LARRY LEE
Born 1962
Resides in Chicago, IL
EDUCATION
1999 Master of Fine Arts, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
1991 Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Illinois at Chicago
ONE AND TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2016 “The Reports of My Death Are Greatly Exaggerated”, Beverly Arts Center, Chicago
2011 “A Paler Shade of Yellow,” Faber & Faber, Chicago
“The (Un)Timely Death of Multiculturalism,” Five Funerals Projects at Charnel House, Chicago
2006 “Upon daydreaming of left over food for thought,” C33 Space, Columbia College Chicago
2005 “Semi-gloss”(with Laura Kina), mn gallery, Chicago
2003 “Straight out of right field, ”Modest Contemporary Art Projects, Chicago
2001 “Goodbye Mr. Lee, Miss Wild Regrets” (with Sarah Wild), Joymore, Chicago
“...a many splendored thing”, SPACELab, Spaces, Cleveland
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 “We are here because they were there”, Ann Arbor Art Center
2017 "Three Decades of Change: Artspace's 30th Reunion Exhibition”, New Haven
2016 “Holy Cow!”, Beverly Arts Center, Chicago
2014 “11-11”, Kitchen Space, Chicago
“Burn It Down”, Heaven, Chicago
“Eating Cultures”, AAWAA with APICC at SomArts, San Francisco
2013 “Cultural Evolution?”, Waubonsee Community College
2012 “Did You See Heaven: SPECTRA”, Peregrineprogram, Chicago
“Interaction”, Korean Cultural Center of Chicago
2011 “Myself,” Sheppard Gallery, University of Nevada, Reno
“The toy formerly known as…,” slow, Chicago
2010 “Bacon and Booze,” slow, Chicago
“A-Game,” Kirk's Apartment, Chicago
“Carrying Across,” Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia
2009 "Present Tense Biennial: Chinese Character," Chinese Culture Center in collaboration
with Kearny Street Workshop, San Francisco
“The Grand,” Amelie Wallace Gallery, SUNY at Old Westbury
2008 “White on White,” Cindy Rucker Gallery, New York
2005 “Experiment 400/5,” Gallery 400, University of Illinois at Chicago
“Buddy System,” Janette Kennedy Gallery at University of Texas at Dallas
2004 “Politics of A Moment,” Evanston Arts Center, Evanston, IL
2003 “Mythical Nation,” untitled (space) gallery, artSPACE, New Haven
2002 “Analect,” Stray Show (project through mn gallery), Chicago
“Slant,” Subspace, Diverseworks, Houston
“Majority Rules,” Free Gallery, Glasgow, Scotland
“Blueblood/blue collar,” Heaven Gallery, Chicago
2001 “First Parking Lot Biennale,” Chicago
“Hot Sheets,” The optimistic, Chicago
“Medium(s),” Asian American Arts Collective at Atomic Kitchen, Chicago
2000 “Find,” mn gallery, Chicago
“Print + Mass,” Gallery 2, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
1999 “Suite 35,” Pilsen East Gallery, Chicago
“Not on Any Map,” Betty Rymer Gallery, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
1998 “Textuality,” Gallery 2, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
“Yellow/Face,” Pilsen East Gallery, Chicago
1997 “Dilemma,” Gary Marks Gallery, Chicago
1996 “Untitled,” Gallery 312, Chicago
“A Sense of Place,” Suburban Fine Arts Center, Highland Park, IL
1995 “Unknown Chicago,” Gallery 312, Chicago
“Eclectic Sight and Sound,” Walt Disney Communications Center, Chicago
1994 “Border/Crossings,” Rackham Gallery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
“Echoes,” Noyes Cultural Arts Center, Evanston, IL
“Common Ground,” South Shore Cultural Center, Chicago
1993 “DestinAsian,” Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2023 “Cathy Hsiao and Nestor Siré: Made in Taiwan”, Spotlight Series, Chinese American Museum of Chicago
“Phillip Chen: Chop Suey Men/The Brothers Chen: Chen Yuke Thew, Suey, Foon, and Fong”
Spotlight Series, Chinese American Museum of Chicago
“Sarah Whyte: What Color Am I?” Spotlight Series, Chinese American Museum of Chicago
“Maggie Wong: UNITY”, Spotlight Series, Chinese American Museum of Chicago
2022 “Guanyu Xu: to be seen”, Spotlight Series, Chinese American Museum of Chicago
“Yuge Zhou: Moon Drawings”, Spotlight Series, Chinese American Museum of Chicago
“Priscilla Kar Yee Lo: Aiming to Please”, Spotlight Series, Chinese American Museum of Chicago
“Nicole Leung: untitled” Spotlight Series, Chinese American Museum of Chicago
“Laura Lynn Hsieh: Mahjong and Dumplings”, Spotlight Series, Chinese American Museum of Chicago
2019 "Visible”, (FAAIM), Gene Siskel Film Center Gallery in conjunction
