Welcome to Mia O`s Website

Mia O is a Kyoto-based South Korean artist specializing in contemporary Mokuhanga and mixed-media works inspired by cultural exchange and tradition.

ミア・オーは、京都を拠点に活動する韓国出身のアーティストです。木版画（木版画）を中心に、文化交流や伝統から着想を得た現代木版画やミクストメディア作品を制作しています。

News & Exhibitions

Women Painting on Paper Selected Participants Summer 2026, Mari Art Collective, Online https://www.maripaper.com/women-painting-on-paper-summer-202

40th Anniversary Kyoto Art Festival International Exchange Comprehensive Exhibition, Kyoto City Museum of Art Annex, Kyoto, Japan (10/27-11/1/2026)

Our Listening Hands: Recent Prints by the Mokuhanga Sisters,   Brattleboro Museum& Art Center, VT, USA  ( 11/14/2026-03/06/2027) https://www.brattleboromuseum.org/2026/07/27/our-listening-hands-recent-prints-by-the-mokuhanga-sisters/

Artist in Residence Traditional Woodblock Printing and the Arts Human Resource Development Support Program through the Creation of a Comprehensive Archive of Traditional Woodblock Prints and Collaborative Art Initiatives. organized by Ritsumeikan University’s Art Research Center (ARC), Kyoto city, Japan (11/29-12/13/2026)

Upcoming Mokuhanga Sisters` exhibition, Spencertown Academy Arts Center, NY, USA (04/03/2027~)

Nakanojo Biennale 2025

Nakanojo Biennale 2023

Unleash your creativity! Join us in Kyoto for an unforgettable woodblock-printing experience.

Discover the mindful art of woodblock printing (Mokuhanga) in an exclusive, hands-on workshop led by a contemporary artist. Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned creator, you will learn the delicate balance of carving, inking, and pressing your very own custom prints. Bring your imagination to life, experience a timeless traditional technique, and take home a unique piece of art made by your own hands.

Workshop Feedback

• While visiting Japan, a friend and I had the opportunity to take a private three day Mokuhanga workshop with Mia, and it was THE highlight of my trip.Over the course of the workshop, we explored suminagashi, learned about washi paper, tools, materials, and techniques, and worked through the entire process of planning, carving, and printing our own designs. Mia is an excellent teacher. She is patient, encouraging, and has a way of making the process feel approachable and achievable.The pace of the workshop was great. I honestly could have spent hours more each day because I enjoyed it so much.The workshop opened the door to an entirely new creative space for me. My friend and I still meet almost every week to continue carving & printing together. Taking this workshop didn’t just teach me a new skill, it sparked an ongoing practice that continues to bring me joy months later. (From USA, 30s)

• While planning my trip to Japan with a friend, I searched extensively for a Mokuhanga workshop that offered an authentic, hands-on learning experience and would provide more than just a brief introduction to the art form. Finding Mia’s workshop was one of the best parts of our entire time in Japan.When I contacted Mia, I asked if she might be willing to include a lesson on Suminagashi in addition to Mokuhanga. Not only was she enthusiastic about the idea, but she thoughtfully incorporated it into our three-day private workshop. Her flexibility and willingness to tailor the experience made it truly special.Mia’s knowledge of traditional Japanese printmaking is remarkable. She guided us through every step of the process—from learning about washi paper, tools, pigments, and carving techniques to creating and printing our own designs. She explained each concept clearly, answered every question with patience, and created an environment that was both supportive and inspiring.What I loved most was Mia’s generosity in sharing not only technical skills but also the history and culture behind these traditional art forms. I left with a much deeper appreciation for Mokuhanga and Suminagashi, along with the confidence to continue practicing on my own.Since returning home, I have continued to meet with my friend regularly to carve and print together, building on the skills and inspiration we gained during the workshop.The workshop was educational, creative, and deeply rewarding. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning traditional Japanese printmaking, whether they are complete beginners or experienced artists looking to expand their skills.Thank you, Mia, for sharing your knowledge so generously and for creating an experience that continues to inspire me long after returning home. (from USA, 60s)

