AUSTIN LEE: DIVINE FOOL

Carl Kostyál is delighted to present a new body of work by Las Vegas-born, New York based artist Austin Lee, entitled “Divine Fool”.

October 7 – November 9, 2024

In “Divine Fool”, Lee blends the sacred with the absurd. The exhibition asks viewers to consider the figure the fool, not only as the court jester or idiot savant of old, but its present day, perhaps gentler, incarnation – a figure who embodies both wisdom and innocence. The exhibition also serves as a testament to Lee’s enduring love for painting itself, and his deep admiration for artists who have shaped his own creative journey.

His references to artists such as Giacometti, Itō Jakuchū and others reveal his dialogue with art history. Lee’s passion for the process of painting—whether through traditional oils or digital tools—underscores his dedication to exploring the medium’s infinite possibilities. In “Divine Fool”, Lee pays homage to the act of painting, not only as a method of expression but as a celebration of the craft and its practitioners across time.

Lee’s portrayal hints at the boundary between dream and reality, a central theme in both surrealism and psychoanalysis.

Lee is known for his digital-to-physical process, using 3D software to create compositions that he transfers to canvas through airbrushing, giving his works a soft, glowing energy.

In “Divine Fool”, Lee adds oil paintings to his repertoire, introducing new texture and richness to his art. “Divine Fool” celebrates creation as an inherently optimistic gesture, emphasising art’s power to bring new possibilities into existence, even in moments of despair.