Artists

Terry Lee is a painter and sculptor celebrated for his bold, large-scale canvases and dynamic bronzes that draw inspiration from the wildlife, landscapes, and people of the American West. His signature style—marked by vivid color, expressive brushwork, and impressionistic vigor—has earned comparisons to the Fauves, whose freedom of expression and use of pure color he cites as key influences, alongside artists such as Van Gogh, Matisse, and Manguin. His paintings range from North American and African wildlife to Tuscan landscapes, still lifes, and scenes of the Northwest, while his sculptures capture the power and presence of animals and figures in refined, textured forms.

Lee’s introduction to sculpting came through his close friendship with master sculptor George Carlson, with whom he worked weekly for nearly a decade. Today, his bronzes are found in both private and public collections, including monumental works such as a life-size grizzly bear and a moose over ten feet tall. In 2008, he was commissioned to create a series of bronzes for Mudgy and Millie, a children’s book by Susan Nipp, which now form a public art trail through Coeur d’Alene. He has also been commissioned by the city to produce historical monuments including The Working Man and The Idaho Farmer, with additional figures in progress.

Born and raised in Coeur d’Alene, Lee grew up on a working ranch and later worked as a scuba instructor before pursuing art full-time in 1994. Since then, he has exhibited widely, with representation in galleries across the West and works acquired by institutions such as the Bell Museum and the Uline Art Collection. His national recognition includes honors from Safari Club International and features as a cover and award-winning artist at major wildlife art shows.

Despite a busy career, Lee remains deeply connected to the outdoors—fishing in Alaska, traveling on safari, and drawing constant inspiration from the wilderness that shaped his early life.