Why The Chicken Man crossed the Road: A deeper look at the artwork of Ernest Lee

For years self proclaimed pop artist Ernest Lee has been known to the residents of Columbia, SC for the characteristic tall, thin paintings of palmetto trees and both chicken men and women, earning him the nickname Chicken Man.  If you ask many locals how to find him they would direct you to an open street side like the one found at Gervais and Harden St.  However, while directions like these may have served you well in the past, the Chicken Man can now be found on a new roost.



Outside Ernest Lee's studio when it's open

As a piece of helpful advice to anyone who wishes to find some of our state’s self-taught or folk artists, I would suggest a fast internet connection with Google, a cell phone with a strong signal, a few mild detective skills and a lot of patience.  With the combined efforts of me and my partner, we managed to make our way up the pecking order from associates and art venders of the elusive Ernest Lee, tracing him to his new, downtown studio at 1015 Whaley St.  Why the change?  New laws on street venders in the city of Columbia created an atmosphere more conducive for the Chicken Man to light upon a more permanent location, replacing Lee’s original “open mobile art gallery” with a more traditional studio. 

This is where we began our search for Ernest Lee.  We identified the place quickly enough by the colorfully decorated trailer out front and the Chicken Man-style entrance door but unfortunately Lee was nowhere to be found.  Still in good spirits about our discovery Krista and I made our way to the downtown Richland County Library where we heard that Lee’s work was currently on display.  We found it on the bottom floor in front of the children’s section.  No sooner had we read the information sheet about the artist and saw that the display will last until March 6, 2011 than a man approached us and asked if we liked his work.  We spun around to find Ernest Lee standing right behind us as he aptly introduced himself saying “I’m the Chicken Man.”  After a short conversation and tour of his show (which features not only chickens and palmetto trees but a tribute to both Michael Jackson and Martin Luther King Jr.) he invited us back to his shop.

Ernest Lee outside his studio

When the studio is officially “open” the painted trailer is completely fenced in by a row of Lee’s artwork.  There is also a colorful sign that says OPEN out front. 

Open sign out front of Lee's studio

Though Lee seems happy with his new space it was clear to me that he misses the old days in the open air.  It’s warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer but there is just something about the old way of selling his art that Lee prefers.  In its most basic sense I took this to be a longing for freedom.  Lee is by no means and ordinary man and prides himself on creating art that is extraordinary both in the subjects he chooses, ways he portrays them, and materials he uses. 

Lee's work placed outside his studio

Though he might feel a little cooped up every now and then it is clear that the spirit of creativity and freedom has not left his artwork as his chickens spread their wings to fly, or more aptly in his works to dance. 

Come check out the Funky Chicken Man at his new shop 1015 Whaley St, Columbia, SC.  Or find him on the web at http://ernestleeonline.com/ or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ernest-J-Lee-The-ChickenMan/147900715222312.

Until next time,

-Nathan