small glowing moths fly around trees at night

“Luna Moths” (2023), oil on canvas, 70 x 60 inches. Photo by Thomas Müller. All images courtesy of the artist and albertz benda, New York | Los Angeles, shared with permission

Mysterious magic emanates from Sarah Lee’s scenes. Often working at night in her East Village studio, Lee envisions quiet, unpopulated landscapes that become an escape from the electrifying energy of the city. Tempestuous storms, glowing Luna moths, and shooting stars enliven the serene vistas and illuminate what would otherwise be shrouded by the darkened skies. Each oil painting, rendered in a palette of cool tones, contains an element of surreal surprise, whether a graceful fowl floating on the clouds in “Black Swan” or a pocket of snowy earth opening to reveal the stars in “Among Trees.”

The works shown here are a fraction of those included in Lee’s solo show, Two Skies, on view now through October 14 at albertz benda in New York. Explore more of the artist’s work on her site and Instagram.

 

lightning strikes a nighttime sky

“Two Skies” (2023), oil on canvas, 70 x 80 inches. Photo by Adam Reich

A band of light shoots across a night sky with waves in the foreground

“Rainbow” (2023), oil on canvas, 14 x 13 inches. Photo by Thomas Müller

A pocket snow opens to reveal shooting stars in the sky wiht a green hill in the background

“Among Trees” (2023), oil on canvas, 50 x 52 inches. Photo by Adam Reich

a swan floats on the clouds in a night sky

“Black Swan” (2023), oil on canvas, 44 x 40 inches. Photo by Thomas Müller

A curtain like expanse of norther lights glows above a quiet landscape

“Northern Lights” (2023), oil on canvas, 9 x 12 inches. Photo by Adam Reich

A red star studded sky above a green grassy landscape

“Endless Night” (2023), oil on canvas, 70 x 80 inches. Photo by Thomas Müller

the moon glows behind tall trees with a small reflective puddle in the foreground

“The Trees of Secrets” (2023), oil on canvas, 12 x 9 inches. Photo by Thomas Müller

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Enigmatic Wonder and Magic Envelop Sarah Lee’s Illuminated Landscapes appeared first on Colossal.

©

Related Posts

Enigmatic Wonder and Magic Envelop Sarah Lee’s Illuminated LandscapesEnigmatic Wonder and Magic Envelop Sarah Lee’s Illuminated Landscapes
This LEGO Bobber Uses Ballpoint Pen Springs...
Ballpoint pen springs probably weren’t on your list of unofficial-yet-essential...
Read more
In Milwaukee, Four Artists Unravel Trauma to Move Toward Collective WellnessIn Milwaukee, Four Artists Unravel Trauma to Move Toward Collective Wellness
In Milwaukee, Four Artists Unravel Trauma to...
In a world riddled with injustice and predicated on privilege...
Read more
The Moment of Suspension by Jose Dávila at König Galerie, Berlin | YellowtraceThe Moment of Suspension by Jose Dávila at König Galerie, Berlin | Yellowtrace
The Moment of Suspension by Jose Dávila...
  Berlin‘s König Galerie presents The Moment of Suspension by Mexican...
Read more
Enigmatic Wonder and Magic Envelop Sarah Lee’s Illuminated LandscapesEnigmatic Wonder and Magic Envelop Sarah Lee’s Illuminated Landscapes
This wooden + minimal chair is the...
We often underestimate the importance of a great chair. When...
Read more
Enigmatic Wonder and Magic Envelop Sarah Lee’s Illuminated LandscapesEnigmatic Wonder and Magic Envelop Sarah Lee’s Illuminated Landscapes
30 Years Later, Forrest Gump Gets the...
The bus bench scene in Forrest Gump was never supposed...
Read more
Wireless car displayWireless car display
Get a wireless car display and give...
TL;DR: Get a 9-inch wireless car display for $99.97 (reg....
Read more