Raised on the rugged coast of Maine, Lee Parent first witnessed art’s transformative power through her father’s black-and-white photography. Intrigued by theater and dramatic storytelling, she earned a degree in Set Design at Emerson College before forging a successful path in graphic design—collaborating with industry leaders such as Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Brothers, and Neuron Syndicate.
Parent’s entrepreneurial drive led her to establish Hey! Design Group, specializing in Branding & Art Direction for startups and Mom & Pop businesses. She later founded Kids Unplugged, a vibrant brick-and-mortar venture encouraging families to reconnect through screen-free play.
It was through face painting at community events that Parent discovered her signature process: intuitive face painting. She paints directly onto her subjects—allowing each person’s features and energy to guide the design—then photographs the result, adds digital post-production, and finally prints the piece on canvas for finishing brushwork. This immersive, multi-step approach caught critical attention at the M.A.D.S. Gallery international exhibition, “Gaia. The origin,” where reviewers noted her “strong maturity and knowledge of the art world,” drawing parallels to Renaissance portraiture while highlighting her bold use of color, elemental symbolism, and deeply expressive style. Her works—such as “Cinnamon Eyes,” “She Has Guided Us,” and “Intense Rest 2021”—reflect themes of environmental awareness and a heartfelt “cry for help” from nature.
A single mother of two, Parent infuses all her projects with boundless imagination and a firm belief in the power of creative play. From brand identity work to original artwork on canvas, she remains steadfast in her mission: to bring forth stories of empowerment, connection, and the striking beauty of life itself.
