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Broken Heart

Pop Culture

Artist turns studio into surreal dreamscapes

Korean artist JeeYoung Lee transformed a small studio into a living art space.

/ 27 PHOTOS
Sweet Appetite

Fantasy meets reality

South Korean artist Jee Young Lee has turned her small studio into stunning works of art. In this beautiful nature-inspired work, "Sweet appetite," there’s color in abundance.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Reaching for the Star

Reaching for the star

This precarious pose – a ladder surrounded by paper cups and glass marbles – represents the idea of going after your dreams.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Resurrection

Resurrection

This piece, “Resurrection,” includes a lotus flower, a common theme in Buddhist theology.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Childhood

Childhood

Classic symbols like a rocking horse and pinwheels represent the sweetness and joy of childhood.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Birthday

Birthday

This one was Lee’s birthday present to herself.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Broken Heart

Broken heart

Here, Lee used broken eggs to symbolize her own broken heart.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Black Birds

Black birds

This is eerily reminiscent of the iconic Hitchcock film “The Birds.”

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Food Chain

Food chain

In this piece, Lee expressed herself with painted sticks that looked like wires and revealed her belly to show she’s part of the process.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Flu

Flu

When Lee wasn’t feeling well, she turned it into a work of art called “Flu.”

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Monsoon Season

Monsoon season

The boat theme is back again, but this time Lee is trying to escape from a monsoon.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Gamer

Gamer

What could be more fun than a life-size Lego set to play with?

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
I'll Be Back

I'll be back

Based on a popular Korean folktale, this work depicts a person who is pulled into a trap but never loses hope of getting out.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Last Supper

Last supper

Eek! Don’t worry – those mice aren’t real. Neither is the cheese, unfortunately.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Maiden Voyage

Maiden voyage

In this piece, Lee created a little boat out of paper.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
My Chemical Romance

My chemical romance

This piece was inspired by pipes and construction in Lee’s neighborhood – she felt like she was running an obstacle course when she went outside.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Neverending Race

Neverending race

Here, Lee makes herself not just part of the art but part of the game.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Nightmare

Nightmare

What’s your worst nightmare? Here, Lee gives us a clue what hers might be.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Nightscape

Nightscape

And here’s the flip side – a room that looks like one of Lee’s dreams.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Treasure Hunt

Treasure hunt

The artist reminds herself that you should never stop searching.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Oversleeping

Oversleeping

In this piece, the artist warns of what could happen if you oversleep.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Panic Room

Panic room

This funhouse-style interior is dubbed "Panic Room," but the wild space could also be seen as playful.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
This Is Not Enough

This is not enough

Lee, who has been said to disappear into her work, took that concept and made it into a design.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Toxic Boy

Toxic boy

Layers of paint make the studio seem as if it is made of wood.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Raw

Raw

Lee takes herself out for a fancy dinner in this flower-inspired piece.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
The Best Cure

The best cure

It seems that the cure is … candy.

Seokhyun Hong / Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Little Match Girl

Little match girl

This creation, “The Little Match Girl,” was inspired by the famous Hans Christian Andersen story of the same name.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
Anxiety

Anxiety

Lee’s works sometimes represent abstract ideas or feelings. This one is “anxiety.” She gives the impression of anxiety through objects that appear to weigh a lot and tiny bubbles to represent thoughts.

Courtesy of OPIOM Gallery
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