Mia Cao
A colorful painting of a dreamlike garden staircase with glowing lanterns and flowers

Secret Garden of Dreams

I'm Mia Cao, a student, artist, and curious creator interested in how art, technology, and new ideas can make a positive difference.

From visual art and AI education to leadership, entrepreneurship, and community projects, this website shares what I'm creating, what I'm learning, and how I'm growing.

Explore My WorkAbout Me

What I'm Into

A quick look at what I care about and keep coming back to.

Selected

Featured Work

2026

Bringing Inclusive AI Learning to Buddy Up

Leading the AI-learning portion of North Star Special Needs Society's Buddy Up program, adapted to each participant's pace and interests.

Inclusive EducationArtificial IntelligenceSpecial Needs
2026

Creating an Inclusive Art Experience through Buddy Up

Designing and leading two art activities for children with autism during a GreenToronto x North Star Buddy Up workshop.

Art LeadershipCurriculum DesignAutism Inclusion
2026★ Award

Scroll Study: From Idea to Prototype

Building an AI-supported app concept that pairs short educational videos with calming visuals, in a two-hour hackathon sprint.

App DevelopmentEntrepreneurshipTeamwork

What I'm Exploring Now

  1. 01

    How AI can make learning more engaging and inclusive.

  2. 02

    How art activities can help younger children build confidence.

  3. 03

    How an idea becomes a useful product through research, prototyping, and feedback.

  4. 04

    How leadership changes when different learners need different kinds of support.

