03 Jan Stephenson Showcase: Denis Lee – His Life in Art
The Stephenson House exhibit, Denis Lee – His Life in Art, will serve as a tribute to life for the late artist Denis Lee. Lee’s journey involved an evolution that showcased his diverse talents and unwavering passion for the arts. Born and raised in North Judson, Indiana, Lee received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Indiana University before serving in the U.S. Army Reserve Program and enrolling in the Medical Illustration Graduate Program at the University of Illinois Medical School in Chicago.
Upon graduating, Lee was employed as a Medical Illustrator for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for five years until he began teaching in the graduate program at the University of Michigan’s Department of Medical Illustration. Over the course of the next 30 years, Lee became Professor of Art, Professor of Postgraduate Medicine, and Assistant Professor in Plastic Surgery, winning many awards for his work in art and medical sculpture.
Upon retiring, Lee shifted his focus to his passion for art. Anatomy and medical illustration is done exclusively in black and white and is very expensive to reproduce, so when Lee retired, he decided to try something new.
Lee spent the last 20 years of his life sculpting and oil painting, ultimately creating around 500 paintings, some of which will be included in the upcoming “Denis Lee – His Life in Art” exhibit. Lee’s passion for sharing his love for art, animals, and people is embodied in each piece that will be featured in the exhibit.
The full Denis Lee – His Life in Art exhibit can be seen in the Stephenson House January 5 through 27, Wednesday through Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and during the January First Friday event from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the Noblesville Creates campus. The reception for this exhibit will serve as a celebration of life for Lee and will be held on Saturday, January 13 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Stephenson House.
