Lee Ufan
Born in 1936 in Haman-gun (Korea), LEE UFAN lives and works in Paris (France) and Kamakura (Japan). He is the main theorist and artist of the Mono-ha (« School of Things ») theory in Japan. His paintings greatly contribute to « Korean Monotone Art ». Kamel Mennour and Lee Ufan have been working together since 2013.
His work has been seen around the world, at institutions including the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, the Guggenheim Museum and the Dia:Beacon in New York, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels, the Yokohama Museum of Art, the Jeu de Paume in Paris, Centre Pompidou-Metz, the Kunstmuseum in Bonn, the Städel Museum in Frankfurt, and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul; and at events including the Biennales of Venice (2007, 2011), Gwangju, Korea (2000, 2006), Shanghai (2000), Sydney (1976), São Paulo (1973) and Paris (1971). In 2014, Lee Ufan was the guest artist at Louis XIV’s very own park and palace, in Versailles.
He was awarded the Praemium Imperiale for painting in 2001 and the UNESCO Prize in 2000. In 2010, the Lee Ufan Museum opened at Benesse Art Site, in Naoshima, Japan.
In April 2022, the artist inaugurates the new foundation Lee Ufan Arles, housed in the Hôtel Vernon, a seventeenth century building located near the city’s Roman arena, remodelled by the artist’s friend, architect Tadao Ando.
Works
![Exhibition view, Palazzo Diedo, Venice - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-palazzo-diedo-venice/8abfd99d30-1718723879/lee-ufan-beyond-venice-response-2-2023-2024-acrylic-on-canvas-photo-by-massimo-pistore-courtesy-of-studio-lee-ufan-lisson-gall-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-rijksmuseum-amsterdam/5929d4defd-1718707599/b0000499-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart, Berlin - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-hamburger-bahnhof-der-gegenwart/b6dccac871-1702918017/hbf-leeufan-laforgia-jpegs-highres-0059-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart, Berlin - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-hamburger-bahnhof-nationalgalerie-der-gegenwart-berlin/0e109ff17e-1702917884/hbf-leeufan-laforgia-jpegs-highres-0092-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Punta della Dogana, Venice - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-punta-della-dogana-venice/3ac3b51edc-1689168543/iv-icones-7-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-domaine-de-chaumont-sur-loire/ddc765f2f8-1689168614/es-2847-hdr-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-hyogo-prefectural-museum-of-art-kobe/f8305cf9d0-1675700266/199-6882-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, The National Art Center, Tokyo - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-the-national-art-center-tokyo/b28e1e9f0d-1669647714/131-400x.jpg)
![With Winds - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/with-winds-lee-ufan/2dfb5818ed-1669647298/1-lu-308-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, kamel mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-kamel-mennour-paris-response/d33791c1d3-1657205784/2-400x.jpg)
![Relatum - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/relatum/33b2440865-1657205924/13-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Lee Ufan Arles - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-lee-ufan-arles/580c875865-1652706919/4-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Lee Ufan Arles - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-lee-ufan-arles-2/30394c83bb-1652706977/10-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-mori-art-museum-tokyo/55baca47cc-1638788340/918-s-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Les Alyscamps, Arles - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-les-alyscamps-arles-2/2781f525a9-1638788196/clairedorn-16a7102-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Les Alyscamps, Arles - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-les-alyscamps-arles/bac7b14c1e-1638788068/254373588-915051802709861-1226283952396238918-n-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Hirshhorn Museum - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-hirshhorn-museum/a8fd3d5d89-1575989592/lee-ufan-press-image-2-400x.jpg)
![With Winds - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/with-winds/54f0ad85a5-1603444552/1-400x.jpg)
![From Point - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/from-point-2/ddc2ca5875-1562851498/lu219-400x.jpg)
![Dialogue - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/dialogue-22/5327fd61c8-1562851268/lu208-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Hirshhorn Museum - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-hirshhorn/35d3d51834-1575989627/lee-ufan-press-image-8-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Guggenheim, New York - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-guggenheim-new-york-city/625aab7604-1568374829/2011-guggenheim-9-400x.jpg)
![Dialogue - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/dialogue-1/1ec9255c3f-1562842927/lu2-400x.jpg)
![Dialogue - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/dialogue-11/88087cbc01-1562850436/lu144-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Château de Versailles - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-chateau-de-versailles/0ebfaf2e0e-1563630475/1-400x.jpg)
![Relatum - Silence - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/relatum-silence/47d9938da3-1562850044/lu75-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, kamel mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-kamel-mennour-paris-1/e021f9318a-1563627600/5-2016-solo-show-lee-ufan-photo-fabrice-seixas-400x.jpg)