Along the Way

Mia drawing at her desk with colored pencils
Mia hand-painting a design onto a hoodie
Mia holding her painting Secret Garden of Dreams
Mia working on nail art and jewelry crafts at her desk
Mia jumping to serve during a volleyball game
Mia leading a paper-craft activity with a young child at a community event
Mia working on nail art at her desk
Mia leading an activity with a group at a Lorvale Clubs event
Mia face-painting a Sonic the Hedgehog design on a child's face
Mia being filmed for an interview at an event
Mia sitting at a workshop table with a laptop
Mia and teammates on stage after a Scroll Study achievement award
Mia face-painting a child's face at an outdoor community event
Mia helping a child with a craft activity at a table
Mia on an award ceremony stage holding a bouquet of flowers
Mia face-painting a child's cheek at an event table
Mia posing with a young boy holding a red paper craft
Mia's volleyball team posing together after a game
Mia helping a child in a red hoodie with a craft activity
Mia and teammates receiving the People's Choice Award for Green Toronto
Mia setting the ball during a volleyball game
Mia and other teen delegates on stage at an OTLF Great Teenagers Great Canada event
Mia standing beside one of her paintings, an arched nighttime courtyard scene
Mia at the Canada Youth Club Summit, holding a folder
A close-up of young Mia painting an abstract piece in orange, black, and blue stripes
A still-life painting of orange flowers with white blossoms in a dark blue vase
Orange flowers in a blue vase
A painting of a stacked jack-o'-lantern character wearing a witch hat, holding a broom, under a full moon
Jack-o'-lantern under a full moon
A young Mia holding a paper-plate craft hat decorated with a flower and ribbon, with her name written on it
A watercolor and ink painting of a girl in a red sweater holding a red envelope, sitting with a dog, surrounded by plum blossoms
Lunar New Year with the dog
A young Mia holding a detailed coloring page of two owls that she colored in
A young Mia in a party dress lying on the floor coloring a drawing
A close-up of a young Mia kneeling on the floor coloring a drawing
A young Mia in a birthday crown holding up a charcoal portrait drawing of a man with a mustache
Portrait study in charcoal
A young Mia in a painting smock at an easel in an art studio, surrounded by other children's paintings on the walls
A young Mia smiling and playing a handmade cardboard guitar craft with rubber-band strings
A young Mia coloring in a fairy-themed numbers activity book by a window
A young Mia painting with a watercolor palette at a small table by a window
A young Mia drawing with colored pencils at an outdoor patio table
Mia holding a landscape painting of tall pine trees on a rocky shore under a blue sky, standing in a school hallway
Pines on the shore
A young Mia painting a sunset scene at a table in an art class, with framed portrait paintings hanging on the wall behind her
A young Mia at a children's activity table in a library, drawing on a wooden maze board next to a toy giraffe
A young Mia painting at a table during an outdoor community art event
A painting of two moored rowboats, one yellow and one red, reflected on calm blue harbor water
A young Mia smiling and holding her still-life painting of orange flowers in a blue vase
A pencil drawing of a rabbit's head and shoulders, signed Mia
A young Mia smiling and holding her sunset-toned painting of a sloth titled "Sloth"
A pencil drawing of a ballet pointe shoe on pointe, with ribbons wrapped around the ankle
A painting of a pumpkin in a grassy patch under a splattered, star-filled night sky
A pencil drawing of two black binder clips in close study
A colored pencil close-up portrait of a black-and-white long-haired cat's face
A painting of a girl releasing a glowing sky lantern into a night sky filled with floating lanterns and stars
A digital illustration of a girl in a red spotted mushroom-cap hat, holding a mushroom-themed phone case
A pencil drawing of an ornate antique key styled as a dragonfly with detailed wings
A young Mia holding her painting of windswept pine trees on a rocky island
A still-life painting of a silver pitcher, oranges, mini pumpkins, a pinecone, and a teacup on blue and pink cloth
A painting of tall ships moored in a harbor, reflected in calm water, with a hillside town in the distance
A colored pencil drawing of a bird perched on a flowering branch
A colored pencil collage of a badminton racquet and shuttlecock, an ice cream cone, strawberries, and candy
A detailed ink line drawing of a staircase and landing decorated for Christmas, with a tree, garland, and stockings
A colored pencil anatomical study of a pair of legs and feet in iridescent tones
An abstract pastel-toned painting of a sunset over the ocean with two small sailboats
A mixed-media magazine clipping collage combining a fashion model, the Eiffel Tower, and fashion brand logos
A textured mixed-media abstract ocean painting in blue and green with real seashells embedded in gold sand
A pencil drawing of a surreal fly-like creature with a round balloon-shaped body
A pencil drawing of four pieces of cutlery reimagined as sea creatures — a fish-headed knife, an octopus fork, a fish spoon, and a squid knife
A surreal pencil drawing of a melting pocket watch dissolving into a flock of birds
A detailed pencil drawing of a bee in close study, showing its wings, legs, and fuzzy body
A still-life painting of a dark vase, apples, a knife, and a glass on a red and yellow cloth
A still-life painting of pink lilies in a blue-and-white patterned vase, with fruit on the table beside it
A charcoal study of draped white fabric, focused on the folds and shadows
A pencil drawing of a classical marble bust wearing a backwards baseball cap, layered with streetwear brand logos
A stylized painted portrait of a girl with a large rounded head, long dark hair, and gold jewelry, against a pink background
A painting of a flower-covered Mediterranean terrace overlooking the sea, with a large red octopus on the path
A graphite still-life drawing of feathers, a corked jug, a wine glass, and a bowl of apples on a cutting board
An expressive close-up painting of a face with one wide eye, colorful streaked hair, and a dripping paint effect
A surreal graphite drawing of a coffee grinder with beans, a cloth napkin, and a rolled paper towel in a fragmented, cubist-style composition
A colored pencil landscape of a highland field at sunset, with a grazing sheep and a hooded figure resting by a stone wall
A charcoal drawing of a mourning angel statue with large feathered wings, kneeling with head bowed
A painting of a flower-lined stone archway courtyard reflected in still water
A painting looking through tropical foliage and flowers down a sandy path toward the ocean at dusk
A painting of Totoro holding an umbrella under a Van Gogh Starry Night-style sky, fan art in Mia's own hand
A graphite still-life drawing of a cloth-covered jar, a wheel of cheese, and a piece of ginger root
A detailed ink drawing of an old stone stairway and alley with balconies, doors, and hanging plants