Lee Monts is an award-winning artist who started painting in late 2002.  His formal education is in Geology, having a B.S. degree from the College of Charleston and a M.S. degree from the University of South Carolina. Lee retired from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control as a Program Manager with the Underground Storage Tank Management Division in March 2018 after 29 years of service. Lee paints in acrylic, watercolor, ink, and oil/oil and cold wax medium on various surfaces.  He also produces some mixed media/assemblage pieces on occasion. Most of his pieces are spontaneous paintings of imagined landscapes created without reference material. Lee served as a Certified Working Artist/Independent Contractor for Golden Artist Colors, Inc., from May 2018 to January 2021 and provided lecture demos on Golden Products in his home state of South Carolina, as well as in Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. He enjoys sharing his extensive knowledge base with other creatives.

Awards

2024

Silver Merit / Liana and Fiona Lemery Honor Award, South Carolina Watermedia Society’s 47th Annual National Exhibition “Secrets of Solitude”, Watercolor and Gouache on thinned Pastel Ground on Plexiglass

2023

Third Place/Past Presidents’Award, South Carolina Watermedia Society’s 46th Annual National Exhibition “Diffused Solitude”, Varnished Watercolor and Gouache on thinned Pastel Ground on Plexiglass

2022

Honorable Mention, National Spring Digital Show, South Carolina Watermedia Society “Working Nature” - Varnished Gouache over thinned Pastel Ground on Plexiglass

2021

Traveling Show Award, South Carolina Watermedia Society 44th Annual National Exhibition “Distancing Days” - Watersoluble Inks on Yupo

2016

Third Place, Small Works Show, Artist Guild Gallery of Greenville “Lasting Respite” – Acrylic on Birch Panel

2015

United Wood Treating Company Award, Union County Arts Council Juried Show “Sacred Grounds” – Acrylic on Birch Panel

2014

Artists of Studio South Award, SC Watermedia Society Juried Show
“Broken Fence” – Watercolor on Paper

2013

Wallace Thompson Hospital Award, Union County Arts Council Juried Show “Endless Marsh” - Acrylic on Birch Panel

Purchase Patron Award, South Carolina State Fair
“Atonement” – Acrylic on Canvas

2012

Third Place, Small Works Show, Artist Guild Gallery of Greenville
“Unforgotten” – Oil on Birch Panel

Merit Award, 37th Annual Juried Show, Anderson Arts Center
“Change of Nature” – Acrylic on Canvas

Rick Anthony – State Farm Insurance Agent Award, SC Watermedia Society Juried Show
“Resilient Nature” – Acrylic on Canvas

2011

Images Charleston Award, SC Watermedia Society Juried Show
“Memories of Burton’s Point” – Acrylic on Yupo

2010

In Memory of Lena Massara Award, SC Watermedia Society Juried Show
“Abstracting the Respite of My Childhood” – Acrylic on Canvas

Solo Exhibitions

“Lee Monts: Select Works 2009 – 2017”

Etherredge Center, University of South Carolina,

Aiken, SC

January 20, 2018 – February 16, 2018

“Floating”

City Art Gallery, Columbia, SC

September 21, 2017 – November 11, 2017

“Age and Intuition”

City Art Gallery, Columbia, SC

June 26, 2014 – July 26, 2014

“Remembrance/Spontaneous Vision”

City Art Gallery, Columbia, SC

June 4, 2011 – July 9, 2011

“Testimony”

Gallery at DuPre, Columbia, SC

July 23, 2009 – August 21, 2009

Select Group Shows

Viral Collaboration: Artists Respond to the Global Pandemic - Bridgeport Art Center - Chicago, Illinois - January 11, 2021 - February 19, 2021

“Distancing Days” - ink on Yupo

43rd Annual National Exhibition - South Carolina Watermedia Society 2020:

“On the Banks of My Recollection” - watercolor on paper

41st Annual National Exhibition - South Carolina Watermedia Society 2018:

“Riverside Solitude” - acrylic on birch panel

Juror

South Carolina Art Education Association Youth Art Month Show, 2020 & 2021