Today we’d like to introduce you to Yubin Lee.
Hi Yubin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I can’t really pinpoint a specific time when I first started. It all felt pretty natural for me to constantly draw and create for as long as I can remember. Whether it was bringing home a full cart of art books from the school library, creating my own illustrated storybooks, begging my mom to let me take art classes, or winning school art competitions, I’d say all those little episodes contributed to how I got started.
But I never really thought I’d pursue a career in this field until I met my art teacher when I was about 15 or 16. Meeting her truly changed my life. I wasn’t very confident in my art at the time, but she saw something in me that I didn’t know I had. She helped bring it out of me. With her support, I was able to get accepted into all my dream art colleges with the pieces I created under her guidance.
At the School of Visual Arts, I experienced tremendous growth. I decided to major in Illustration. One of the main reasons I chose this major was the flexibility it offered. I felt that with Illustration, I could go into fine art, editorial work, graphic design, and much more. As a freshman in college, that versatility really appealed to me.
With the experience and skills I gained in school, I began applying them to the professional world. My first job was at the Baturu Cultural Festival, where I created illustrations and posters for film and cultural events. I loved working there because they trusted my vision and gave me creative freedom. The work was well received and that recognition was such an exciting feeling. I think that experience naturally led to my next role.
I joined a fashion brand called Cider as a 2D Designer. Transitioning from a cultural festival to fashion felt like a big leap, but it was surprisingly smooth. They were looking for someone with strong illustration skills who could also work on design, illustrating clothes, characters, and environments. Though I didn’t have much formal design experience, I applied what I had learned in school and was eager to keep learning on the job. It was the perfect opportunity to explore the fashion world, strengthen my design skills, and still make use of my illustration background.
That role naturally led me to where I am now, working as a Brand Designer at Halara, an athleisure company. Thanks to my previous experience at Cider, I was able to quickly adapt and contribute. All of my experiences have built on one another and I’m genuinely excited to see where my creative journey takes me next.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There were obviously struggles and challenges along the way. I have been experiencing some major setbacks in my life recently where I felt helpless and everything seemed to be going south and out of my control, but I know these shall soon pass. I got a similar question a couple of years ago from a different interview, actually, and in that interview I said maintaining a positive attitude and continuing to do what I do best with good work ethic will eventually turn things around, over time. I also mentioned that in the future, I would face new challenges and just as I was able to overcome them in the past, I would be able to do so again. And I was right.
Those new challenges did, in fact, come to me. I had crippling anxiety that ate me alive and all I did was nothing. But I always knew in my head that I wanted to overcome it and that I still had hope. No matter how bad the situation may seem, there is always something I can find to do and succeed at. The word “succeed” might sound daunting, but it can be as simple as just getting out of bed, doing chores, going on bike rides and being out in nature, making small illustrations, whatever it might be to help get out of a bad state.
This hurdle I am experiencing right now, though painful, has taught me so much and I’ve grown a lot through it. I took time to really isolate myself and reflect on life, to think deeply about what I want in life and how I want to navigate it.
I am in a much better state now. I am still dealing with it, but I feel so much more at peace and have faith and hope that things will get better and that when the time is right, they will happen. This is just a rough chapter in my journey, but those are what make the story more interesting and meaningful. So I try to feel it fully and experience it as it is. Hopefully, in the future, I’ll look back on these days and say, “There was a time…” but it all worked out. Just like I did a couple of years ago when I did that interview.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
“The Vegetable Lovers” is a piece where an eggplant and a bell pepper are locked in a passionate kiss. At first glance, it feels whimsical and romantic, but a closer look reveals underlying symbolism and provocation. 🍆 and 🌶 are often used as sexual innuendos in internet meme culture. Their intimate pose mimics the physical act of intercourse. The merging is both humorous and weirdly tender, creating a tension between innocence and eroticism. The ornate frame elevates the image into something that feels like a classical masterpiece as if it belongs in a museum. That contrast between the silly and the serious makes the piece even more fun and clever.
I like to make work that is surreal, playful, whimsical, and slightly eerie. Just like “The Vegetable Lovers.” While I often work in series, I also enjoy creating stand-alone pieces like this. I think I’m known for my distinctive visual language. A mix of fantastical and surreal with touches of baroque and rococo, full of intricate details, rich textures, and vibrant colors.
I’m also a designer. As a Brand Designer at Halara, I specialize in advertising, marketing, branding, and social media, creating videos, graphics, and more. I always try to incorporate my illustration skills into my design work, whether that’s through illustrative icons or playful visual elements.
I am proud that I’m flexible and adaptable in my creative work. I can work across a wide range of themes, styles, and formats. What sets me apart is that I’m equally skilled in branding, illustration, and design, with hands-on experience. Whether it’s social media content, digital collectibles, pop-up event branding, or comic storytelling, I move fluidly between mediums and always center storytelling in everything I create.
What makes you happy?
Having people I love in my life makes me genuinely happy. I’ve realized recently once again just how much my friends and family mean to me and how deeply their presence impacts my happiness. They motivate me to live my best life and I truly thrive because of them. Not only do they bring joy to my personal life, but they also uplift me in my creative work. They encourage me, trust in what I do, and appreciate my efforts. Lately, I’ve been trying to be more intentional about getting closer to them and giving back even a fraction of the happiness they bring me. I’m truly thankful to have my people around me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://eelnibuyart.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/eelnibuyart/
