Art About Art: E.LEE’s Meta Painting Series

Chicago-based artist and muralist Stephen Eric Lee, aka E.LEE, examines our relationship with art in his witty and thought-provoking series Art About Art. Drawing on iconic visual cues from legends like Rothko, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Picasso, Keith Haring, KAWS and more, E.LEE recontextualizes their styles to craft a smart, satirical, and heartfelt tribute to the artists who shaped modern and contemporary culture.

Using his signature trompe l’oeil technique, he transforms flat surfaces into clever illusions of dimension and narrative. Familar elements like Lichtenstein’s comic-book graphics and KAWS’ companion figures appear to leap from ornate painted frames, blurring the line between artwork and observer as they burst into three dimensions.

Check out some highlights from Art About Art below, and explore more of E.LEE’s paintings, sculptures and public murals on his official site.

More art on the grid via Instagram