaginary natural abstractions and inner landscapes.
Kyungsoo Lee was named “Artist of the Month” and given her first major solo show at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Seoul, Korea, in 1989. Additionally, she has had more than 27 solo exhibitions in the US, Seoul, and Europe. In 1992, she was awarded the Encouragement Public Award given by the French government to an outstanding artist.
Her paintings are found in collections around the world, including museum collections, corporations, and individuals.
Her life has been a journey, and the only constant in her life is painting. She has achieved the ability to speak eloquently with the line and colors to speak poetry without words to those who are receptive.
Painting is her true blue friend.

As an immigrant and Korean-American, she faced challenges with language and cultural conflict. However, her uniquely positive mindset enabled her to overcome all obstacles and dedicate herself to art education for the younger generation. She taught studio art at LACMA, worked at the University of Hawaii, and is currently a professor of art at Underwood University in southern California.

Currently, Kyungsoo Lee’s solo exhibition “Unholding Colors” is on view at the Lee&Lee Gallery until Oct.25th

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I also recommend exploring the art museums in Southern California. In addition to LACMA, I also recommend MOCA and the BROAD in downtown Los Angeles, the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, and the Getty Center.

LA boasts a wealth of multicultural restaurants, making it a fun place to choose from.
Koreatown, in particular, offers a wealth of delicious Korean BBQ and a variety of delicious restaurants. It’s also a great place to enjoy K-Food, K-Pop, K-Shopping, K-Culture, and other entertainment.

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?
Four years ago, the Lee&Lee Gallery launched its senior art contest to support seniors’ cultural activities. Each year, the gallery encourages seniors’ creative pursuits and provides them with opportunities to exhibit their work at the gallery, contributing to a more enriching cultural experience.

Website: www.leenleegallery.com

Instagram: leenleegallery

Facebook: facebook.com/leenleegallery

Image Credits
kyungsoo Lee

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.