Jina Lee is a South Korean-born sculptor who has worked primarily with stone for 20 years. With contemporary, organic shapes and a deep connection to the natural world, her sculptures evoke a sense of calm timelessness and tactility.
Her artistic journey began in 1999 when she was accepted into the Kaywon School of Arts in South Korea. She undertook two years of intensive training in academic drawing and other foundational disciplines to prepare for art school. After entering art school, she discovered her passion for sculpture and focused on techniques such as clay modelling and plaster mould making skills which she still employs as part of her process prior to translating the forms into stone today.
Jina earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage, where she focused on stone carving while studying Korean culture and traditional arts. The University is renowned for its exclusive focus on cultural heritage and its strong emphasis on hands-on training and traditional craftsmanship. She then went on to complete a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture at Kookmin University, further refining her artistic voice.
Now based in Fremantle, Western Australia, Jina is hands-on throughout the entire creative process, from conceptual design and material sourcing to sculpting each piece in her studio.
She forms a personal relationship with every stone she works with, believing that stone is not just a medium, but a living element that carries the Earth's history within it.
Each piece is hand-carved and thoughtfully named, becoming a unique extension of her dialogue with nature.
Jina has exhibited her work widely, both nationally and internationally, including Sculpture by the Sea, where she is a Decade Club member.
She has created and installed public artworks in Australia, Italy, Albania, France, New Zealand, South Korea, and Japan.
Her work explores the theme of connection,
the interconnectedness of all things. Her sculptures communicate complex narratives and emotions through meticulous craftsmanship and heartfelt expression.
Each sculpture offers a tactile, immersive experience, encouraging people to engage not only visually, but also emotionally and physically.
Through her art, Jina seeks to remind people of their bond with the natural world and with one another, encouraging a moment of pause, reflection, and reconnection in an often fast-paced world.
Jina is the director of STONE TO ART, Western Australia’s first stone sculpture symposium (www.waisss.com.au).
EDUCATION
2009 Master of Fine Art -Sculpture
(Kookmin University / South Korea)
2007 Bachelor of Fine Art -Korean Traditional Sculpture
(Korean National University of Cultural Heritage/
South Korea)
2003 Department of Sculpture
(Kaywon School of Art / South Korea)
PUBLIC COLLECTION
2025 Marbella Beachside (City of Stirling, WA, Australia)
2024-2027 Fremantle Police Complex
(City of Fremantle. WA, Australia)
2025 Bourke View Park Playspace (Cith of Swan, WA, Australia)
2024 Les LAPIDIALES (Port d'envaux, France)
2023 Jackkdar Reserve (City of Stirling, WA, Australia)
2023 Snowy Valley Sculpture Trail (Snowy Valley, NSW, Australia)
2022 Attadale Foreshore (City of Melville WA, Australia)
2021 Wellington Square (City of Perth, WA, Australia)
2019 Vergnacco Sculpture Park
(Reana del Rojale, Province of Udine, Italy)
2019 Ritz Carlton Hotel (Perth, WA, Australia)
2017 Uniting Church (Perth, Australia)
2017 Korce Park (City Of Korca, Albania)
2017 Ern Sconce Rotary Park (City of Prospect, SA, Australia)
2017 Miyako Kindergarten (Fukuoka, Japan)
2016 Melville Civic Centre (City of Melville, WA, Australia)
2010 Ilsan We-City Blooming (City of Ilsan, South Korea)
2010 Ilsan GS xi (City of Ilsan, South Korea)
SYMPOSIUM/ EXHIBITION
2024 - 2015 Sculpture By the Sea
(Cottesloe Beach WA, Australia), Decade club member
2022 STONE TO ART International Stone Sculpture Symposium
(Attadale, WA, Australia)
2023, 2022, 2015 Sculpture By the Sea
(Bondi Beach, NSW, Australia)
2019 22nd International Symposium of Stone Sculpture
(Friuli Venezia, Italy)
2019, 2017, 2015 Sculpture at Bathers
(Bathers Beach WA, Australia)
2019, 2017 Sculptors at Crystal Lake Sculpture Symposium
(South Australia, Australia)
2018 The 5th Silk Road International Art Exhibition
(Xian, Shaanxi Province, China)
2018 Te Kupenga Biennial International Sculpture Symposium
(New Plymouth, New Zealand)
2017 8th International Sculpture Symposium Korça Park
(Korca, Albania)
2017, 2014 Swell Sculpture Festival
(Currumbin Beach QLD, Australia)
2016 The Five Continents International Sculpture Symposium
(Kasai, Japan)
AWARD
2020 Sculpture by the sea Bondi- Helen Lempriere Scholarship
2018 Sculpture By The Sea Cottesloe
Rio Tinto WA Emerging Sculptor Mentorship
2017 Sculptors at Crystal Lake Symposium- People Choice Award
2015 Sculpture by the sea Bondi
Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Sculptor Mentorships
2014 Swell Sculpture Festival – Artist Peer Award
