One of Seexeng
Lee's favorite quotes is, "Many may say that living with the collision of two cultures is a burden but I find it a blessing
in disguise."
This message is representative in the art that Seexeng creates. He recalls his first piece of art being an elephant etched
into the dirt floor of his family’s hut. From then on, he knew he wanted to become an artist. But in
the U.S., Seexeng would discover his passion for art could not come to fruition because his parents objected to
art because they did not believe it was a sustainable career. Seexeng put a creative spin on this turn of event and instead
pursued a career teaching art. The more he delves into art, the more he learns about his roots. In his
art, he strives to preserve Hmong culture and hopes it inspires younger Hmong generations and other cultures to do the
same. -
Seexeng is a graduate of Augsburg College with a degree in Studio Art and Secondary Education. He has been teaching
art for 12 years with the Minneapolis Public School District and currently teaches at South High School. His
recent commission includes “Immigration Emotions”, an 8 feet by 20 feet mural for the city of Wadena and was awarded
a commission for “Convergence”, a signature sculpture that now graces the atrium in the newly remodeled North
Point Health and Wellness Center. He was funded by the City of St. Paul's Cultural STAR Grant to create this "Unity
in Diversity" relief painting that was unveiled at the 2007 Dragon Festival. He had recently completed a 8 feet
by 24 feet community art project “One as We are One,” a mural consisted of 644 6x6 individually painted
tiles by members the Hmong Cultural and Language Summer Camp.
- Pearl Bergad (Executive Director of Chinese Heritage Foundation)
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