Lee Cox

"Merry-go-Round" - Vibrant Colorful Layered Abstract Painting - Warm Palette

2025

Lee Cox is a contemporary abstract painter based in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, known for his evocative, memory-infused work that bridges personal narrative with universal emotion. After a 35-year career in telecommunications, Cox transitioned from lifelong collector to full-time artist, bringing a deep appreciation for abstract expression and color into his studio practice. Cox’s creative process is rooted in spontaneity and reflection: he begins each canvas without a fixed plan, allowing acrylic paint, pencil, and layered mark-making to develop organically. Music guides his hand, stirring recollections that act as catalysts for visual exploration. As layers are built, subtracted, and reworked over time, a specific memory — whether a place, emotion, figure, or fleeting sensation — gradually comes into focus, shaping both composition and mood. The resulting works are colored with depth and movement, blending dynamic abstraction with atmospheric resonance. Cox’s pieces evoke a sense of time and remembrance, inviting viewers to connect with their own associations and experiences through color, form, and gesture. His titles further illuminate the emotional core of each work, offering a touchpoint between the personal and the universal. Cox’s paintings have been exhibited in solo and juried group shows throughout California and nationally, and are represented in private collections across the United States.