Lee Nam-Mu is a ceramic artist based in Icheon Ceramic Village, South Korea, where he co-manages a studio with his wife. Renowned for his mastery of the Raku Kiln, Lee skillfully employs the traditional Buncheong technique to create intricate artworks. Since 1994, he has led workshops alongside his wife and participated in numerous group exhibitions, earning recognition for his distinctive approach to ceramics.
Lee’s signature style features whimsical depictions of tigers, deeply influenced by Hojak-do, the traditional Korean folk painting from the Joseon Dynasty that portrays a tiger and a magpie. This theme is central to Korean Minhwa, where the tiger represents strength, courage, and protection, while the magpie symbolises good fortune and happiness. The pairing of these animals in Lee’s ceramics evokes a sense of harmony and auspiciousness.