國立台灣大學外國語言學系學士、日本上智大學比較文化學系碩士、美國紐約大學美術史及建築史學系碩士、美國紐約大學美術史及建築史學系博士。曾於台灣、日、美等國求學、教學，研究領域包括：當代藝術、公共藝術、文化產業及藝術行政。
曾任台新銀行文化藝術基金會藝術總監，曾任教於國立台北藝術大學 (美術學系兼任助理教授)、私立淡江大學（建築系兼任講師）、國立台灣藝術大學（美術系兼任講師），以及台北市立美術館助理研究員、展覽組組長、國際事務小組召集人、中華民國財團法人帝門藝術教育基金會副研究員。也擔任高雄市立美術館典藏委員、高雄獎評審委員等。並擔任ASEAN地區當代藝術競賽獎國際評審 (新加坡、印尼)以及亞洲文化協會台北分會年度藝術家獎助評審。

Dr. Yulin Lee is presently the Director of Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan (R.O.C) since 2016. Lee obtained a MA degree in comparative culture and Chinese art history from Sophia University, Japan and a MA and Ph.D. in the history of art and architecture from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, USA.
She served as the chief curator in the Exhibition Department of Taipei Fine Arts Museum from 1993 to 2000 and as Head of International & Public Program (TFAM) from 1997 to 2000. After graduating from the Institute of Fine Arts, NYU, U.S.A., she served as Artistic Director of Taishin Bank Foundation for Arts and Culture from 2009 to 2016. When she worked in the Exhibition Department of Taipei Fine Arts Museum, she secured Taiwan’s participation in the Venezia Biennale (1997) by launching Taipei Biennial (1998).
Lee also co-curated Taiwan’s participation in the 3rd Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art: Beyond the Future in Brisbane, Australia, and was the curator of Japan’s participation in The 2002 Fukuoka Asian Art Triennial: Imagined Workshop, Japan. She also curated Taiwan’s participation in The 2nd International Triennale of KOGEI in Kanazawa 2013: The Art Grounded in Region (21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art), Japan.