• As someone with a healthy amount of experience in Mokuhanga, this workshop was simply me trying to find a way to do some printing while I was in Japan. And that’s what this was. Once Mia understood my comfortability with the medium, we just started talking like old friends about something we both loved. Mia is also a friend of my print professor. So she was an easy choice and I trusted she would have an interest view on Mokuhanga and a style I could learn from. Overall, this was everything I could have ever wanted it to be and more. (from USA 20`s)

• I took Mia’s 3 day mokuhanga workshop in the summer of 2026. All around it was a wonderful experience that I would highly recommend to any artist! Mia is very knowledgeable in the craft and helped me gain an understanding of the supplies and procedures to continue mokuhanga after the course ended. She went beyond what I was expecting by showing me what supplies I should get, giving me pamphlets for exhibits and shows, and showing thoughtful hospitality. I felt very welcomed and at ease in the space. Mia made sure I had snacks, drinks, and a tasty lunch every day! She made sure the workshop was catered to my goals and supported my artistic vision. There wasn’t a minute wasted and we even explored suminagashi with the extra time we had. Overall it was professional, informational, and a great time! Whether you’re a serious artist, a budding creative, or just looking to experience Japanese culture through art, this workshop is for you! (from USA 20`s)

• I wanted to make sure I wouldn’t lose my beginner’s knowledge of Mokuhanga during my six-month stay in Japan and, if possible, deepen my skills. How fortunate I was to discover Mia’s workshops! The three-day workshop exceeded all my expectations. Mia thoughtfully built on the little experience I already had and, throughout the entire process—from drawing and carving to printing—she skillfully showed me how to develop my techniques further. I especially appreciated her clear explanations of carving and printing techniques, color composition, and the materials used. Mia has a remarkable ability to make this complex and profound art form accessible to people with a wide range of experience levels. She is a wonderful teacher—patient, humorous, genuinely interested in her students, and generous in sharing her extensive knowledge. Her enthusiasm for Mokuhanga is unmistakable and truly contagious. I wholeheartedly recommend Mia’s workshops to anyone interested in learning Mokuhanga! (From Switzerland, 50`s)

• I recently completed a two day mokuhanga workshop with Mia. I was inspired to take a traditional woodblock printing class after encounters with the works of American printmaker Tom Killion and Japanese printmaker Hiroshi Yoshida, who both depict natural landscapes. My background is several years of traditional drawing/painting and more recently, digital illustration. I had very little experience with woodworking and printmaking at the time I took Mia’s workshop. Given the complexity of the printmaking process, I was worried my lack of experience would limit how much I would be able to achieve over the course of just two days. However, this proved not to be a problem as Mia was such a wonderful instructor. I came across Mia’s workshop from an online search and was excited to learn from someone who had an extensive fine arts background and had completed a residence in Japan to learn the technique. I ended up reaching out to book something, though not that far in advance from when I wanted to do the workshop. I was also on the road at the time I reached out, and had very limited flexibility in the time and length of the workshop I could do. However, from the beginning Mia was incredibly accommodating, working with my schedule and gave me a recommendation on course length to get the most out of our time together. She also finished moving her studio faster than she had planned to work with my schedule. Once we had something booked, she was very communicative and checked in with me via WhatsApp. She even came and met me at the bus stop when I arrived. For the workshop, I came with a 3 color/layer design in mind, which was helpful to speed things up the first day. From there, she helped me transfer my design onto the wood, make the registration marks, and get started carving away the negative space. She let me use her tools, as I did not have my own at the time and had visuals for how to form the recessed negative space to avoid unintentionally embossing your paper and undesirable ink spreading when transferring ink to paper later in the process. At the end of the first day we, we also covered different kinds of washi paper and how to prepare it for the ink transfers. Day two was all about ink transfers. She taught me about the process of making baren, which is a weaved bamboo tool for transferring ink. We used different kinds of paper and we had time to try out different colors for some of the layers of my design. She helped me determine which brushes to use for different design sizes. I was very happy with the final prints, which wouldn’t have been possible with Mia’s excellent instruction and deep knowledge of this printmaking technique. Finally, at the end of the workshop, Mia went through some printmaking supply catalogs with me so that I could purchase the tools I needed to continue practicing. I did not have much time in Kyoto to shop, but she gave me recommendations for where I was staying in Tokyo. While I was shopping several days later, she happily answered any questions I had on WhatsApp which was really helpful. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Mia, and learned so much about mokuhanga that I am excited to continue practicing outside of her studio. I would highly recommend her workshop to anyone who is visiting Kyoto. (from USA 20’s)

