Art is about expressing your individuality, but you can also make something pretty incredible when people pool their talents. Regardless of whether you are into painting, sculpture, doodling, or mosaics, there is truly something for everyone on this list. Some art ideas incorporate nature while others are messy enough to warrant a little outdoor time. These collaborative art projects work for kids, teens, and adults alike while providing results everyone can be proud of!
1. Embellish your thumbprints
Art projects like this one are so cute and simple yet so impressive! Each child simply makes a thumbprint on a small piece of paper, then turns it into a face with black marker. Finally, assemble them into a rainbow collage and frame the impressive results.
Learn more: @art.teacher.thats.me
2. Stack pom-poms into a tree
Yarn pom-poms are easy to make and are also an excellent way to use up scraps of yarn. Have each student contribute one or a few, then glue them to a Styrofoam form to make a sweet little tree.
Learn more: Pom-Pom Christmas Tree
3. Layer a drip mural
Kids will surely find Jen Stark’s colorful art exciting and inspiring. For this collaborative art project, have them each make their own “drip” piece, then layer them together for one big finished mural.
Learn more: Jen Stark–Inspired Mural
4. Line the hall with tile silhouettes
Art project ideas that help beautify outdoor spaces are some of our favorites. This is also a cool way to commemorate a graduating class. Cut out wood silhouettes, then have students make colorful clay tiles to fill them.
Learn more: @msrobertsartroom
5. Paint with trains
What could be more fun than creating a collaborative art piece with toys? Let kids’ imaginations run wild while driving toy trains across piles of bright-colored paint on a large canvas.
Learn more: Painting With Trains on Canvas
6. Cut out a cityscape
This collaborative project builds on individual city skylines that kids draw first. Then, they each choose their favorite building and add it to a larger cityscape.
Learn more: @msfordesclassroom
7. Collaborate on canvas
Let colorful patterns offset the letters of a word or phrase that’s meaningful to your students so it really pops off the page. Start by painting the letters, then let kids add the colors and patterns. Finish by fixing any edges where they’ve gone over the lines (because you know they will!).
Learn more: School Name Mural
8. Fill a giant flower vase
Art ideas for middle school lessons often take inspiration from famous artists. Channel your students’ inner Vincent van Gogh and have them create a beautiful impressionist paper flower. Then cut out a large paper vase, attach it to a bulletin board or wall, and fill it with all the gorgeous blooms!
Learn more: An Overview of Projects
9. Illustrate the ABCs
First, have each student take a letter and draw or paint something to represent it. We especially love how this example incorporates students’ handprints and fingerprints.
Learn more: School Auction Classroom Projects
10. Cover a wall with butterflies
These pretty butterflies will inspire kids to dream higher. During this project, each student creates their own paper butterfly. Then, they are assembled to form a true flight of fancy.
Source: Primary Schools
11. Paint with bouncy balls
Before getting started with this fun collaborative art project, set up a cardboard box with tall sides with either paper or canvases inside. Then set up different-colored paints in muffin tins so each color has its own slot. Finally, give your students balls that they can dip in the paint and drop onto the paper in the box. Be sure to do this project on a nice day since you’ll definitely want to keep this mess outside.
Learn more: Bouncy Ball Painting: Summer Art for Kids
12. Bring tiles together into one great work
Some art project ideas like this one will take some time and planning, but the end result will be worth it. Students choose a subject then break it down into individual canvases, each done in their own style. When it’s reassembled, you get magnificently unique artwork to display for years to come.
Learn more: Grade 9 Collaborative Art Project
13. Sculpt a ceramic tile mural
This type of collaborative art project requires a little more work, but the results are stunning. Choose a different theme for each class or year, and soon you’ll have an amazing collection on display.
Learn more: Kimmy Cantrell Inspired Ceramic Tile Mural
14. Paint a river of rocks
Painted rocks are all the rage these days, but we love the way the students at Sharon Elementary are displaying their work. This river of painted rocks is everything that makes collaborative art so effective since it incorporates individual creativity into a harmonious whole.
Learn more: Every Single Student Paints One Rock for the Coolest Elementary Art Project Ever
15. Paint a shower curtain
Be sure to check the weather forecast since you will definitely want to do this messy (but fun) project outside. Use heavy-duty twine to hang your shower curtain from a tree branch, then use some heavy rocks to weigh down the curtain. Finally, give your kids paint and paintbrushes and watch the creativity soar!
Learn more: The Best Summer Activity: Shower Curtain Painting
16. Chain together paper hearts
What better way to show how united your students are than with a chain of connected hearts! Each kid decorates a paper strip and then they’re attached together to form big, bold hearts.
