Nikki S. Lee

Nikki S. Lee (born 1970, South Korea) is a conceptual photographer and filmmaker known for her immersive performance-based photography, in which she adopts the appearance, dress, and mannerisms of various social groups and subcultures before having herself photographed among them. Her 'Projects' series challenges fixed notions of identity, ethnicity, and belonging by documenting her chameleon-like transformations into communities ranging from hip-hop youth to senior citizens to exotic dancers. Lee's work raises critical questions about authenticity, assimilation, and the constructed nature of the self, earning her international recognition and placement in major museum collections.