awareness post: moka lee
- Oct 19, 2025
- 2 min read
Website: https://www.jasonhaam.com/
Moka Lee (b. 1996) is a contemporary figurative painter whose work captures portraits, still lifes, and landscapes that explore the complex relationships between the subject, the viewer, and the artist. Drawing inspiration from sources as varied as social media, analog photography, cinema, and Modernist masters, Lee’s paintings evoke a sense of quiet tension — a reflection of the emotional conflicts often present in society but rarely expressed outright. Her distinctive technique mimics the process of a digital printer, layering soft, translucent tones to create images that appear physically flat yet richly dimensional. Each piece feels like a composite of multiple moments or perspectives fused together.
Education
BFA from Sejong University
currently studying painting at the Korea National University of Arts
Exhibitions
Moka Lee has showcased her work in several impressive exhibitions around the world. She’s had solo shows at galleries like Jason Haam and Carlos/Ishikawa in London, where her unique style and emotional depth drew a lot of attention. Beyond that, she’s been part of group exhibitions at major institutions such as the Seoul Museum of Art, the Busan Museum of Contemporary Art, and Museum Head. Her work even appeared at Art Basel Hong Kong in 2023, one of the biggest international art fairs. Most recently, Lee was recognized as one of The Artsy Vanguard 2025, highlighting her as an emerging artist to watch on the global stage.
Current Exhibition: Nude, Flesh, and Love
August 25th – October 15th, 2025
69, Seongbuk-ro 31-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02879, South Korea
Past Exhibitions: https://www.jasonhaam.com/exhibitions/
I really admire Moka Lee’s ability to combine traditional painting with modern digital influences. Her work feels both emotional and contemporary, especially in the way she captures tension and ambiguity between her subjects. I’m also drawn to her use of layered techniques that make the paintings feel full of depth. What stands out most to me is how she transforms everyday social media imagery into something deeply expressive and personal. I think her approach to layering meaning and emotion could definitely inspire how I think about composition and storytelling in my own art.
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