Adam Lee’s painting and drawing practice ties together narratives of memory, imagination and transcendence. Through his works on canvas and paper, Lee builds worlds where allegory and atmosphere coalesce to suggest a highly personal outlook informed by collective folklore and legend. His work references a wide range of sources including historical and family photographs, spiritual narratives, natural history, and contemporary music, film and literature to investigate aspects of the human condition in relation to ideas of temporal and supernatural worlds. These explorations find their physical manifestation in Lee’s well-honed individual style, characterised by moody landscapes and a contemporary take on tenebrism.
Lee has exhibited throughout Australia and internationally. He was recently invited to participate in Melbourne Now at NGV Australia, and the 2021 Kyneton Contemporary Art Triennial, Holding the Circle. He has been a finalist in The Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize (2021, 2019, 2015, 2013); The Geelong Contemporary Art Prize (2014); National Works on Paper Prize exhibition (2014); The Churchie National Emerging Artist Award (2012, 2011); The Redlands Westpac Art Prize (2010); The Rick Amor Drawing Prize (2010); and The Sir John Sulman Prize (2010, 2006). His works are represented in public and private collections in Australia and internationally.
World Sick Hermit
2022
installation view
photo: Josh Hourigan
For Signs, for Seasons, for Days and for Years (Watchmen)
2010
oil and synthetic polymer paint on canvas
200.0 x 250.0 cm
The Widebai
2011
oil and synthetic polymer paint on canvas
203.0 x 171.0 cm
Interior History 1
2012
acrylic and oil on linen
46.0 x 36.0 cm
Installation view
2013
Installation view
2013
The Omoo
2013
oil and synthetic polymer paint on canvas
170.0 x 220.0 cm
Lacuna Remix
2013
oil and synthetic polymer paint on canvas
200.0 x 360.0 cm
Untitled
2013
watercolour and ink on paper
46.0 x 36.0 cm
Ancient of Days
2014
watercolour and ink on paper
154.0 x 102.0 cm
Babel
2015
oil and synthetic polymer paint on canvas
220.0 x 350.0 cm
Of All the Heavens and of All the Earth
2015
watercolour and synthetic polymer paint on paper
117.0 x 87.0 cm
Installation view
2015
Installation view
2015
Hermit
2017
oil and synthetic polymer paint on linen
65.0 x 45.0 cm
Woman Carrying a Stone
2017
oil and synthetic polymer paint on canvas
110.0 x 76.0 cm
Captain Glanton
2016
oil and synthetic polymer paint on canvas
46.0 x 35.0 cm (unframed)
The Namesake
2016
watercolour and synthetic polymer paint on paper
141.0 x 113.0 cm (framed)
Mammouth
2019
oil, synthetic polymer and pigment on canvas
220.0 x 165.0 cm
Tender Mantle
2019
oil, synthetic polymer and pigment on canvas
220.0 x 160.0 cm
Vestment Blue
2019
oil, synthetic polymer and pigment on canvas
61.0 x 46.0 cm
Vestment Pink
2019
oil, synthetic polymer and pigment on canvas
61.0 x 46.0 cm
STRATUM
2019
installation view
STRATUM
2019
installation view
Genealogy
2019
Installation view
Genealogy
2019
oil, synthetic polymer and pigment on canvas
112.0 x 76.0 cm
Studio Amada
2019
oil, synthetic polymer and pigment on canvas
220.0 x 335.0 cm
Floating Metaphor
2019
oil, synthetic polymer and pigment on canvas
41.0 x 31.0 cm
Votive #25
2019
watercolour, ink and synthetic polymer paint on paper
48.0 x 38.0 cm
Underland
2020
oil and synthetic polymer on canvas
165.0 x 150.0 cm
Three Days, Three Nights
2020
Oil and synthetic polymer on canvas
170.0 x 130.0 cm
Chrysalis Dark
2020
Oil and synthetic polymer on canvas
172.0 x 97.0 cm
Elephant
2020
Oil and synthetic polymer on canvas
61.0 x 46.0 cm
Night As Day (1)
2019
Watercolour on paper
49.0 x 36.5 cm framed
Cave Painting
2019
Watercolour on paper
49.0 x 36.5 cm framed
Blētsian
2020
Oil and synthetic polymer on canvas
200.0 x 150.0 cm
O Restless Earth
2020
Installation view
Chrysalis Dark
2020
watercolour on paper
145.0 x 90.0 cm framed
World Sick Hermit
2022
installation view
photo: Josh Hourigan
World Sick Hermit
2022
installation view
photo: Josh Hourigan
World Sick Hermit
2022
installation view
photo: Josh Hourigan
World Sick Hermit
2022
installation view
photo: Josh Hourigan
World Sick Hermit
2022
installation view
photo: Josh Hourigan
World Sick Hermit
2022
installation view
photo: Josh Hourigan
World Sick Hermit
2022
installation view
photo: Josh Hourigan
World Sick Hermit
2022
installation view
photo: Josh Hourigan
World Sick Hermit
2022
installation view
photo: Josh Hourigan
Name of Names
2021
oil and synthetic polymer paint on canvas
210.0 x 325.0 cm
We Were Radiant
2021
oil and synthetic polymer paint on canvas
210.0 x 160.0 cm
I Come Home From the Soaring (Rilke)
2021
oil and synthetic polymer paint on canvas
210.0 x 160.0 cm