Artist Lee Ufan, who turns 90 next month, is the subject of a profile following a visit to his home in Kamakura, Japan. The article describes his spare, contemplative paintings and sculptures, including his rhythmic line-and-dot works from the 1970s and '80s and his industrial-material sculptures that explore the relationship between manmade and natural worlds. Three major exhibitions of his work are highlighted: a long-term presentation at the Dia Art Foundation in Beacon, New York; a retrospective at the San Marco Art Center in Venice coinciding with the Venice Biennale; and a new collection at the Serralves Foundation in Porto, Portugal.
This profile matters because Lee Ufan is a globally influential artist whose work offers a meditative counterpoint to today's fast-paced, digitally saturated world. His ability to command high prices at auction (over $2 million for paintings), have three dedicated museums, and receive major exhibitions at prestigious venues like the Guggenheim and Versailles underscores his enduring relevance. The article also provides insight into his creative process and personal demeanor, humanizing a figure whose art is often described as transcendent and timeless.