25 Collaborative Art Projects for Groups Big and Small

Art is about expressing your individuality, but you can also make something pretty incredible when people pool their talents. Group art projects give kids a chance to work together, putting their strengths to work.

We’ve partnered with some of our favorite Instagram art teachers to bring you this collection of project ideas. We’re always amazed by the vivid yearly collaborative art projects that Briana Dams of @art.party.with.ms.d plans and produces—they’re especially impressive when you realize that her artists are in kindergarten and 1st and 2nd grades!

For Lauralee of @2art.chambers, collaborative art often comes down more to the way she displays her students’ work. The key is using coordinating colors and designs that make a cohesive whole when you put them all together. Then, it’s just a matter of hanging everything where it can be appreciated.

This collection of collaborative art projects works for kids, teens, and adults alike while providing results everyone can be proud of. Whether you’re into painting, sculpture, doodling, or mosaics, there’s truly something for everyone on this list. For additional inspo, drop by our partners’ Instagram accounts for photos, lesson plans, and more!

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This bundle contains art portfolio cover sheets for preschool to grade 5, as well as a template that works for any grade. You also get an art project planning sheet and an artist study worksheet.

art portfolio template examples — We Are Teachers

Why Collaborative Art Projects Matter

Primary art teacher Briana Dams (@art.party.with.ms.d) installs a new collaborative art project at her school each year. “I love that the arts allow students to express themselves while teaching real-world skills: creative problem-solving, seeing a task from start to finish, turning an idea into something tangible, and gaining an understanding of success and failure,” she shares. “Art can be integrated into all subjects to boost engagement and confidence, which I’ve found is especially impactful for students who may struggle with core academics.”

Briana knows the importance of excitement and collaboration. “When students are genuinely excited about a project, their motivation follows. I have found that this enthusiasm helps them persevere through challenges that might otherwise discourage them.

“Art also fosters kindness and empathy by introducing other cultures, customs and traditions, encouraging students to form connections with perspectives different from their own,” she notes. My goal is to encourage students to become kind, creative thinkers and problem solvers inside the art room and out.”

Check out Briana’s collaborative art projects along with those from Lauralee Chambers and several other amazing art influencers below!

Collaborative Art Projects

Kindness Quilt

How many words related to kindness can you find in these paper quilt blocks? What an amazing display for your school hallway!

Learn more: Kindness Quilt

Collaborative art mat made up of individual interlocking blocks decorated with stylistic dots — Courtesy of @2art.chambers

Dot Day Mat

Interconnecting foam blocks are the perfect blank canvas for a collaborative art project. Lauralee took inspiration from artist Wassily Kandinsky and made this mat for International Dot Day!

Learn more: Dot Day Mat

Egg carton segments painted and arranged to form a large heart and the word love — Courtesy of @2art.chambers

Egg Carton Mural

Ask students to bring in empty egg cartons and cut them apart into individual segments. Let each student decorate one with paints or other media, then assemble them to form a mural.

Learn more: Egg Carton Mural

Students holding individual paper flowers to form a collaborative bouquet — Courtesy of @2art.chambers

Paper Flower Bouquet

These flowers come together in a snap from paper plates and Kwik Stix paint sticks. Assemble them all together for a massive school bouquet!

Learn more: Paper Flowers

Plate of star-shaped cookies made from clay — Courtesy of @2art.chambers

Clay Cookies

What a fun holiday display! Use cookie cutters to create the individual star cookies from clay, then decorate with clay toppings. Pile them all together on a big dish, but don’t be tempted to nibble!

Learn more: Clay Cookies

Large paper turkey with each feather painted with the word thank you in a different language — Courtesy of @2art.chambers

Thankful Turkey

Embrace the many cultures that make up America with this amazing collaborative art idea! Students can choose a language that’s important to their family, or research the languages spoken in your area, past and present. “We know that Thanksgiving is an American tradition, but saying thank you and being grateful matters no matter where you are anytime,” notes Lauralee.

Learn more: Thankful Turkey

Geometric paper quilt blocks in a rainbow of colors — Courtesy of @2art.chambers

Rainbow Paper Quilt

These geometric quilt blocks allow each student to be creative while still coming together in a cohesive display. Consider having each class work in one color palette so they can see themselves represented in smaller teams that are part of a bigger whole.

Learn more: Rainbow Paper Quilt

Student looping purple yarn around nails arranged in a heart shape — Courtesy of @2art.chambers

Collaborative String Art

String art is always a hit with kids. Turn it into a collaborative project with a big design, then let students take turns weaving layer upon layer.

Learn more: Collaborative String Art

Children using bottles of colored sand to create a mural together — Courtesy of @2art.chambers

Colored Sand Painting

Based on the ancient sand paintings of Tibetan monks, this collaborative project doubles as a mindful meditation exercise. Tip: Place the sand in small squeeze bottles for more control.