![Dialogue - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/dialogue-7/e046d3397c-1686154493/lu68-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Musée de la Chasse, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-musee-de-la-chasse-paris/72e6e32636-1563630173/3-2013-musee-de-la-chasse-photo-fabrice-seixas-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Centre Pompidou-Metz - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-centre-pompidou-metz-5/777415c21f-1563634791/46-2019-lee-ufan-habiter-le-temps-photo-origins-studio-400x.jpg)
![Dialogue - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/dialogue-10/3d11035c59-1562850328/lu143-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, kamel mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-kamel-mennour-paris/5079d4b42a-1563627518/1-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Dia:Beacon, New York - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-dia-beacon-new-york-city/25a0eb5dc1-1568375087/dia-2-400x.jpg)
![From winds - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/from-winds/586c39eb12-1562850143/lu88-400x.jpg)
![Dialogue - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/dialogue-16/6759dddf40-1562850690/lu172-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, kamel mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-kamel-mennour-paris-5/3443edb3c3-1563629513/12-2013-lee-ufan-photo-archives-kamel-mennour-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Guggenheim, New York - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-guggenheim-new-york-city1/7e925a670f-1568374959/2011-guggenheim-4-400x.jpg)
![Installation view, Lee Ufan Museum, Naoshima - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/installation-view-lee-ufan-museum-naoshima/6905874424-1568375184/lu-museum-9-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, kamel mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-kamel-mennour-paris-2/7dffd013e0-1563627674/2-2016-solo-show-lee-ufan-photo-fabrice-seixas-400x.jpg)
![From Line - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/from-line/9093ad1a36-1562850198/lu100-400x.jpg)
![Dialogue - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/dialogue-18/3be94699eb-1562850829/lu189-400x.jpg)
![Dialogue - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/dialogue-15/1a4d31abeb-1562850634/lu171-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, kamel mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-kamel-mennour-paris-4/f54b9d290e-1563628766/1-2016-solo-show-lee-ufan-matignon-photo-fabrice-seixas-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Château de Versailles - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-chateau-de-versailles-1/02f145de8e-1563630545/5-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Guggenheim, New York - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-guggenheim-new-york-city2/1cc21ddb3e-1568374997/2011-guggenheim-5-400x.jpg)
![From Point - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/from-point-1/6dff1cd6a1-1562851440/lu216-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Couvent de la Tourette, Eveux - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-couvent-de-la-tourette-eveux/5629d4dc12-1563634132/14-2017-couvent-de-la-tourette-lee-ufan-photo-archives-kamel-mennour-400x.jpg)
![Dialogue - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/dialogue-19/229fe82af0-1562850875/lu191-400x.jpg)
![Installation view, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/installation-view-tokyo-metropolitan-art-museum/afb9f330d2-1568375363/relatum-tokyo-metropolitan-art-museum-400x.gif)
![Installation view, Lee Ufan Museum, Naoshima - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/installation-view-lee-ufan-museum-naoshima1/1d50bef792-1568375226/lu-museum-1-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Château La Coste, Puy-Sainte-Réparade - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-chateau-la-coste-puy-sainte-reparade/dc2cf50b00-1563631410/image4-400x.jpg)
![Dialogue - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/dialogue-20/9dd9e2b2e7-1562850963/lu192-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, kamel mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-kamel-mennour-paris-6/55446ff6d4-1563629936/1-2013-lee-ufan-photo-archives-kamel-mennour-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Chapelle Saint-Laurent, Arles - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-chapelle-saint-laurent-arles/1581093ba9-1563630067/7-2013-lee-ufan-arles-photo-fabrice-seixas-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Serpentine Gallery, London - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-serpentine-gallery-london/5b2a0801c5-1563634427/cmd-1466-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Centre Pompidou-Metz - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-centre-pompidou-metz-4/f662d3fc0a-1563634725/38-2019-lee-ufan-habiter-le-temps-photo-origins-studio-400x.jpg)
![Dialogue - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/dialogue-4/002ff11418-1562849593/lu31-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Château de Versailles - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-chateau-de-versailles-2/0e42de647b-1563630605/13-400x.jpg)
![Dialogue - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/dialogue-23/a5baa30f1b-1562851307/lu210-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, kamel mennour, Paris - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-kamel-mennour-paris-3/8e2c9e2bee-1563627742/6-2016-solo-show-lee-ufan-matignon-photo-fabrice-seixas-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Centre Pompidou-Metz - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-centre-pompidou-metz/0cc86a17c9-1563634503/23-2019-lee-ufan-habiter-le-temps-photo-origins-studio-400x.jpg)
![Dialogue - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/dialogue-8/0d903cba18-1562850092/lu77-400x.jpg)
![Paper work - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/paper-work/01819c64de-1562850737/lu174-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Chapelle Saint-Laurent, Arles - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-chapelle-saint-laurent-arles-1/a2b3e45dcf-1563630117/25-2013-lee-ufan-arles-photo-fabrice-seixas-400x.jpg)
