wesley duke lee, a renowned brazilian painter, was born on december 21, 1931, in são paulo, brazil. as a grandson of americans and portuguese, lee's cultural heritage played a significant role in shaping his artistic journey. in 1951, he began his artistic education at the são paulo museum of art, where he honed his drawing skills.
career highlights
* in 1952, lee moved to the united states to study at the parsons and aiga in new york city, where he became acquainted with the works of robert rauschenberg, jasper johns, and cy twombly, as well as the pop art movement. * upon his return to brazil, lee studied painting with karl plattner and joined him on a trip to italy and austria in 1960. * in 1963, lee collaborated with young artists and performed the pioneering happening o grande espetáculo das artes ("the great spectacle of arts" in portuguese) at the joão sebastião bar in são paulo.
notable works and exhibitions
* eldorado (1968), sold at doyle new york in 2024, is one of lee's notable works. (view more of lee's artworks on wesley duke lee | artworks) * the artist's work has been featured in various exhibitions, including "reverberações surrealistas no mab" at the faap, museum of brazilian art in são paulo. (view more on museu currier gallery of art)
legacy and death
lee passed away on september 12, 2010, in são paulo, at the age of 78, due to pulmonary aspiration and cardiac arrest. (read more about lee's life and career on wikipedia)
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