This brief study based on literature reviews from IUCAT(the Indiana University-Bloomington online library system) describes history, research trends, and examples of prison art therapy in the U.S., one of the leading countries in the field. The results of this study indicate that the American prison art therapy field has been evolving and growing in various ways. There has been continuous support for art therapy as an effective tool and positive influence for inmates in the U.S. Most studies in the literature review have been conducted to explain successful programs, prove their benefits, and introduce new challenges of art therapy for prison inmates. South Korea faces problems similar to other post-industrial societies, such as a gap between the rich and the poor, social polarization, and family issues related to individualism. Accordingly, the increasing inmate population has become a growing concern and there is a need for research and practice of effective correctional interventions such as prison art therapy. However, prison art therapy has recently received little critical attention in South Korea. This study is intended to provide useful information and to suggest future directions for research for South Korean art therapy researchers, art therapists, and correctional systems interested in the field.