Learn more: My Paper Heart Chain
17. Assemble an altered puzzle
Find an old puzzle at the thrift store—look for the kind meant for young kids, with 25 or 30 large pieces. Have each child customize a piece, then assemble them into one striking collaborative art piece.
Learn more: The Altered Puzzle
18. String up wall art
How cool is this? String art is making a comeback, and these big leaves are so fun for kids to create. Not allowed to make holes in the wall? Try using pushpins on a bulletin board instead.
Learn more: String Art Wall/Fall Festival Art Installation
19. Soar off on unique feathered wings
Have each student create a paper feather using watercolors, then assemble them into wings. This makes for a terrific photo op!
Learn more: 28 of the Best Group Art Projects
20. Grow a paper forest
From a distance, the forest blends together, but when you get up close, every tree is unique. Make different styles of paper trees, then put them together for a walk in the woods!
Learn more: The Magical Forest
21. Upcycle a plastic bottle cap mosaic
When students recycle their plastic bottles, have them save the caps in a separate container. Then, use them to create colorful mosaics like this cheery frog. (Get more craft projects made with recycled materials here.)
Learn more: Caps Mosaic
22. Doodle, doodle, doodle
Regardless of artistic ability, doodle projects provide the perfect opportunity for kids to just let themselves go. The real fun comes as they laugh and chatter while they work.
Learn more: The Power and Purpose of Doodling
23. Get inspired by nature
Art project ideas that also double as a science lesson are definitely on the top of our list! Get outside with your students and have them collect sticks, leaves, pine cones, and whatever else they come up with so they can arrange them collaboratively into a natural art piece.
Learn more: Wild Art To Make With Kids
24. Fold your way to a paper crane mobile
Folding the traditional Japanese paper crane is a soothing activity, once you get the hang of it. Ancient legend promises peace and happiness to those who fold 1,000 of these paper birds. Your students don’t have to fold that many, but once they get going, they might surprise you!
Learn more: How To Help Your Students Collaborate on Big Projects
25. Cook up pizza pillows
Sewing is a great skill for kids to learn, so these pizza pillows will be a great place to start. The nice thing about this collaborative art project is that every student can take their part of it home at the end of the year.
Learn more: In the Art Room: Fourth Grade Pizza Pillows
26. Form a fascinating fish
Turn paper plates into fish scales and have each student decorate one. Use the scales to create a 3D fish (see how it’s done at the link below).
Learn more: Kindergarten Collaborative Friendship Fish
27. Set up a weaving station
The concept is simple: a large picture frame wound with warp threads and a basket of yarn nearby. Teach kids the basics of weaving, and they’re off! This collaborative art project is a creative way to occupy kids who finish other activities early.
Learn more: TAB-Choice Art at McAuliffe Elementary
28. Team up to bedazzle a stool
Since a stool is not the same as a large canvas, this collaborative art project is best done in small groups. Have one or two students at a time paint a small section of the stool. Once the base layer is dry, decoupage some magazine cut-outs of words. Finally, have some older students neaten things up before calling it done!
Learn more: Decoupaged Stool and Romero Britto Inspired Hearts Canvas
29. Go big with a weaving wall
Take weaving to a whole new level with chicken wire and fabric strips. This makes for a spectacular display down a long school hallway.
Learn more: Collaborative Weaving
30. Craft a paper quilt
In this collaborative mural, students cut out and bedeck a paper circle. Then they cut it into fourths and arrange it however they like on a square of paper. Assemble all the squares into a big quilt-like mural.
Learn more: 4th and 5th Collaborative Geometric Mural
31. Create a crayon mosaic
Art project ideas that recycle otherwise unusable objects are undoubtedly some of our favorites. Save all those stubby ends of crayons that no one wants to use and turn them into a vibrant mural. Remove the paper and trim them to the appropriate size with scissors, then glue them into place on your desired design.
Learn more: Crayon Mosaic
32. Piece together a holiday tree
Everyone needs art ideas to implement in their classroom during the holiday season. Give each student a triangle in varying shades of green and let them decorate them to their liking. Be sure to provide plenty of pom-poms, glitter, gems, markers, etc., so they can really personalize them. Finally, piece them all together to create a large triangular tree and add a star on the top and a stem on the bottom.
Learn more: Triangle Tree
33. Weave a collection of circle art
The secret to this stunning collaborative art project? Upcycled CDs! CD weaving is easy to learn and lots of fun to do. The result of the assembled pieces is sure to draw oohs and aahs.
Learn more: Update on the Weaving Project
34. Roll along with paper coils
This collaborative art project is perfect for using up scraps of paper. Coil strips into tubes and glue down the ends. Then arrange them into whatever design your students fancy.