![Dialogue - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/dialogue-21/d25d59c9bd-1562851008/lu193-400x.jpg)
![Permanent work, Château La Coste, Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/permanent-work-chateau-la-coste-le-puy-sainte-reparade/b3d79376eb-1563630323/ten-days-may-june-2014-378-400x.jpg)
![Dialogue - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/dialogue-9/338d1e1e27-1562850278/lu104-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Centre Pompidou-Metz - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-centre-pompidou-metz-3/ad659552ae-1563634676/36-2019-lee-ufan-habiter-le-temps-photo-origins-studio-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Pinault Collection, Punta della Dogana, Venice - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-pinault-collection-punta-della-dogana-venice/db9e2d943a-1568375275/pdd-2-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Château de Versailles - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-versailles/2de5af34a2-1569233618/2-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Château de Versailles - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-chateau-de-versailles-3/e7070279a5-1563631235/17-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Couvent de la Tourette, Eveux - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-couvent-de-la-tourette-eveux-1/2706dbebec-1563634218/2-2017-couvent-de-la-tourette-lee-ufan-photo-archives-kamel-mennour-400x.jpg)
![Dialogue - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/dialogue-5/569ec6729f-1562849892/lu37-400x.jpg)
![Dialogue - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/dialogue-6/bca26964cf-1562849938/lu53-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Centre Pompidou-Metz - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-centre-pompidou-metz-1/82c48f5ff0-1563634578/27-2019-lee-ufan-habiter-le-temps-photo-origins-studio-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Château de Versailles - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-versailles-2014/96aa8ac362-1569233694/7-400x.jpg)
![Dialogue - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/dialogue-12/68d01e51eb-1562850479/lu149-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Castello di Ama, Gaiole In Chianti - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-castello-di-ama-gaiole-in-chianti/51fe43b87b-1563631344/oleeufan2-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Centre Pompidou-Metz - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-centre-pompidou-metz-2/59ef29daea-1563634618/30-2019-lee-ufan-habiter-le-temps-photo-origins-studio-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Guggenheim, New York - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-guggenheim-new-york-city4/f7de06e09e-1568375034/2011-guggenheim-2-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, CCCOD, Tours - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-cccod-tours/af9ba95c15-1563634324/ccc-od-lee-ufan-photo-francois-fernandez-11-400x.jpg)
![Exhibition view, Centre Pompidou-Metz - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/artists/lee-ufan/exhibition-view-centre-pompidou-metz-6/77552ac981-1563634885/41-2019-lee-ufan-habiter-le-temps-photo-origins-studio-400x.jpg)
Exhibitions & News
![Lee Ufan - Les Franciscaines - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/lee-ufan-les-franciscaines/6a6fe93aa4-1719236770/1-a-70-2019-relatum-lu-201-photo-archives-kamel-mennour-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Un été à l'Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/un-ete-a-l-hotel-du-cap-eden-roc/8038c3f87e-1715851115/4s9a6182-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Lee Ufan - The Met - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/lee-ufan-the-met/337e1b4e33-1699358854/lee-ufan-from-line-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Lee Ufan - Rijksmuseum - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/lee-ufan-rijksmuseum/b658369276-1717081048/b0000865-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Lee Ufan - Palazzo Diedo - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/lee-ufan-palazzo-diedo/b36e5337b1-1718723820/lee-ufan-beyond-venice-response-2-2023-2024-acrylic-on-canvas-photo-by-massimo-pistore-courtesy-of-studio-lee-ufan-lisson-gall-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Glimpse of Light - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/exhibitions/glimpse-of-light/e91e824073-1718029519/3-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Lee Ufan - Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/lee-ufan-hamburger-bahnhof-nationalgalerie-der-gegenwart/25482ff5f3-1701354796/hbf-leeufan-laforgia-jpegs-highres-0041-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Alicja Kwade - Villa Medici - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/alicja-kwade-villa-medici/6da6735df8-1697552340/b0006474-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Lee Ufan - Palazzo Grassi — Punta della Dogana - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/lee-ufan-palazzo-grassi-punta-della-dogana/9d72554ecb-1689073126/iv-icones-8-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Lee Ufan - Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/lee-ufan-domaine-de-chaumont-sur-loire/3a66134d5b-1680689995/es-2847-hdr-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Lee Ufan - Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/lee-ufan-hyogo-prefectural-museum-of-art/c876eada6c-1673005604/184-6850-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Lee Ufan - The National Art Center, Tokyo - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/news/lee-ufan-the-national-art-center-tokyo/07049fef66-1667475397/028-400x266-crop.jpg)
![Response - © Mennour](https://mennour.com/media/pages/exhibitions/lee-ufan-response/8b83766410-1654877672/1-400x266-crop.jpg)