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Surreal landscape painting with watermelons, a fish, pink bricks, and purple raindrops on a grid-like ground, with a body of water, mountains, and a sunset in the background.

Selina Lee

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Painting of an architectural structure with green and red pillars and a green dome, set against a pink sky with trees in the background.

Artist Bio Selina Lee’s work explores transformation and play through painting, illustration, and upcycled textiles, including repurposed rice bags. Their watermelon landscape series began during the upheaval of 2020—BLM protests, fires, the COVID-19 pandemic, and social unrest—as a way to find joy, freedom, and imaginative escape. These whimsical, fantastical images elevate everyday objects into new visual forms, reflecting a belief in the power of creativity to shape how we see and experience the world.

The watermelon motif carries layered cultural significance. Selina’s work references African American stereotypes, solidarity with Palestine, and broader social histories, demonstrating how humor, imagination, and play can bridge divides. By transforming the familiar into something unexpected, their work invites viewers to connect with curiosity, joy, and creative possibility across cultural and social boundaries.