Studio Sessions –– Minneapolis Institute of Art
photo of an artist painting. One hand is holding a paint brush over a canvas of yellow, blue, and green hues, and the other hand is holding a plate with paints on it.

Studio Sessions

Move over Van Gogh, there’s a new artist in town! Engage your creative side during Mia Studio Sessions.

Studio Sessions are Mia’s art classes and workshops that offer experienced artmakers and curious novices alike the opportunity to create projects inspired by Mia’s collection and special exhibitions. Each Studio Sessions class features a different subject or medium to explore, and you’ll walk away with expanded knowledge and skills, plus a personal work of art. The only prerequisites for this class are curiosity and an open mind.

Registration required. Registration opens one month in advance.

We offer a limited number of scholarships to welcome all learners to Studio Sessions; please email us for scholarship information.

Questions? Email us.


Upcoming Sessions

October 4 | Intro to Relief Printing

Learn introductory relief printing skills and produce multiple copies of an image! You’ll have dedicated time to carve designs into blocks that you’ll then coat in ink and stamp onto paper. Discover how you can create multiple copies of an image from a single block. No experience with printmaking is required.

October 25 | Abstract Landscapes

Inspired by “José María Velasco: A View of Mexico,” this workshop invites you to explore the body as a landscape. Using soft pastels combined with Cheetos cheese powder, teaching artist Alondra Garza will guide you to create vibrant, unconventional drawings that transform close-up poses of the human figure into imagined landscape sceneries.

This class is offered in Spanish.

November 23 | Create Your Own Sketchbook

Join teaching artist Savannah Bustillo to bind your own sketchbook! Together, we’ll learn two variations on a long stitch: a decorative binding that works for thick or thin soft-cover sketchbooks in a variety of sizes. You’ll leave the class with two complete blank sketchbooks. Please note, this class is an introductory bookbinding class open to all skill levels. You’ll use needles to sew and other handheld tools to complete this project.

Tickets on sale October 23.

December 6 | Stencil Monoprinting

Create dynamic, layered prints in this introductory stencil monoprint class with teaching artist and printmaker Gabi Estrada. This technique features cutting different shapes and designs out of paper as your print matrix. You’ll then layer different colors of ink and collage your stencils onto plexiglass before running them through an etching press to develop your print. Experiment with creating multiples and enjoy the variations that you can achieve each time you print.

Tickets on sale November 6.

December 11 | Drawing Animals

Draw your favorite animal or pet with teaching artist Sophia Weisensel. The session starts with a look at animal-focused art in Mia’s collection. Then, we’ll head to the studio to begin drawing our animals in graphite and pen! You’ll learn how to draw features like fur and feathers, expressive eyes, light, and movement. Feel free to bring your own reference photo of an animal or follow along with the teacher’s selection.

Tickets on sale November 11.