Born in South Korea, Lee Bul emerged as a significant figure in the contemporary art scene through her early performance art and sculptural works that challenged social and political norms. Her practice has evolved to encompass complex installations that integrate architecture, media, and historical memory, reflecting on the intersection of personal experience and broader societal shifts.

Her signature works often utilize industrial materials to explore themes of the body, gender, and the failure of utopian visions. The Cyborg and Anagram series remain central to her oeuvre, demonstrating her ability to blend organic forms with mechanical aesthetics. Her work frequently interrogates the relationship between human fragility and technological advancement.

Lee Bul continues to receive significant international recognition, with major institutional surveys highlighting her decades-long career. In 2026, a comprehensive exhibition titled Lee Bul: From 1998 to Now, co-organized by M+ in Hong Kong and the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul, showcased over 200 of her works, further cementing her influence in the global contemporary art landscape.