Skip to content
Meet the Artist

Tommy Lei

Fine Art Photographer

Meet the Artist

Tommy Lei

Fine Art Photographer

Tommy Lei photographing with a Leica Q2 in a forest settingTommy Lei photographing with a Leica Q2 in a forest setting

I am a Los Angeles–based visual artist and fine art photographer whose work explores stillness, memory, and identity through poetic, meditative imagery. Born in Hong Kong and raised between cultures, I channel my lens into capturing quiet moments that often go unnoticed — fleeting vignettes of natural and urban landscapes that invite reflection and emotional restoration.

A call to pause.

My practice is rooted in a call to pause. In a world that moves quickly, I create photographs that encourage slowing down, reconnecting, and finding presence. With a background in psychology and years of global assignments behind the lens, I approach every composition with intentional stillness and psychological depth. My works serve as both a compass and a visual meditation — touchstones for memory, grounding, and belonging.

Over the years, my work has been commissioned by brands such as JP Morgan Chase, American Express, and Delta, and my work has been acquired by private and institutional collections.

Most recently, my photographs were exhibited at the Pasadena Museum of History. As a global photographer ambassador for Canson Infinity, I continue to advocate for elevated visual storytelling across both print and digital landscapes.

The Painted Photograph

Central to my practice is The Painted Photograph — a signature archival method that bridges the tactile resonance of painting with the clarity of photography. Each work is printed with museum-grade pigments on fine art paper, designed to endure for generations. More than a process, it is a philosophy: to preserve not just an image, but the feeling that lingers within it.

Framed artwork of goldfish on a green marbled backgroundFramed artwork of goldfish on a green marbled background