Learn more: 4 Engaging End of the Year Projects To Keep You Sane
35. Look up for decorated ceiling tiles
We love art ideas that help pep up an otherwise boring classroom ceiling. Take a note from this one that uses bright graphics to draw the eye toward the stellar artwork. Take the tiles down, flip them over, and work on the back (these are done in chalk and sealed with hairspray). Finally, put them back up when you’re done.
Learn more: A Chalked Ceiling Event
36. Show off with a street-art-inspired mural
Before beginning this collaborative art project, give your students an art history lesson on street artist ThankYOuX. Kids customize their own cube, then all join together to make one amazing mural.
Learn more: Cube Mural Inspired by Street Artist Thank YouX
37. Pencil in a collaborative art display
Try this project at the end of the year when everyone’s pencils are worn down to nothing anyway. Kids will love experimenting with different patterns and shapes. When they find one they like, glue the pencils into place.
Learn more: Colored Pencil Leftovers
38. Head outside with some sidewalk chalk
Kids learn to cooperate when they have to share a space to create their masterpiece. Fortunately, sidewalk chalk is pretty forgiving since mistakes are inevitable.
Learn more: Diwali Rangoli Art From India: Chalk + Colored Sand
39. Go geometric with watercolors
Let students experiment with watercolors, then cut out and assemble geometric shapes (this teacher used a Cricut to simplify things).
Learn more: Watercolor Hexagons
40. Decorate and arrange craft sticks
Teachers will love this art project since you can get all the supplies you need at the dollar store. Each student paints a wooden craft stick, then they’re arranged into an eye-catching display.
Learn more: The One with the Art Project
41. Branch out in style
This collaborative art project is not just inspired by nature, it also incorporates nature into its design. Before beginning, find a long branch with an appealing shape. Have kids paint and decorate it, then display it in your classroom.
Learn more: A Painted Branch/Collaborative Art with Kids
42. Decorate a spring wall
Experiment with some cool watercolor techniques to create the flower petals and oh-so-adorable creatures that bring this springtime wall to life. You can change the scope of the project based on how many kids you have working on this collaborative art project.
Learn more: Spring Art for Kids: Spring-Themed DIY Wall Art
43. Make a shoebox mansion
Save all those Amazon boxes and put them to good use while creating a one-of-a-kind shoebox mansion. Give kids lots of options like paper, glue, Popsicle sticks, markers, etc., so they can personalize their own room in the mansion. Your students (and you) will have so much fun seeing it all come together!
Learn more: Shoebox Mansion
44. Piece together a tape mural
You’ll definitely need a lot of painter’s tape to make this one happen, but the end result will be worth it. Give students access to a hallway wall and endless rolls of tape, and watch the creativity get unleashed.
45. Collaborate with toothpicks
The possibilities for this fun and collaborative sculpture are endless. Give kids lots of marshmallows and toothpicks and show them how to piece them together into a variety of shapes. Once everyone has created their individual sculptures, join them together into one larger one. You’ll definitely want to have some extra marshmallows on hand for snacking!
46. Control one marker together
This is really the ultimate collaborative art project since everyone is literally drawing together. Tie several strings to one marker and then lay out a piece of paper for your artists. Give them a task such as drawing a house or park. We think this will really get everyone on one page (literally!).
Learn more: Inside the Classroom: Collaborative Art Project
47. Ride the art roller coaster
Let your little artists create their own swirling designs before piecing them together. Once all lined up, they will form a fun, whirling roller coaster!
Learn more: Rainbow Roller Coaster
48. Get spooky and collaborative
The teacher in this post used this idea to create a Halloween tree, but we think you could amend it for any holiday/season. Grab a fake tree with a lot of branches and then let your students decorate it with ribbons, feathers, beads, etc. It’s a fun way to get everyone involved in creating classroom decor.
Learn more: Halloween Tree
49. Create with odds and ends
Ask your students and friends to collect all kinds of paper tubes, boxes, and other odds and ends in the weeks before doing this project. Gather everything together and supply your students with glue, paint, and tape and see what they create. Their imaginations will stun you as they create a whole world from scraps. The children in this video have a whole story connected to what they’ve designed.
50. Paint with veggies
Since most kids don’t love eating veggies, maybe they will like painting with them instead! Roll out some white paper, set out some washable paint, and then let kids try making paint stamps using different types of vegetables.
Learn more: Painting With Vegetables
What are your favorite collaborative art projects to do in the classroom? Come and share your ideas in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Plus, get ideas for great auction art projects!
