The main theme of his art was the rural life in Bali, with large views in widescreen format along with often vertical detailed paintings. He developed his personal style on his arrival in Indonesia and maintained it over three decades.
An oil on wood painted in 1951, 86 x 260 cm, was sold for HK $ 34 million including premium by Sotheby's on October 7, 2012. Its title, Fortune and Longevity, clearly indicates in what large extent Bali can provide happiness.
Bali life paintings from the early 1960s mark one of the most creative phases of his career. An oil on masonite 100 x 243 cm was sold for HK $ 36 million including premium by Christie's on 23 November 2013. Previously, on April 5, 2010, an oil on canvas 100 x 200 cm was sold for HK $ 25,3M including premium by Sotheby's, then assuring for the first time Lee 's deserved position among top ranking artists.
Large oils on canvas by Lee Man Fong are scarce. A Bali life painted in 1974, 83 x 184 cm, is for sale at Sotheby's in Hong Kong on October 5, lot 1025. This artwork is full of quiet anecdotal details about rural occupations.