Bio
Juho Rick Lee or 이주호 is a South Korean ceramist, ceramic instructor, and amateur botanist. He is currently working at the Foundry Studio at OCAD U as an International Student Monitor.
He finished his apprenticeship under Ceramic Master Hyun Jung Lee (2006-2011). Then entered Sculpture and Installation Art Major at OCAD University in the Fall of 2014. From there he went on teaching in Korea with the aid from South Korean Ministry of Education:
- HuelksarangStudio (2017-2018, 2020-2022) (Seoul)
- Seoul Sanggok Elementry School Workshops (2017-2018, 2020-2021) (Seoul)
- Korean Ceramic Foundation (2017-2022) (South Korea)
- 홍익대학교 Ceramic Department Advisor (2020)
- Baek-Un Kindergarten Afterschool Arts and Craft Program (2019-2020) (Seoul)
- 건국대학교 Guest Lecturer (November 2019)
- Nowon Highschool Guest Lecturer (March 2017)
He also worked for the Republic of Korean Army and the United States Force Korea as a Cultural and Linguistics advisor, Legal Translator, Firearms Instructor and CBRN Instructor (Jan 2018 - Sept 2019). Then joined United States Army as Foreign Military Liaison (Dec 2019 -Dec 2021). From there He has worked with United Nation Peace Keeping Force stationed in Korea as Legal Translator (2022).
As of May 2022, he is no longer working with the defence industry and has started the process of relocating his ceramic practice from Seoul to Toronto. He has also returned to OCAD U to finish his Sculpture and Installation Art major on the first half of 2024.
Contact
Email Address: juho.r.lee@gmail.com
Phone Number: +1-647-637-0267
+82-10-2127-7937
Artist Statement
Juho Rick Lee was born in South Korea in 1995 and worked in Korea within the ceramic field, mainly as an instructor, and as of 2022, he is in the process of moving his practice to Canada. His work focuses on making Eastern Asian ceramic more approachable for the everyday person, preserving traditional Korean Ceramic techniques, exploring the in-between of two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects and forms of expression, as well as his botanical studies. Rather than using modern technology to aid in the creative process, he sees his hands as the most precise tool in his arsenal. Due to the limitations of the two-dimensionality of the traditional execution of Korean Ceramic, he uses traditional techniques to depict common traditional subjects, like flowers, with a modern approach by portraying said subjects in three-dimensional form. Being an immigrant in Canada, as a result of Asian diaspora, he has developed a strong desire to not lose touch with his culture and traditions and continue the family heritage as an artist.
