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.
Mural Works
2022
“Restart, Resilience, Regroup," Northridge Center / Salinas, CA
2021
“Under The Sea/Takas Serena” WeCreate Mural / Sand City, CA
2020
“History of the Salinas River” El Gabilan Library Public Mural & Interactive Spinning Wall / Salinas, CA
2018
“No man is an Island” La Paz Park Mural / Salinas, CA
“Bloom Fiesta” Laurel Heights Utility Box Art, Two Locations / Salinas, CA
“Tales of a Boy” Castroville Rec Center / Castrovile, CA
“Big Baby TV” Meeting of Styles PH / Manila, Philippines
2017
“Mama Awa Project” Hartnell College / Salinas, CA
2016
“Festival Queen” Jones St. Sinulog 2016 / Cebu City Philippines
2015
Arts in Public Spaces, Pasay History Mural, NCCA x CVTY / Pasay, Philippines
Penn Brothers, Chatham House Makati / Manila Philippines
Antique’s Spot / Tagaytay, Philippines
2014
Penn Brothers, OPL Building Makati / Manila Philippines
The Downtown Art Project, “Deep See Submarine Mural”, Sandwich Spot / San Mateo, CA
“Glow in the Dark Sea Monsters” & “Soul Brother” Murals, Blue Fin / Monterey, CA
Method Makers Homecoming Tour / Manila – Cebu, Philippines
Exhibitions
2022
“Solo Show” Frist Friday XL Publichouse, Salinas,CA
2018
“Sol Treasures Group Artshow,” King City,CA
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
“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
“Monarch Monthly,” Dirty Art, SF, 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
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,” Solo Show 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
Affiliations
· Method Makers
· Hearts of Chaos
. Cavity Collective
2022
“Restart, Resilience, Regroup," Northridge Center / Salinas, CA
2021
“Under The Sea/Takas Serena” WeCreate Mural / Sand City, CA
2020
“History of the Salinas River” El Gabilan Library Public Mural & Interactive Spinning Wall / Salinas, CA
2018
“No man is an Island” La Paz Park Mural / Salinas, CA
“Bloom Fiesta” Laurel Heights Utility Box Art, Two Locations / Salinas, CA
“Tales of a Boy” Castroville Rec Center / Castrovile, CA
“Big Baby TV” Meeting of Styles PH / Manila, Philippines
2017
“Mama Awa Project” Hartnell College / Salinas, CA
2016
“Festival Queen” Jones St. Sinulog 2016 / Cebu City Philippines
2015
Arts in Public Spaces, Pasay History Mural, NCCA x CVTY / Pasay, Philippines
Penn Brothers, Chatham House Makati / Manila Philippines
Antique’s Spot / Tagaytay, Philippines
2014
Penn Brothers, OPL Building Makati / Manila Philippines
The Downtown Art Project, “Deep See Submarine Mural”, Sandwich Spot / San Mateo, CA
“Glow in the Dark Sea Monsters” & “Soul Brother” Murals, Blue Fin / Monterey, CA
Method Makers Homecoming Tour / Manila – Cebu, Philippines
Exhibitions
2022
“Solo Show” Frist Friday XL Publichouse, Salinas,CA
2018
“Sol Treasures Group Artshow,” King City,CA
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
“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
“Monarch Monthly,” Dirty Art, SF, 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
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,” Solo Show 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
Affiliations
· Method Makers
· Hearts of Chaos
. Cavity Collective