ARTIST STATEMENT
My work moves between inner and outer landscapes, shaped by light, rhythm, and memory. It is an ongoing search for places of refuge—spaces that hold healing, stillness, and quiet transformation.
Having lived across countries and cultures, I carry both their shared threads and their dissonance. From this in-between state, I create environments where belonging is not fixed, but felt. These spaces are offered not only to people, but also to other sentient beings who co-inhabit the earth with us.
Natural forms are distilled to their essence, allowing mystery to surface. Animals appear as spirit guides—silent companions drawn from my study of Native American culture—inviting viewers into a meditative encounter.
Once expansive in scale, my work now turns inward. Smaller paintings ask the viewer to slow down, to enter by way of attention rather than physical immersion.
Working primarily in oil and egg tempera, I build layered surfaces that allow light to emerge from within. Drawing remains an extension of this process—fragile, fluid, and intuitive.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Stella Zee was born in Shanghai, China, and spent her formative years in Hong Kong. It was during this period that her grandfather, a renowned calligrapher, recognized her intuitive talent and encouraged her to practice the craft. These early lessons in calligraphy, where she filled pages with deliberate strokes, established a foundational relationship with the line. This discipline evolved into a philosophical and expressionistic style that remains deeply imbued with a poetic essence.
Zee’s artistic perspective was further expanded by a move to Brazil. Immersing herself in a new country, she embraced the region’s vivid light and cultural enthusiasm. This transition sparked an exuberant love for color and rhythm, which she seamlessly integrated into her already highly developed structural sensibility.
Seeking to synthesize these global influences, Zee moved to the United States to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she earned an MFA in Painting and Drawing. Her academic work focused on the interplay between space, nature, and the human spirit, often exploring the delicate balance between vulnerability and resilience.
Today, Zee’s practice is a sophisticated reflection of her diverse cultural background. By blending the traditional precision of her heritage with a contemporary mastery of light and form, she creates works that translate complex personal narratives into a universal language of harmony and rhythm.
© Stella Zee