Artist . Painter . Illustrator . Graphic Designer . Photographer
Basic Lee is a world class all around artist from the bay area, that specializes in a variety of styles with mediums that ranges from painting to spray paint. Influenced by life's constant struggles and the beauty of the natural and the spiritual that surrounds us with limitless imagination and style that reflects his vision to a higher level.
His versatility with his style of urban pop surrealism has made him an elite underground artist amongst his peers. His method of work is defined as a variety of apocalyptic variations of somber reality to dark filled fantasies that leaves the viewer constantly thinking in mystery through the projection from his creations.
Influenced by traditional roots, homegrown folklore, urban lifestyle, comic books and Saturday morning cartoons, His style started to evolve naturally when he got into graffiti during his younger years inspired with the passion of music and the hip-hop culture from it's truest form.
His versatility with his style of urban pop surrealism has made him an elite underground artist amongst his peers. His method of work is defined as a variety of apocalyptic variations of somber reality to dark filled fantasies that leaves the viewer constantly thinking in mystery through the projection from his creations.
Influenced by traditional roots, homegrown folklore, urban lifestyle, comic books and Saturday morning cartoons, His style started to evolve naturally when he got into graffiti during his younger years inspired with the passion of music and the hip-hop culture from it's truest form.
Exhibitions
Group
2014
“Method Makers Homecoming,” Pocket Universe Gallery, Makati, Philippines
“Defamation of Characters,” Lower Branch Gallery, San Francisco, CA
“#TMMSECRETSHOW,” Secret Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2013
“Asylum,” Art Murmur, Oakland, CA
“Heroes in a Half Shell,” Thumbprint Gallery, San Diego, CA
“Your Name Here,” Molotov Gallery, San Diego, CA
“Character Assassination 2,” Somos Gallery, Salinas, CA
“Oakland Zoo,” Chopsticks UAS, Oakland, CA
2012
“Intueri 2012,” Hearts of Chaos, San Jose, CA
“Never Too Old for Toys,” Chopsticks UAS, Oakland, CA
“Schoolyard Antics 5,” SOMOS, Salinas, CA
“Skate Vandalz,” Chopsticks UAS, Oakland, CA
“Stick Of It All Vol. 4,” Vida Looka, Spain
“OIM : Diary of A Scapegoat,” Classic Cars West, Oakland, CA
“The Others,” Industrial Tattoo, Berkeley, CA
“5th Annual BIRD Show,” Cactus Gallery, Eagle Rock, CA
2011
"Art VS Food Warehouse Project," 24th st Warehouse, Oakland Art Murmur, Oakland, CA
"Bite-Sized Monsters," Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA
“Memento Mori,” Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA
“Chutes & Ladders,” Hotel des Artes, San Francisco, CA
“18th Annual Pistahan Parade & Festival,” Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco, CA
“Garage Bar,” The Artists Alley, San Francisco, CA
“Schoolyard Antics 3,” SOMOS, Salinas, CA
“I {heart} Noah Benefit Show,” Club Six, San Francisco, CA
“Art Addicts,” The Art Attic, Half Moon Bay, CA
“Knew Groove New Years,” Project Knew Groove, Half Moon Bay, CA
2010
“Undō 2 Hundō Art Show,” Brief Space @ Metreon, San Francisco, CA
“Schoolyard Antics 2,” SOMOS, Salinas, CA
“UPROAR 2010,” Hearts of Chaos, San Jose, CA
“RAW:San Francisco Inspiration Station,” 111 Minna, San Francisco, CA
“Schoolyard Antics,” SOMOS, Salinas, CA
“Subzero 2010,” Hearts of Chaos, San Jose, CA
“The Culture Connect,” Works Gallery, San Jose, CA
“Stroke Alert!,” The Sara Cole Fine Art Studio, San Jose, CA
“Cryptic Artistry,” Hearts of Chaos, San Jose, CA
2009
“UPROAR 2009,” Hearts of Chaos, San Jose, CA
Performances
Live Art
2013
“Cali Roots Festival,” Monterey Fairgrounds, Monterey, CA
2012
“Back to the Nineties,” 111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, CA
“Knew Groove New Years,” Old Princeton Landing, Half Moon Bay, CA
2011
