Rina Yoon is a Korean-born visual artist whose work explores materiality, process, and transformation through non-traditional printmaking. A retired Professor of Fine Art at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, Yoon earned her BFA from Southern Methodist University and MFA in Printmaking from Washington University in St. Louis. She now lives and works here in Tucson, Arizona.

Yoon’s practice encompasses large-scale prints, paper installations, sculpture, and video, with a focus on slow, intentional processes that invite reflection and meditative engagement. Her work explores themes of resilience, impermanence, and renewal, creating a dialogue between the tactile and conceptual. Whether working with the raw remnants of nature or exploring the interplay of modern and traditional methods, Yoon’s art speaks to the interconnectedness of the human and natural worlds, inspiring contemplation and connection.

Her work has been exhibited throughout the United States and internationally in South Korea, China, India, Italy, and Poland, and is held in public and permanent collections including the Museum of Wisconsin Art, Warehouse Art Museum, Jeonbuk Museum of Art, Gyodong Art Center, Daeseung Hanji Center, and Southern Graphics International.

‘The Paper Path: From Hanji to Papercasting’ traces my journey through paper, shaped by travels to Korea where I studied traditional hanji-making and craft practices. Through immersion in process, repetition, and touch, I came to understand how material itself can guide artistic direction. This experience not only informed my evolving practice, including later explorations in paper casting, but also deepend my connection to my Korean heritage. The talk reflects on how listening to material can open new pathways for making, meaning, and identity.