It’s with incredible sadness and disbelief that we learned that Lee Baumgarten passed away on May 9. Lee was the artist who brought our Embrace sculpture to its completion. He generously stepped in when we lost Leslie Scott two years ago and he adopted the project, insisting on completing it just as she had envisioned it, knowing that this sculpture deserved an important place in this city. Lee worked tirelessly to complete Embrace in time for the unveiling, even braving the cold and rain to set each tile.
We are deeply saddened that Lee won’t be present to unveil his latest creation that will adorn Monroe Road at MoRA Point. He was truly instrumental in the transformation of our neighborhood.
Lee was always teaching, encouraging young artists, supporting art. He was a good friend of MoRA’s. We are deeply saddened by his loss, both for ourselves and for the art community, and we are keeping his family in our thoughts.
Lee and I spent a lot of time together during the mid-90's through the mid-2000's. We became very close friends during that time and while we saw less of each other after I moved to Salisbury, we stayed in touch. It was an absolute shock when he passed. With his passion for life and his energy, I thought he'd outlive us all! While he's no longer with us, he's always with me. Lee did a painting for me. An abstract art piece that encompassed my personality through his eyes. It hangs in my living room where I see it everyday or better said, I see him everyday. RIP my friend.
482 Evelyn Westarp (Spearman)
Remembering Charlotte artist Lee Baumgarten
News
It’s with incredible sadness and disbelief that we learned that Lee Baumgarten passed away on May 9. Lee was the artist who brought our Embrace sculpture to its completion. He generously stepped in when we lost Leslie Scott two years ago and he adopted the project, insisting on completing it just as she had envisioned it, knowing that this sculpture deserved an important place in this city. Lee worked tirelessly to complete Embrace in time for the unveiling, even braving the cold and rain to set each tile.
We are deeply saddened that Lee won’t be present to unveil his latest creation that will adorn Monroe Road at MoRA Point. He was truly instrumental in the transformation of our neighborhood.
Lee was always teaching, encouraging young artists, supporting art. He was a good friend of MoRA’s. We are deeply saddened by his loss, both for ourselves and for the art community, and we are keeping his family in our thoughts.
444 Aaron Stevenson
Lee and I spent a lot of time together during the mid-90's through the mid-2000's. We became very close friends during that time and while we saw less of each other after I moved to Salisbury, we stayed in touch. It was an absolute shock when he passed. With his passion for life and his energy, I thought he'd outlive us all! While he's no longer with us, he's always with me. Lee did a painting for me. An abstract art piece that encompassed my personality through his eyes. It hangs in my living room where I see it everyday or better said, I see him everyday. RIP my friend.