with the 24th Asian American Showcase
2014 “Words We Live By”, (Molar Productions), White Box Studios, North Branch Projects,
4th Ward Projects, Vietnamese Association of Illinois, Chicago
“Paul’s NOT Gay”, (Molar Productions), slow, Chicago
2013 “Next Generation”, Gene Siskel Film Center Gallery in conjunction
with the 18th Asian American Showcase
2012 “Gang of Nine,” (FAAIM), Research House for Asian Art in partnership with the Chinatown
Centennial Celebration, Chicago
“100 Years,” (FAAIM), Gene Siskel Film Center Gallery, Chicago
“Mapping,” Chinese American Museum of Chicago
“B. A. D.” (Molar Productions), Beverly Arts Center, Chicago
2011 “Sexy,” (FAAIM), Gene Siskel Film Center Gallery, Chicago
“SEXIER,” (Molar Productions), Zhou B Arts Center, Chicago
2010 "BamBUDDHAed! I Ching, You Ching, We ALL Ching...For I Ching” (Molar Productions),
portage ARTspace, Chicago
“Laura Kina: A Many-Splendored Thing,” (FAAIM), Gene Siskel Film Center Gallery, Chicago
“Memory Into Flesh: A Tribute to the Performance and Activism of Anida Yoeu Ali,” (FAAIM),
Gene Siskel Film Center
2009 “Paul WHO?” (Molar Productions), slow, Chicago
2008 “Lucky 13,” (FAAIM), Gene Siskel Film Center Gallery
2007 “Remake: The Sequel,” (FAAIM), Gene Siskel Film Center Gallery
2006 “Wonder Ugly” (in collaboration with Project A), Gene Siskel Film Center Gallery
2005 “Everybody Paints!” (Molar Productions), Parlour Gallery, Chicago
“Then and Now,” (FAAIM), Gene Siskel Film Center Gallery, Chicago
2004 “100 Cuts”(co-curated with Laura Kina), Gallery 312, Chicago
“Coming Soon...,” (FAAIM), Gene Siskel Film Center Gallery, Chicago
SPECIAL PROJECTS/COLLABORATION/PERFORMANCE
2022 “Looking for Beverly”, boundary, International Chefs of Mystery! with Jason Dunda
2021 “Ode to Art”, ArtBASH, International Chefs of Mystery! with Jason Dunda
2019 “Defending Our Market!” Comfort Station, International Chefs of Mystery! with Jason Dunda
2017 "YCDTSOTV!," Loo, International Chefs of Mystery! with Jason Dunda
2016 "Caught," Sideshow Theatre Company, Victory Gardens
"Saving Marty Grauel," International Chefs of Mystery! with Jason Dunda
2015 "Q & A… With Theodore Horner, President of the International Chefs of Mystery! Fan Club,
Junior Chapter" with Jason Dunda
2014 "Early to Bed," International Chefs of Mystery! with Jason Dunda
2013 "Oolala! Getting Frenched!" International Chefs of Mystery! with Jason Dunda
2012 "Serving the Man," International Chefs of Mystery! with Jason Dunda
2011 "Cooking the Books," International Chefs of Mystery! with Jason Dunda
2010 "Boos and Bakin’," International Chefs of Mystery! with Jason Dunda
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2012 Illinois State University Visiting Artist Program, Fall
GRANTS AND AWARDS
2010 3Arts Artist Award
2004 Community Arts Assistance Program Grant
1999 Anna Louise Raymond Fellowship
1993 City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs Stipend
PUBLICATIONS
2018 “Thomas Kong: Passing Time”, 062 (online)
2017 "Jave Yoshimoto: Melting World", Asian Diaspora Visual Culture and the Americas, Winter
2006 "RongRong and inri at Walsh Gallery", ArtAsiaPacific, Winter
2005 "Vivan Sunderam, Re-Take of Amrita at Walsh Gallery", ArtAsiaPacific, Fall
"Fiona Tan, Correction at the MCA Chicago", ArtAsiaPacific, Summer
"Jitish Kallat, Lie of the Land at Walsh Gallery", ArtAsiaPacific, Spring
2000 "Plum" and "Margate Park", Lantern, DePaul University Press, Spring
"The Food of Art", F News magazine, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, February
ARTICLES AND REVIEWS
August 2020. Cowan, Lennex. “Larry Lee - My Aim is True… And in Ascending Order” (online), Virtual Asian American Art Museum.
February 28, 2020. Kina, Laura. “Contemporary Asian American Art”, Oxford University Press.
July 27, 2016. Kim Eunsong. "On Larry Lee's The (Un) Timely Death of Multiculturalism, ContemptOrary
August 1, 2009. Cheng, DeWitt. "Present Tense Biennial", Shotgun Review.
Summer 2009. Bamberger, Alan. "Present Tense Biennial", Art Business.
February 8, 2005. King, Cynthia. "Politics of the Moment", Fresh Paint
July 27, 2003. Gennocchio, Benjamin. "Art Review; The Asia Within Us: Bicultural Eyes and
What They See", New York Times.
July 172002. Birke, Judy. "Mythical Nation, where cultures overlap", New Haven Register.
