NARD LEE
DESTIG TORONTO - ART | DESIGN | TRAVEL - ISSUE 09 / JANUARY 2021
BEST OF 2020 | TODAY'S GREAT CANADIAN ARTISTS | SPECIAL ART FEATURES | HOT PICKS
"HOW MARVELOUS THAT THEY BROUGHT FORTH SUCH MAGNIFICIENCE FROM THEIR BRUSHES AND CHISELS." - ANONYMOUS
"My work explores the unsolved questions regarding racial inequity, class, and religion... When painting, I am exported to a place filled with fear, unrest, discrimination, and pain. But I always leave a space for beauty and light at the end of the tunnel. My paintings are inspired by the souls of the past who refuse to be forgotten."
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Nard Lee attended Howard University. His academic
often driven by historical context and view things by
interests were put on hold when he started his first
how they should have been rather how they may have
business at 20 years old. He sold his business and
been celebrated by history. My perspectives are that of
worked as an actor and model for 13 years. His film
a child who grew up in the 70's and 80's, that are just as
credits include 'Silence of the Lambs' and 'He Said, She
relevant then as today. When painting, I am exported to
Said'. A passionate creative from an early age, the self
a place filled with fear, unrest, discrimination, and pain.
taught artist could no longer ignore the voice that's
But I always leave a space for beauty and light at the end
driven him to visually opine his view on today's unrest
of the tunnel. My paintings are inspired by the souls of
through paint on canvas.
the past who refuse to be forgotten.
Please share some insight into your background.
Share with us some insight into your process.
Born and raised in Washington DC, now based in Miami.
Before placing paint on campus, I take a deep breath,
My work explores the unsolved questions regarding
close my eyes, and try to put myself in the place of my
racial inequity, class, and religion. My dominant lens is
subject. I want to experience how they may have felt
that of the often overlooked and underestimated kid
before I saw them in my mind’s eye. My challenge is not
keenly aware of how the outside world views him. I am
to see them as they are but to attempt to capture who
"It (my art) is always about an unsuspected contrast. Opposing views. Friends and foes. Protagonists and antagonists. I am seeking an unsuspected element that begs a question that I usually do not have an answer to."
they were before. I am searching for a
What do people say when they discover
subtle beauty in my artwork, purposely
your work?
hidden within the chaos of the piece. My
What I remember most is, “Always makes
goal is to have the observer see beyond
me think.” “Thoughtful mind of the artist
the image and to experience a disruption
is clearly visible.” There is always a
to their senses while absorbing the pain,
direction and movement. Lots of action.”
fear and joy experienced by my subjects.
That is all I can ask as an artist.
How would you describe the unique
Please tell us 3 of the artworks that have
DNA of your art?
most impacted your career and why?
I think in a word dichotomy. Its always
Everything with me begins with Basquiat
about an unsuspected contrast. Opposing
and there could easily be 33 pieces. But
views. Friends and foes. Protagonists and
“Portrait of Glenn” is a piece that I see in
antagonists. I am seeking an unsuspected
my sleep. His art of storytelling is what I
element that begs a question that I
am striving for without the text.
usually do not have an answer to.
E Pluribus Unum. I am in total awe of Marcus Jansen’s work. The scale and
How do you want to impact the viewers?
storytelling, the landscapes. He places
I think the easy answer to the question
you in the middle of the chaos. His
begins with drawing an emotion. I begin
battlefields and experiences as a soldier.
with questions. What? When? Why? How
His work depicts beauty and chaos then
and Who? Then add a revisionist historian
blends in a familiar figure of Americana
context to be considered.
that forces us to ask how he/she/they got
"I begin with questions. What? When? Why? How and Who? Then add a revisionist historian context to be considered."
there. Salvador Dali’s, “The Persistence of Memory.” It
What are you currently working on?
may be considered conservative for Dali as its land-
I have begun to work on a series of paintings with a
scape, but the presence of clocks and time transformed
historical context titled, Same Orange Jump Suit.
into something unexpected has stayed with me for
Orange Jump Suits are prevalent in American prisons
years. It forced me to view art differently as a young
and easy to identify. In some areas of the United States,
man and ask questions before admiring its beauty.
they were even considered fashionable for a short period of time. I’m “orange washing” paintings to draw a
Share with us some of the themes and concepts that
contrast on racial protests and disruption in 1960’s
you have explored.
America and present-day America.
I am always exploring and searching for combinations that include shapes and layers, landscapes, textures.
What directions are you interested to explore next?
I am looking for a perfect blend of beauty and chaos. I do
I have been doing a lot of research on our first 5
not really have a label or concept that I am specifically
Presidents. How they lived, fought, and thought about
exploring. I try to be free with movement and non-
what they were fighting for. I am looking for an element
restrictive.
of their story that is seldom told.
"I am looking for a perfect blend of beauty and chaos. I try to be free with movement and non-restrictive."
What attracts you to your preferred mediums? I love the flexibility of acrylics, but oil pastels and chalk give a movement to a piece that I may end up having zero idea of the outcome. I like that I am often surprised by the combinations of depth, color, texture,
"The angst of how I may or may not tell a story creates the anxiety that keeps me awake at night."
and direction that pastels produce.
What are your views on the role of art in the world?
share, the more we learn about each other.
Art is not just in museums and galleries and auction houses, its everywhere. I think art belongs to everyone
What do you feel when you are creating?
and that part of our role on this planet is to be creators.
My ideas for a piece are generally produced by an
I do not know what is should cost. I don’t know if it
incident or event. Unrest. Politics. Injustice. I am
should be large scale or 8 x8.” I always know how it
thinking about the people involved, what they felt and
makes me feel and when we share that with each other,
how they would like me to tell the story. I would always
it impacts all of us. So as art tells the story of our
like there to be a hero and a villain and the angst of how
existence on this planet, it connects us, it delivers
I may or may not tell a story creates the anxiety that
truths and uncover lies. The more art we create and
keeps me awake at night.
"Art connects us, it delivers truths and uncover lies. The more art we create and share, the more we learn about each other."
Please tell us about your location and how it influences your art. I was born in Washington DC and every Sunday after church, my Godfather would take me to the other side of the city. We would visit the National Gallery of Art, Air and Space Museum, The National Portrait Gallery and these visits gave me another view of the city that would have been small without these excursions. When I lived in NYC, I would spend hours in MoMa. While in Paris, I found myself not wanting to leave The Louvre of Versailles and was struck by the scale and detail of the pieces. I have lived in Miami for 25 years and the dynamic and energy of the city has always given me energy. My pieces are not necessarily driven by South Florida, but South Florida drives my energy to paint. How has your art practice evolved over your career? It is a process and I learn something every day. I am still early in my career so ask me that question 5 years from now and I will have a better answer. How
has
the
COVID-19
pandemic
affected your creative expression? 2020 was not fun for too many reasons to count. But it allowed me to spend more time with a brush in my hand and that is a good thing. www.nard-lee.com www.instagram.com/nard.art
"My pieces are not necessarily driven by South Florida, but South Florida drives my energy to paint."