“[Lee] embodies a rare combination of formalist painter and urban griot.” – Valerie Cassel Oliver, Senior Curator, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

El Franco Lee II received the Artadia Award in 2008 and 2015.

Lee is a resident and native son of Houston, Texas. During his formative years in the public and parochial schools of Houston, El Franco’s artistic abilities were duly acknowledged by Houston Independent School District, the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston, Houston Livestock and Rodeo, and Glassell School of Art.

El Franco’s solo and juried exhibitions have included Gift of the Spirit (A partnership of JPMorgan Chase and Art League Houston); Project Row Houses – Houston, Texas; Angstrom Gallery – Dallas, Texas; Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., LLC Public Finance Summit – Napa Valley, California; Contemporary Arts Museum – Houston, Texas; Romo Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia; G Gallery – Houston, Texas; University of Houston Project Gallery; Blaffer Gallery – Houston, Texas; Yale University – Annual Art Barn Exhibit – Norfolk, Connecticut; Diverse Works Gallery Art Space – Houston, Texas.

The future for El Franco will certainly encompass more of his “Urban Mannerist Pop Art” on a larger scale. You can also expect a recommence for his love of sculpting and comic book characters.