January/February/March 2002. Wang, Dan S. "medium(s), Asian American Artists",
ArtAsiaPacific, Issue 33, page 33-34
Fall/Winter 2002. Mikkalo, Erika. "How much is that theorist in the window? Tea at Joymore", Gravy, Issue 12
November 8, 2001. Camper, Fred. "Think Pieces, Sarah Wild and Larry Lee at Joymore",
Chicago Reader, page 22
November 30, 2000. Bulka, Michael. "5 Shows to See Now", New City Chicago, page 17
November 17, 2000. Skestos, Stephanie. "find", exhibition essay
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2022-present Adjunct Professor, DePaul University, Chicago Quarter: Asian American Communities
2021-present Adjunct Faculty, Columbia College Chicago, Foundation Studio
2020-present Lecturer, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Contemporary Practices
2006-2012
2007-present Lecturer, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Art History, Theory and Criticism
2005-2007 Adjunct Professor, DePaul University, School of Education
2004-2005 Instructor, Evanston Arts Center
2003-2007 Adjunct Faculty, Moraine Valley Community College
2002-2004 Instructor, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, First Year Program
2001 Visiting Artist, Multicultural Youth Mural Project, Chinese Mutual Aid Association
1999-2003 Instructor, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Early College Program
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2022-present Curator, Spotlight Series, Chinese American Museum of Chicago
2022 Guest Critic, Sculpture MFA Thesis Committee, Rhode Island School of Art and Design
Consultant, Asian American Arts Organizations 1990-2010 (Chicago module),
Mori Museum Tokyo
2020-present Reviews Editor, Asian Diasporic Visual Culture and the Americas Journal
2017-2019 Co-Director, boundary project space, Chicago, IL
2016-2017 Faculty Advisor, Asian and Asian American Students at SAIC (AAASS)
2015-2018 Faculty Advisor, Artrepeneurs, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
2014 Juror, 7th Annual Juried Exhibition, Korean Cultural Center
2012 Juror, 36th Annual Juried Exhibition, Beverly Arts Center
2008-2012 Faculty Advisor, Taiwanese Student Association, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
2007-2009 Thesis Reader, Master of Arts in Art History Program, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
2005-present Proprietor/Impresario, Molar Productions
2003 Thesis Reader, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Department of Art Education
Faculty Panelist, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Office of Multicultural Affairs
Faculty Panelist, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Undergraduate Critiques
2002 Outside Advisor, Independent Study Project, Chicago Arts Program,
Associated Colleges of the Midwest
Thesis Advisor, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Bachelor of Fine Arts Projects
LECTURES, READINGS AND PRESENTATIONS
2021 Moderator, An Untold Past: Chinese Americans in the Midwest (Zoom Panel)
Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles
Moderator, No Ordinary Joe: Allen Joe Story and Race: Al Young Story (Zoom Panel)
Chinese American Museum of Chicago
2020 Visiting Artist, Illinois State University, Jack of All Trades, Master of None
Guest Lecturer, DePaul University, Jack of All Trades, Master of None
2018-2019 Visiting Artist, DePaul University, Pop Culture as Orientalia
2013 Guest Author, Chinese American Museum of Chicago, Number One Son
Guest Author, Transistor, Jook Sing and Notes (in lieu of sketches)
2012 Visiting Artist, Illinois State University, International Chefs of Mystery!
2011 Guest Lecturer, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Talking Chinatown
2010 Guest Lecturer, DePaul University, Artist as Curator
2009 Guest Lecturer, DePaul University, DestinAsian, AAAC and FAAIM:
Chicago Asian American Arts Groups
2008 Panelist, Association of Asian American Studies Conference, Grassroots in the Backyard:
Asian American Art and Activism in Chicago
2007 Guest Lecturer, Columbia College, Violencing Aesthetics, Aestheticizing Violence
2006 Guest Lecturer, DePaul University, The Artist as Number One Son, Visiting Artist Lecture
2005 Visiting Artist, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Everybody Paints!
2004 Guest Lecturer, Columbia College, Dynamics of Collaboration,
Decision Making: Visual Arts Management
2002 Guest Lecturer, DePaul University, Romanticism to Abstraction, Introduction to Philosophy
2001 Guest Lecturer, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Critique Strategies
Guest Lecturer, DePaul University, Creating Art
2000 Guest Lecturer, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Graduate Writing, Text Off the Page
1999 Guest Lecturer, DePaul University, Multiculturalism and Democracy
WORK HISTORY
2005-2020 Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions, School of the Art institute of Chicago
2005-2006 Midwest Correspondent, ArtAsiaPacific magazine
1995-2003 Assistant Director of Enrollment Services, Division of Continuing Studies and Special
Programs, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
1993-1995 Programs Director, Asian American Cultural Arts and Educational Association
AFFILIATIONS
2011-2012 Chinatown Centennial Celebration Committee
2009-present Member, Diasporic Asian Artists Network
2008-present Member, Association of Asian American Studies
2002-2016 Curator, Foundation for Asian American Independent Media
2001-2010 Advisory Board, Center for Asian Arts and Media at Columbia College
2001-2005 Board of Directors, Asian American Artist Collective