Jaiik Lee  이 재 익

Craft artist

Jaiik Lee is a Korean fine craft artist whose practice explores the evolution and mutation of organic life through sculptural metal objects. Rather than defining his work as design, sculpture, or craft, Lee embraces the concept of “fine craft,” integrating technical mastery with sculptural thinking. Beginning with hand sketches and refined through digital 3D modeling, his works are meticulously fabricated by joining countless metal plates. Although fundamentally made of metal, their porcelain-like surfaces and organic forms challenge conventional perceptions of material.

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Lee’s acclaimed Transition series draws inspiration from the Korean moon jar, whose imperfect surface reminded him of the resilient skin of living organisms adapting to survive. By combining traditional craft techniques with experimental surface treatments, he transforms metal into forms that appear simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar. His recent Lifeforms series further expands this exploration through materials such as leather, creating biomorphic forms that blur the boundaries between jewelry, sculpture, and craft. For Lee, technical perfection is never the final goal; craftsmanship serves as a vehicle for expressing the evolving images, memories, and ideas that shape his artistic vision.

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Education
2009 M.F.A. Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester U.S.A.

2000 B.F.A. Hongik University, Seoul Korea​

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Collections‧Awards‧Activities
2023 Finalist, Loewe Foundation Craft Prize, Spain

2019 Outstanding Artist Award, Craft Trend Fair, Korea

2019 Award of Promising Talent, Itami International Craft Exhibition, Japan

2019 Grand Prize, Cheongju Craft Biennale, Korea