Sipe’s art dreams were put on hold when she moved to the United States in 1971 and became a full-time mother to four children. When her youngest child was old enough for Lee to have some freedom, she enrolled in a pine needle weaving course. She took art classes at every chance, starting with weaving pine needles into baskets. She loved working with all-natural materials. worked extensively with pine-needles, sometimes combined with clay, or hand-dyed reeds woven into striking shapes and designs.

Sipe notes, I later became enamored with creating vessels from copper or silver-plated wire, twining the wire, and forging the tips. Copper wire vessels are my focus now. Sipe became a professional artist in 1983. Creating art gives her great pleasure and energizes her to strive for excellence. Each vessel seems jeweled – shimmering and shining in the light. The vessels conveys a sense of peace, beauty, and order. Sipe’s artistry is a favorite of Deane Ackerman, and visitors to the exhibition will feel fortunate to experience such intricate beauty up close.

Sipe travels extensively from her home in Columbia, SC, to visit galleries and museums around the world. These experiences, along with her Asian heritage and family loyalty, inspire her and help her to continue to grow and to innovate. Lee shares her talent with other artists by teaching basketry at many universities and colleges.

Sipe is a two-time winner of the Fine Arts Juried Exhibition, Best in Show, at the S.C. State Fair. She has also been awarded Best in Shows in Carolina’s Got Art, Charlotte, N.C. and Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Exhibition, North Charleston, S.C. She was the winner of the Basketry Division, NICHE Awards, Philadelphia, PA. Lee is a member of the Handweavers Guild of America, Inc.

Last year, Sipe’s Vessel #27, a tall pine needle and raffia vessel was purchased by the prestigious Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery in Washington, DC. Sipe’s copper wire vessels have been juried into ArtFields six times.