Natural Dyes: Visual Storytelling, Cultural Studies & Art Practices

Program by Rosa Chang

Program Overview

The lecture will conclude with an interactive Q&A session, offering space for dialogue and exchange.

About the Artist

Rosa Chang’s work explores the relationship between humans and the natural world through materials, process, and community engagement. Drawing inspiration from natural environments, she creates across diverse forms, mediums, and scales. Her current practice focuses on sharing the cultural significance of Korean and Asian traditional indigo and natural dye processes through workshops, teaching, and cross-cultural exchange.

Rosa currently teaches at institutions including the Maryland Institute College of Art and the School of Visual Arts, New York, and serves as Executive Director of Hand Papermaking, Inc., a nonprofit publication dedicated to advancing traditional and contemporary practices in hand papermaking.

In May 2023, she released her debut picture book, My Indigo World, which she both wrote and illustrated. The book has received widespread acclaim, including recognition as a 2023 New York Public Library Best Book and a 2024 NSTA–CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book. It was also named to the Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List, the 2024 CCBC Choices list, Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of 2024, and selected as Maryland’s 2024 “Great Reads from Great Places” Library of Congress Children’s Book for the National Book Festival. You can also view a feature about Rosa on CBS Mornings: Korean-born artist passes along centuries-old dye tradition to Maryland art students.

 Artist’s website: Indigo Shade Map and Rosaful Garden (Art website)

Connect with Us