He is America
Christian Lee
The Lord’s Prayer
Christian Lee
Artist’s Statement
Published in The New York Times & Winner at the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, ‘Til the Day Breaks depicts the rich interior life of Justin Young, an African American teenager coming of age in the suburbs of California. The ongoing series explores the emotional vulnerability of Black boyhood that our culture often ignores in its’ incomplete portrayal of modern masculinity. The images provide an intimate glimpse into the cumulative effects of racially motivated violence on Young’s mental health, his deep spiritual convictions, and the strong bond he shares with his loving father.
about the artist
Christian Lee is an award-winning visual artist based in Los Angeles, California. The New York Times published his photography in their first print section entirely dedicated to teen art. His image also appeared on the front page of the Times website. He won and received recognition from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the 20th Annual Drexel University High School Photography Contest, the 23rd Annual National High School Poetry Contest, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Film Festival. His short films earned prizes and screened at nineteen additional competitions. He is a journalist and photographer for the Los Angeles Times High School Insider.