Three-day program brought exhibitions, open studios, performances and a city-pop concert to Mullae Art Village

The 2026 Mullae Art Festival was held across Mullae Art Village and Yeongdeungpo Art Square in western Seoul from Sept. 18–20.

Mullae developed into an arts district after artists began moving into vacant workshops in the early 2000s. Metalworking businesses and creative studios now operate side by side, giving the neighborhood a landscape distinct from Seoul’s conventional gallery districts.

The festival expanded the former Yeongdeungpo Network Art Festival by using galleries, studios and streets as exhibition and performance venues.

Its “Mullae Hyperlink” program connected six local galleries and work by 61 artists. Additional presentations explored art and technology, small-scale manufacturing and contemporary art.

Ten studios working across glass, ceramics, metal craft and painting participated in the open-studio program. Visitors could observe working spaces and join activities including wheel throwing, lampworking and silk-fan painting.

The street program combined exhibitions, performances and a local market. Japanese singer-songwriter Yasuyuki Horigome headlined the Mullae City Pop Festival, while “SPARK” paired media-facade projections with DJ performances. A large “Bear Balloon” by artist Lim Ji Bin was also installed outdoors.

Visitors could collect keyring parts and stickers while touring participating studios and galleries. Restaurants and cafés taking part in the Mullae X Seonyu Tourism Sale Festa offered discounts of 20 to 30 percent, connecting the festival with businesses surrounding the arts district.

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