Joyce Lee has become one of Instagram’s most prolific painters. Her portraits depicting everything from the female nude to surrealist fish have garnered thousands of likes on her Instagram page. Lee now has a social-first fan base so strong that she’s eschewed gallery representation for a direct-to-consumer model in which she holds seasonal drops of her work.
Lee’s latest book Archive is both a celebration of this work and the fandom that surrounds it, with images ranging from mermaids to nuns. Published by Baron books, Archive features over 80 new images of Lee’s and is the first document of her shift in style over the last two years. Here, she selects five of her favourite images from the book, and explains why they got made.
Keep Calm and Get Ready to Pray, 2023, by Joyce Lee
Keep calm and get ready to pray (2023)
Growing up, I went to church regularly, and prayer was part of my daily routine, like a strict academic exercise. However, now I wonder if it truly captured the essence of Christian devotion, or if it was just a ritual I performed without fully understanding its depth.
Thinking about the lives of nuns, I’m particularly inspired by one imaginary sister whose mind is similar to mine. On the verge of intense prayer, a spiritual task requiring a lot of energy, she prepares herself with chocolate—a sweet treat symbolizing both earthly comfort and spiritual support.
Melancholy 1, 2021, by Joyce Lee
Melancholy 1 (2021)
About ten years ago, I went through a series of personal hardships that led to an anxiety disorder, causing deep depression and melancholia. During that time, I often felt like my throat was choked, a constant physical reminder of my struggle. Strangely, I felt especially gloomy when the weather was nice. On sunny days, it seemed like everyone else was happy, while I felt lonely and miserable, isolated in my own world of despair. The little cocktail umbrella represents my will to overcome those dark times. It stands as a beacon of hope amidst the darkness, symbolizing my determination to find light and happiness, even when it felt impossible.
Glam Cherry, 2021, Joyce Lee
Glam cherry 1 (2021)
Sometimes, I just draw and paint without too much thinking, focusing purely on visual elements like texture and color. The artwork “Glam Cherry” is one of those pieces. I probably saw some cherries on the internet or TV, which I don’t remember, and decided to create something about cherries. It was easy for me to associate the image of red twin cherries with a woman’s breasts. I thought “dark red” was a wild and glamorous color and wanted to create something with those vibes
You Make Me Feel Alive, 2022, Joyce Lee
You Make Me Feel Alive (2022)
This piece delves into the theme of passion, focusing on the intense connection between lovers. When reflecting on past relationships, we often recall moments of intimacy, warmth, and chemistry. Among these, sexual chemistry is particularly powerful, creating unforgettable memories, especially when two people are perfectly matched both mentally and physically… The central figure is a woman who cannot forget her most passionate moments, even in the afterlife. A teardrop in her eye symbolizes the painful truth that these moments can never be returned.
Prayer 17, 2023, Joyce Lee
Prayer 17 (2023)
I’ve imagined what it is like when a young woman decides to become a nun. In my “Prayer” series, nuns are depicted as women with passion and a free spirit. “Prayer 17” most strongly shows what she was like before she became a nun. I wanted to portray her as being at the opposite end of the spectrum from a traditional nun. She has tattoos on her neck and wrist, piercing holes on her face, and, most notably, very long, hologram-dyed hair. Cutting her long hair symbolizes disconnecting from the outer world, which I think is painful even for someone who has decided to devote her life to God. The hand holding the scissors can appear very cold and harsh, which I intended, and this adds complexity to the expression on her face, filled with many thoughts. Perhaps she wanted to run away from the moment.
