Leelee Chan
{{Short description|Contemporary mixed-media artist}}
File:Pallet in Repose (Portal), 2019 by Leelee Chan.jpg
Leelee Chan (Chinese: 陳麗同, born 1984) is a Hong Kong–based contemporary mixed-media artist and sculptor. Her collages, paintings, sculptures, and installations combine natural and organic forms with recycled materials and found objects as an exploration of material culture.{{Cite news |last=Chu |first=Ingrid |date=2019-04-11 |title=Egg Cartons, Scavenged Chandeliers and Broken Teacups: Leelee Chan at Capsule, Shanghai |language=en |work=Frieze |issue=204 |url=https://www.frieze.com/article/egg-cartons-scavenged-chandeliers-and-broken-teacups-leelee-chan-capsule-shanghai |access-date=2023-05-19 |issn=0962-0672}}{{Cite web |last=Ho |first=Daniel Szehin |title=Carrara marble and eco-friendly concrete: Follow Hong Kong sculptor Leelee Chan in her quest for old and new materials |url=https://www.artbasel.com/stories/bmw-art-journey-2020-winner-leelee-chan |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Art Basel |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Leelee Chan, represented by Capsule Shanghai: Pallet in Repose (Portal), 2019. |url=https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/photo/detail/P90398935/leelee-chan-represented-by-capsule-shanghai:-pallet-in-repose-portal-2019-painting:-magazine-collages-acrylic-medium-acrylic-paint-and-oil-paint-on-linen;-sculpture:-found-materials-including:-wood-pallet-moon-shape-glass-foam-packagings-wood-mirror-resin-aqua-resin-fiberglass-concrete-pigment-metal-bars-felt-fabric-painting:-162-x-121-x-4-cm;-sculpture:-22-x-127-x-131-cm-courtesy-of-the-artist-and-capsule-shanghai-09/2020?language=en |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=BMW Group Press |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Eliza |title=Leelee Chan: Investigating the Evolving Meaning of Material Culture |url=https://whitewall.art/design/leelee-chan-investigating-evolving-meaning-material-culture |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Whitewall |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Bhargava |first=Aaina |date=2020-06-26 |title=Artist on her contemporary relics: ‘something fun and playful’ |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3090557/contemporary-relics-sculptor-leelee-chan-showcase-her |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}
Early life and education
Born in Hong Kong, Chan grew up in Kwai Fong before attending community college in Utah, United States.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Christie |date=2021-08-05 |title=LeeLee Chan: Art That Finds the Extraordinary in Ordinary Objects |url=https://zolimacitymag.com/leelee-chan-art-that-finds-the-extraordinary-in-ordinary-objects/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Zolima City Magazine |language=en-GB}} She received a BFA in Painting from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2006, followed by an MFA in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 2009.{{Cite news |last=Moldan |first=Tessa |date=September 14, 2022 |title=Leelee Chan: Materialising Hong Kong's Fluctuations |work=Ocula |url=https://ocula.com/magazine/conversations/leelee-chan-materials-of-the-past-present-future/}}{{Cite web |title=Leelee Chan 陳麗同 - Overview |url=https://capsuleshanghai.com/artists/57-leelee-chan/overview/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Capsule Shanghai |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Open Up with Leelee Chan |url=https://bagrifoundation.org/events/open-up-with-leelee-chan/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Bagri Foundation |language=en-GB}} Through formally trained as a painter, during her studies at RISD, Chan began to explore working with mixed media and sculpture.{{Cite web |last=Ko |first=Christina |date=2020-06-08 |title=Materials Immaterial: Leelee Chan Makes Magic from the Mundane |url=https://www.cobosocial.com/dossiers/materials-immaterial-leelee-chan/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=COBO Social |language=en-US}}
Exhibitions and collections
Chan has exhibited locally and internationally, including at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, ARCOmadrid, Art Basel Hong Kong, Capsule Shanghai, and Berlin Art Week.{{Cite web |last=Ip |first=Stephanie |date=2023-01-31 |title=Artist Leelee Chan on the Regenerative Nature of her Works |url=https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/people/artist-leelee-chan-regenerative-artworks/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Prestige Online - Hong Kong |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Notes from Pallet Town |url=https://ucca.org.cn/en/exhibition/notes-from-pallet-town/works// |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=UCCA Center for Contemporary Art |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Moioli |first=Chiara |date=2019-02-27 |title=Assume Form: Leelee Chan |url=https://www.moussemagazine.it/magazine/assume-form-leelee-chan-chiara-moioli-capsule-shanghai-2019 |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Mousse Magazine |language=en-US}} Additionally, her work is featured in a number of public and private art collections around the world, including those of the M+ Museum, JPMorgan Chase Art Collection, Kadist Art Foundation, and Skulpturen Park Köln.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Leelee Chan |url=https://eazel.net/artists/476 |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Eazel |language=en}}
Recognition
In 2020, Chan was awarded the 9th BMW Art Journey, sponsored by Art Basel and BMW.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-06-19 |title=Leelee Chan wins BMW Art Journey 2020 |url=https://artspectacleasia.com/leelee-chan-wins-bmw-art-journey-2020/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=ASIA: Art Spectacle International Asia |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Selvin |first=Claire |last2=Solomon |first2=Tessa |last3= |first3= |date=2020-06-15 |title=ARTnews in Brief: Leelee Chan Wins Art Basel’s BMW Art Journey Award—and More from June 19, 2020 |url=https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/breaking-art-industry-news-june-2020-week-3-1202691247/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=ARTnews |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=June 18, 2020 |title=Leelee Chan Named Next BMW Art Journey Award Winner |url=https://www.artforum.com/news/leelee-chan-named-next-bmw-art-journey-award-winner-83271 |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Artforum |language=en-US}} As part of her funded research for this award, she traveled throughout Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, and Mexico to learn about traditional crafts and sustainable materials from artisans, scientists, and manufacturers.{{Cite web |title=Leelee Chan |url=https://www.bmw-art-journey.com/journeys/leelee-chan |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=BMW Art Journey |language=}}{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Kristina |date=2021-05-14 |title=Leelee Chan’s material world |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/43ac0dfe-3577-40d0-92e6-e8f7ded2ff3e |access-date=2023-05-19}} She was named a "Woman of Power" by Prestige Hong Kong in 2022.