Mia Nel

Mia Nel was born in the rural part of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and is a third-generation artist. She earned her degree in graphic design and illustration from the University of Stellenbosch before embarking upon a multi-decade design career, working mainly in London and Hong Kong.

Since moving to Hong Kong more than a decade ago, she has been exploring the visual language of her adopted home, focusing on the expressive possibilities of ink painting and brush calligraphy. To this well-established tradition, she has brought her experiences of colour, pattern, and symbols, as used in the visual language of her African heritage.

As the exploration of her fusion of traditions continues to evolve, Mia has begun extending beyond her use of traditional media, using sugar as a medium of creativity. Born out of a pandemic experiment, her recent work applies her ink and brush techniques onto royal icing sculptures preserved in resin.

Instagram: @mianelart

Website: Mia Nel