Art Activities for Kids to Learn About Famous Artists

Teach your kids about these 14 famous artists and create a few fun craft projects and art activities inspired by their works.

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The best way for kids to learn about artists is to create projects inspired by their work. We’ve compiled a list that includes a mix of 14 artists from the past 2 centuries, as well as some fun activities to do with your kids.

For simplicity, we focused primarily on different painting styles. But of course, art is subjective and includes everything from sculpture and architecture to photography and fashion – and dozens of other mediums. Many of the activities take inspiration from paintings and apply it to craft materials.

If you’re looking for a fun and age-appropriate way to introduce these artists to your kids, we adore the “Who Was?” book series. There are almost 200 books in this series and they include famous figures throughout history.

Claude Monet

Claude Monet (1840-1926) was a French impressionist painter who loved nature. His best-known works include numerous variations of water lilies.

• Try finger painting a water scene at The Crafty Classroom.
• Projects with Kids combines watercolors and oil pastels as a medium for water lilies.
• Create a Monet-inspired masterpiece with tips from Messy Little Monsters.

Vincent VanGogh

Vincent VanGogh (1853-1890) was a Dutch post-impressionist painter, now most famous for his Starry Night painting. Many of his paintings have a similar color palette that includes blue, green, and yellow shades.

• Recreate Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” using coffee filters on canvas, via Amy Latta Creations.
• At The Crafty Classroom, preschoolers will enjoy making “Starry Night” artwork using glue and chalk pastels.
• Forks make an unusual art tool that looks amazing on the Van Gogh style paintings, via Projects with Kids.

Wassily Kandinsky

Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) was a Russian painter. He is generally considered the founder of abstract art and many of his paintings revolve around music concepts.

• Spend a summer day collecting smooth stones to paint, like these Kandinsky inspired painted rocks at Arty Crafty Kids.
• Mum in the Mad House uses felt to create Kandinsky inspired trees.
• Use up all those odd beads in your craft stash to make Kandisnky bead circles, via Messy Little Monsters.

Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse (1869-1954) was a French painter, printmaker, and sculptor best known for the bright colors in his artwork. His style is called Fauvism.

• Even the youngest kids can enjoy art in this Matisse-themed sensory bin, via Playground Park Bench.
• Make a Matisse mural using cut paper, via Pink Stripey Socks.
• Fill the windows with Matisse-style sun catchers from Creative Family Fun.

Piet Mondrian

Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) was a Dutch painter and abstract artist. His most iconic work uses geometric lines and shapes in blue, red, and yellow.

• Create Mondrian-inspired sun catchers, via Rainy Day Mum.
• Color a few Mondrian bookmarks like Crafty Kids at Home.
• This preschool art project at Learning and Exploring Through Play is unique.

Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was a Spanish painter and sculptor. He’s known as one of the founders of Cubism, a style that breaks a subject into pieces and reassembles it in an abstract image.

• Do a portrait art project in the style of Picasso like 123 Homeschool for Me.
• Teach your kids about cubism with tips and a fun cubism art project from The Pinterested parent.
• Make silly Picasso face ornaments that could easily be made into magnets, via Kids Activities Blog.

Georgia O’Keeffe

Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) was a modern American painter. Her artwork commonly features large flowers and southwestern landscapes.

• Recreate O’Keeffe’s poppy paintings, via Learning and Exploring Through Play.
• Painted Paper Art has a creative way for older kids to make skull paintings using their names.
• Paint flowers in the style of Georgia O’Keeffe, via Art Bar.

Alma Woodsey Thomas

Alma Woodsey Thomas (1891-1978) was an African-American artist and teacher. Her work often features colorful abstract designs.

• Recreate Thomas’s unique painting style, via Art Projects for Kids.
• Visit Woo Jr. to learn how to paint a color field.
• Little kids will love making bubble wrap painting, from Little Bins for Little Hands.

Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was a Mexican painter best recognized for her self-portraits and folk art style.

• Make a paper Frida Kahlo portrait at Sugar Spice and Glitter.
• Learn how to make shadow boxes at Crafty Chica.
• Older kids will adore this cute Frida Kahlo paper doll craft at The Inspiration Edit.

Salvador Dali

Salvador Dali (1909-1984) was a Spanish surrealist whose work is easily recognized for its bizarre imagery. Though his work is full of strange images that invite interpretation, Dali was influenced by politics and religion. He also wrote a book and participated in theater, fashion, and photography.

• Make your own Dali melting clocks with The Pinterested Parent.
• Kids will get a kick out of these long-legged clay sculptures, via Amy Latta Creations.
• Cassie Stephens has a fun idea for making Salvador Dali portraits, complete with zany moustache.

Jackson Pollock

Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) was an American abstract expressionist painter. He used a creative dancing style to splash paint on a horizontal canvas to create his works.

• Make splatter art using Pollock’s signature technique, via The Resourceful Mama.
• Projects with Kids has a creative twist to make splatter art trees for all the seasons.
• Get creative with your art supplies and use recycled squeeze bottles for painting like Hello Wonderful.

Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol (1928-1987) was an American artist and film director. He was the leading creator of pop art, a style that explored the relationship between advertising, celebrity, and art, and is possibly the source of the phrase “15 minutes of fame.”

• Recreate Warhol’s flower paintings using a fun stamping technique, via Art History Kids.
• Grab some Andy Warhol-style art templates from The Crafty Classroom.
• Red Ted Art uses mixed media to create Andy Warhol portraits.

Yayoi Kusama

Kusama Yayoi (1929-present) is a contemporary artist known for her sculptures, installations, and colorful painting style covered in polka dots. She lives in Japan and her work is inspired by abstract impressionism.

• Use modeling clay to make polka dot pumpkins, via Fantastic Fun and Learning.
• Learn how to craft these flowers that bloom at night from Lotta Magazine.
• Build an obliteration room like Meri Cherry Art.

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean-Michael Basquiat (1960-1988) was a Haitian-American artist and part of the Neo-expressionism movement. Starting as a graffiti artist, he achieved fame at a young age. His art uses lots of colors to emphasize contrasts of wealth vs. poverty and integration vs. segregation.

• Try this easy beginning Basquiat art project at Woo Jr.
• Create a self portrait in the style of Basquiat, via Little Bins for Little Hands.
• Make Basquiat cardboard crowns at Art Camp.

If your kids enjoy these art activities, dig deeper into the artists who inspire them. Other artists we would love to see activities based around include Norman Rockwell, Maurice Sendak, Banksy, Faith Ringgold, and Keith Haring.

More fun ideas from Backyard Summer Camp:

• Creative Pencil Shaving Art for Kids
• 25 Summer Art Activities for Kids
• 15 Mindfulness Activities for Kids and Families