이일로 IlRo Lee | Art Salon H

이일로 Il Ro Lee

Lee Il-Ro was an experimental artist and educator who expanded traditional ceramic techniques into a contemporary sculptural language. Born in Gaepung, Hwanghaebuk-do, he devoted himself to ceramics through the turbulent times of war and division, and for over half a century since the 1960s, he committed himself to both artistic creation and education. In particular, he significantly contributed to the development of Korean ceramic art by nurturing future generations at the College of Fine Arts, Hongik University, for many years.

His practice evolved from functional pottery to sculptural ceramics, utilizing slab-building and assembly techniques. His unique visual language emerged through a deliberate balance of asymmetry, contrasts between white and gray clay, and surfaces marked by knife cuts and fissures—each bearing traces of profound introspection.

Respectful of tradition yet never confined by it, Lee is regarded as a pioneering artist who bridged utility, form, and spirituality in ceramics, thereby expanding the possibilities of contemporary Korean ceramic art.

작품 세계 Art Works

His artistic world extends beyond the realm of functional ceramics, evolving into an art form that embraces sculptural expression and spiritual depth. Through the repetitive process of cutting, stacking, and assembling slabs of clay, he shaped his inner reflections—transforming the act itself into a record of the self and a distinct sculptural language.

His works reveal asymmetrical structures and restrained balance, material contrasts between white porcelain and gray slip clay, and surfaces marked by knife traces and cracks. These features go beyond mere form, creating layered dimensions of time, emotion, and memory. Rooted in an aesthetic of restraint, his ceramics highlight the inherent materiality of clay and invite viewers into a space of deep contemplation.

While inheriting the lineage of traditional Korean pottery, he did not remain within its boundaries. His pursuit of new sculptural languages demonstrated the artistic potential of ceramics and contributed to expanding the horizons of contemporary Korean ceramic art.