Tommy Lei

Tommy Lei is a visual artist and fine art photographer based in Pasadena, born in 1988 in Hong Kong. His work explores the quiet poetics of everyday life, shaped by a bicultural upbringing and a background in psychology. Through intentional stillness, he reflects on themes of identity, memory, and belonging—capturing intimate moments within urban and natural environments using Leica cameras. Lei seeks out overlooked textures, signs, and symbols, transforming them into visual narratives that feel both personal and universal.

His photographs are known for their calming, introspective tone and are produced as archival pigment prints—either hand-framed in wood or mounted on aluminum or
acrylic. He approaches each composition with sensitivity to detail and light,
encouraging viewers to pause, reflect, and rediscover meaning in the ordinary. His
visual language draws inspiration from the clarity of Edward Hopper, the atmospheric lyricism of Wang Wei, and the emotional minimalism of Pierre Dmitrienko.

Lei’s award-winning series Infrared Dreams, inspired by the absence of self within
Wang Wei’s Tang Dynasty poetry, has received international recognition, including
honors from the Aesthetica Art Prize, Neutral Density Awards, and Fine Art
Photography Awards. His work has been collected by JP Morgan Chase and held in
private collections across North America, Europe, and Asia, including that of
bestselling author Celeste Ng. In 2025, his work was exhibited at the Pasadena
Museum of History. He is a member of the Pasadena Society of Artists and a global
photographer ambassador for Canson Infinity.

View Available Works

• Bit Basel - Miami Art Week 2025 - Miami, CA, 2025
• Pasadena Museum of History - Pasadena, CA, 2025

• Cornell University, Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Digital Communication - Ithaca, New York,2010 

• Architizer - One Photo Challenge Finalist - 2020
• Monovisions Photography Awards - Honorable Mention - 2022
• 10th Fine Art Photography Awards (FAPA) - Professional Landscape Nominee for Infrared Dreams - 2024
• Aesthetica Magazine Art Prize 2024 - Longlisted Honoree for Infrared Dreams - 2024
• Neutral Density Awards 2023 - Honorable Mention - Fine Art Landscape Photography - 2023
• LA County Civic Arts - Selected Artist - 2026
• City of Seattle - Office of Arts and Culture - Selected Artist - 2026