Una Kim is an Adjunct Professor in the Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design at Portland State University. Born and raised in South Korea, she immigrated to Los Angeles at sixteen. She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California and a graduate degree from the Parsons School of Design in New York.
As a dedicated educator and practitioner within PSU’s Art Practice program, Professor Kim specializes in painting, drawing, watercolor, and "Murals A–Z." Her professional influence is visible throughout the region; she has completed several large-scale murals in the Portland area and has been recognized with numerous public art grants and commissions. Beyond the classroom, she serves as the President of the Oregon Chapter of the Women’s Caucus for Art and has completed the Harts Artist Residency through Portland Community College, where she also teaches.
Professor Kim’s work has been exhibited successfully on both national and international stages. However, her most profound insights often come from her dual role as both teacher and learner. For several years, she has continued to take classes alongside her teaching load, providing her with a contemporary, first-hand perspective of the student experience. This unique commitment to lifelong learning fosters a deep sense of empathy for the challenges today’s students face, directly informing her pedagogy and making her a more compassionate, effective instructor.