Mihai Ciupe is a scenographer and educator originally from Romania. He received his MFA in Set and Costume Design from Carnegie Mellon University and his BFA from the Art and Design University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Before coming to the United States, he served as resident scenographer at the National Theatre of Cluj and collaborated with major theatre and opera companies throughout Romania and Europe. His work includes long-standing collaborations with directors such as Gábor Tompa, Alexandru Dabija, Mihai Măniuțiu, and Victor Ioan Frunză.

Since 1999 he has been part of the faculty of the University of Florida School of Theatre and Dance, where he helped develop the graduate program in scenic design while continuing an active professional practice in theatre and opera design in the United States and Europe.

His work explores the relationship between performative space, atmosphere, composition, and the emergence of meaning through live performance.