Mia Lee's vivid cast of characters represent the commonalities across the Black diaspora.
You can trace a direct line from Mia Lee's roots in Chicago to her point of view as a painter. Growing up as a southside native of Caribbean descent, Lee developed a particular perspective on navigating life as a Black woman—a factor that’s helped her stand out in the crowded scene of emerging artists who call the city home.
For Lee, black is the richest of all colors and is symbolic of the Black diaspora’s richness in culture. Used across many of her works, it does not stand, thematically, for darkness; it simply depicts skin tone. Three core figures appear over and over in her art: The Gentleman, The Lady, and The Demon. The first two represent familiar human experiences and emotions. The demon, however, serves to represent vices, insecurities, and imperfections.
Lee's family encouraged her to pursue art from the jump. “My grandmother went to Tuskeegee and got a degree in piano,” she says. “How many Black women do you know from that era that did that?” They poured into her, which in turn, motivated her to explore the many realms of art and culture: piano, fashion design, visual art–literally anything she showed an interest in.
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