Yongdeok Lee, born in Seoul in 1956, is a prominent South Korean sculptor known for his striking “inverted sculptures” that play with visual perception and spatial illusion. He studied sculpture at Seoul National University, where he earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees, before continuing his artistic training at the Berlin University of the Arts under the Meisterschüler program. Emerging in the mid-1980s, Lee was part of a new wave of Korean artists who pushed beyond the dominant Dansaekhwa movement, reintroducing figurative elements into contemporary art. His work often explores the tension between opposites, such as inner and outer, light and shadow, prompting viewers to question what is real and what is imagined.

Lee has exhibited internationally, with solo shows in major institutions like the Schulmuseum in Berlin and the National Museum of China. His 2018 exhibition “Indivisibility” at Arario Gallery in Cheonan delved into philosophical themes of unity and perception, drawing on ancient ideas from thinkers like Parmenides. In addition to his studio practice, Lee has made a lasting impact on Korean art education, serving as both professor and dean at Seoul National University’s College of Fine Arts. He has received several major honors, including the Kim Sechoong Sculpture Award and the Moonshin Art Award, reflecting the depth of his influence on the contemporary art world.