Moss & Stone

Jemma Lee

Jemma Lee is a disabled artist; living and working in Kwakwaka’wakw traditional territories, on Northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

Jemma is a Mauritian born Canadian who grew up in the UK.

Proud granddaughter of Bobby Lee, an icehockey player from Verdun, and Robert Lee, a Quebec born artist and designer, Jemma finally returned to her Canadian Roots in 2000.

Since 2002, Jemma has lived on Coast Salish and Kwakwaka’wakw Territories in Victoria, Cowichan Valley, Galiano Island, and North Vancouver Island.

Jemma lived with multiple complex health issues for many years but became severely disabled in 2015, at which point life changed quite dramatically.

Jemma has dynamic disabilities which include sensory and visual challenges, mobility and speech functioning, a seizure disorder, MECFS, Fibromyalgia and a benign brain lesion.

Interestingly, it was only after becoming severely disabled that Jemma finally found the courage to delve into her long repressed creative side. And though learning to lean into her situation rather than away from it. By accepting life as it was rather than as she wanted it to be, it helped.

All the work within was created after Jemma came to accept her disabilities and health issues, which allowed the space for the creativity to grow again, like moss on stone.