• I am an artist and educator, living in the United States. I had the unique opportunity to travel to Japan to study Ukiyo-e art genre, learning about the artists that made Ukiyo-e, and how it has evolved as a genre and art form. I was specifically intrigued with woodblock “Mokuhanga” tradition. In preparing for this research, I had the good fortune to meet Mia O. through the recommendation of another print maker.  Given my short stay in Japan, I was limited to taking a two day course with Ms. O. Although it was a short workshop, it provided a lot of information and I was inspired by what I experienced. For me, it was transformative. I am a painter. I love color, light, and the emotions these elements evoke. Taking Mia’s course opened me up to a processes I was unfamiliar with, a process oriented in methods of planning, precision, drawing, and using color as a catalyst for memory and feeling. Learning the technical applications of Mokuhonga through Mia’s workshop was seamless and welcoming. She has an intuitive understanding of what is feasible for the student. She is sensitive and compassionate with her instruction, and offers an authentic response to what the artists intent is. She is charmingly honest and wise. I felt this immediately. If you are an artist, interested in learning Mokuhanga, challenging yourself to broaden your methods and language, I highly recommend Mia O’s Mokuhanga workshop. This workshop will not only challenge you but will introduce new concepts and ideas rooted in woodblock printmaking tradition that will help to broaden and enhance your personal artistic practice. (from USA 40`s)

• I took a two-day Mokuhanga workshop with Mia. It was absolutely fantastic! It was my first experience with woodblock printing, and I loved learning the process and discovering all those beautiful tools and different types of washi paper. Mia is an accomplished artist and an excellent teacher. The two days were intense and packed with information, but it was a real treat. I learned a lot in a relaxed atmosphere, and the knowledge I gained is incredibly valuable for a painter who also practices printmaking. I highly recommend Mia to anyone who is curious, whether you’re an artist or simply passionate about Japanese art techniques. You won’t regret it! (from France 40`s)

• Mia’s workshop was fun and educational. Mia’s knowledge didn’t stop at the carving and printing process but went further into history, materials and tools used in the craft. I was delighted to hear about mulberry paper making and artisanal barens. Mia was already read to satisfy my curiosity, no matter the tangent. What she shared allowed me to see the whole process as an artistic web of interdepence. Thank you Mia for such a fulfilling and soulful experience. (from Portugal 40`s)

• A highlight of my trip to Japan was spending two hands-on days learning Mokuhanga, the beautiful art of Japanese woodblock printing, with Mia O in Kyoto. From carving the blocks to applying ink and creating each print, every step was tactile, rewarding, and thoughtfully guided. Mia was a warm, patient, and knowledgeable teacher who made the process approachable while honoring its rich tradition. She also offered helpful advice and supplies for continuing at home. If you’re visiting Kyoto, I highly recommend taking a class with Mia—it’s an inspiring experience you won’t forget! (from USA, 60’s)

• It has been an honor and the greatest gift to myself to work with Mia in Kyoto. If you’re traveling to Japan and would like to learn more about Mokuhanga woodcut technique, reach out to her! She is an amazing artist. I just know you will love her. (from USA, 40’s)