“18th Annual Pistahan Parade & Festival,” Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco, CA
“2nd Annual PKG Art & Music Festival,” Old Princeton Landing, Half Moon Bay, CA
“Japan Now,” Hearts of Chaos, San Jose, CA
“ALIST "Passport to the World,”New Year's Ball, Westin St. Francis, SF, CA
2010
“How the Grouch Stole Christmas,”Avalon, Santa Clara, CA
“BRINGITBACKTOUR2X10” Voodoo Lounge, San Jose, CA
“Starr,” Sutra, San Francisco, CA
“F.A.M.E. | fashion | art | music |exhibition,” A Bobbi Vie Production, San Jose, CA
“Night of Peace,” Cesar Chavez Library, Salinas, CA
“Vans Warp Tour,” Carson, CA / Mountain View, CA / Ventura, CA / AZ
Commissions
Dec 2008 – Feb 2009 National Kidney Association, San Francisco, CA
Provided 30 detailed high quality illustrations in full color
Affiliations
· Method Makers
· Chopsticks UAS
· Hearts of Chaos
Group
2014
“Method Makers Homecoming,” Pocket Universe Gallery, Makati, Philippines
“Defamation of Characters,” Lower Branch Gallery, San Francisco, CA
“#TMMSECRETSHOW,” Secret Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2013
“Asylum,” Art Murmur, Oakland, CA
“Heroes in a Half Shell,” Thumbprint Gallery, San Diego, CA
“Your Name Here,” Molotov Gallery, San Diego, CA
“Character Assassination 2,” Somos Gallery, Salinas, CA
“Oakland Zoo,” Chopsticks UAS, Oakland, CA
2012
“Intueri 2012,” Hearts of Chaos, San Jose, CA
“Never Too Old for Toys,” Chopsticks UAS, Oakland, CA
“Schoolyard Antics 5,” SOMOS, Salinas, CA
“Skate Vandalz,” Chopsticks UAS, Oakland, CA
“Stick Of It All Vol. 4,” Vida Looka, Spain
“OIM : Diary of A Scapegoat,” Classic Cars West, Oakland, CA
“The Others,” Industrial Tattoo, Berkeley, CA
“5th Annual BIRD Show,” Cactus Gallery, Eagle Rock, CA
2011
"Art VS Food Warehouse Project," 24th st Warehouse, Oakland Art Murmur, Oakland, CA
"Bite-Sized Monsters," Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA
“Memento Mori,” Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA
“Chutes & Ladders,” Hotel des Artes, San Francisco, CA
“18th Annual Pistahan Parade & Festival,” Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco, CA
“Garage Bar,” The Artists Alley, San Francisco, CA
“Schoolyard Antics 3,” SOMOS, Salinas, CA
“I {heart} Noah Benefit Show,” Club Six, San Francisco, CA
“Art Addicts,” The Art Attic, Half Moon Bay, CA
“Knew Groove New Years,” Project Knew Groove, Half Moon Bay, CA
2010
“Undō 2 Hundō Art Show,” Brief Space @ Metreon, San Francisco, CA
“Schoolyard Antics 2,” SOMOS, Salinas, CA
“UPROAR 2010,” Hearts of Chaos, San Jose, CA
“RAW:San Francisco Inspiration Station,” 111 Minna, San Francisco, CA
“Schoolyard Antics,” SOMOS, Salinas, CA
“Subzero 2010,” Hearts of Chaos, San Jose, CA
“The Culture Connect,” Works Gallery, San Jose, CA
“Stroke Alert!,” The Sara Cole Fine Art Studio, San Jose, CA
“Cryptic Artistry,” Hearts of Chaos, San Jose, CA
2009
“UPROAR 2009,” Hearts of Chaos, San Jose, CA
Performances
Live Art
2013
“Cali Roots Festival,” Monterey Fairgrounds, Monterey, CA
2012
“Back to the Nineties,” 111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, CA
“Knew Groove New Years,” Old Princeton Landing, Half Moon Bay, CA
2011
“18th Annual Pistahan Parade & Festival,” Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco, CA
“2nd Annual PKG Art & Music Festival,” Old Princeton Landing, Half Moon Bay, CA
“Japan Now,” Hearts of Chaos, San Jose, CA
“ALIST "Passport to the World,”New Year's Ball, Westin St. Francis, SF, CA
2010
“How the Grouch Stole Christmas,”Avalon, Santa Clara, CA
“BRINGITBACKTOUR2X10” Voodoo Lounge, San Jose, CA
“Starr,” Sutra, San Francisco, CA
“F.A.M.E. | fashion | art | music |exhibition,” A Bobbi Vie Production, San Jose, CA
“Night of Peace,” Cesar Chavez Library, Salinas, CA
“Vans Warp Tour,” Carson, CA / Mountain View, CA / Ventura, CA / AZ
Commissions
Dec 2008 – Feb 2009 National Kidney Association, San Francisco, CA
Provided 30 detailed high quality illustrations in full color
Affiliations
· Method Makers
· Chopsticks UAS
· Hearts of Chaos