Learn more: Colored Sand Painting

Wall of paper pinwheels made by students for International Peace Day — Courtesy of @2art.chambers

Pinwheel Wall

Lauralee’s students created these pinwheels for an International Day of Peace display. If you have the space outdoors (and cooperative weather), try mounting these on sticks and displaying them outdoors for a gorgeous moving art installation.

Learn more: Pinwheel Wall

Small square canvases painted in yellows and blues with a sunflower theme, grouped together in a rectangle — Courtesy of @2art.chambers

Coordinated Canvases

Provide each student with a small canvas and choose a color palette, like blue and yellow. Each student can create their own design to paint. Then, assemble the canvases together on a larger panel for a coordinated display.

Learn more: Coordinated Canvases

Red, pink, and white roses made from air dry clay — Courtesy of @2art.chambers

Clay Rose Bouquet

Making roses from air-dry clay is easier than you think! Let each student craft one in a color of their choice. Then assemble them all into a massive bouquet or floral display.

Learn more: Clay Roses

Children using paint markers to create a large colorful mural together — Courtesy of @2art.chambers

Kwik Stix Mural

Art teachers love Kwik Stix paint sticks—they’re perfect for creating a big colorful mural. All you need is a long roll of paper, paint sticks, and plenty of room for kids to spread out.

Learn more: Kwik Stix Mural

Individual purple chalk pastel geometric designs hung to show a larger overall design — Courtesy of @2art.chambers

Geometric Squares

The symmetrical designs on each individual block coordinate (but don’t exactly match) those on the others. They make a harmonious whole, but each one’s individuality still shines through.

Learn more: Geometric Squares

Paper Freedom Quilt

Here’s one more collaborative quilt design to try. “This is the flying geese pattern used in quilts to give direction to enslaved people on the run north,” explains Lauralee. This would make a terrific Black History Month project.

Learn more: Paper Freedom Quilt

Collaborative Alphabet

Decorate the walls of your classroom with these simple and colorful cardboard letters. This project is a fun way to help young ones master their letters while letting their creativity flow!

Learn more: Collaborative Alphabet

Bulletin board with large wings made up of individually painted paper feathers — Courtesy of @ackermans_amazing_artists

Feathered Wings

These collaborative murals are very popular and so much fun to make. Ask each student to create a feather, then put them together into a pair of wings. If possible, create it at a level that will allow students to stand in front and take amazing photos.

Learn more: Feathered Wings

Students using chalk to color individual bricks on a wall — Courtesy of @scs.artteacher

Brick Wall Mural

Not all collaborative art projects need a long-term, lasting result. If you’ve got a brick wall in your playground or courtyard, give kids sidewalk chalk and let them each decorate a brick any way they like. This is a cool idea for the last days of school, letting students literally leave their mark before they set off for summer break.

Learn more: Brick Wall Mural

Hallway wall covered in colorful butterflies as part of a collaborative art project — Courtesy of @art.party.with.ms.d

Paper Butterfly Wall

Ms. D‘s yearly collaborative art projects generally all use the same basic concept: bright paper in a variety of designs. For this one, students drew butterflies on card stock, vellum, and clear transparencies, then cut them out. The arrangement against black paper really makes this display pop!

Learn more: Paper Butterfly Wall

Collaborative art mural made up of a rainbow of paper dots — Courtesy of @art.party.with.ms.d

Dot Display

For this display, Ms. D took inspiration from International Dot Day. The 3D dot sculptures provide texture as well as color, filling the hallway with bright cheer.

Learn more: Dot Display

Rainbow of paper flowers with a sign saying, "Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud." — Courtesy of @art.party.with.ms.d

Paper Flower Rainbow

Maya Angelou’s famous quotation anchors this lovely display of paper flowers, each with a bit of detail and texture. Ms. D notes that students used Astrobrights paper, Sharpies, and Wonder Stix to make the blooms.

Learn more: Paper Flower Rainbow

A rainbow of origami art arranged into a hallway mural — Courtesy of @art.party.with.ms.d

Origami Owl Wall

Origami can be a real challenge for students, and many teachers use it to encourage a growth mindset. We love how students added their own details to each owl after they folded it, creating a flock of wise birds to fill their school hallway!

Learn more: Origami Owl Wall

Rainbow of paper origami hearts arranged around a heart reading Art Requires Heart — Courtesy of @art.party.with.ms.d

Art Requires (Origami) Hearts

Here’s another origami collaborative display from Ms. D, this time featuring hearts. Students accented their hearts with hand-drawn patterns in slightly different shades to make them each unique.

Learn more: Art Requires (Origami) Hearts

3D buildings made of colorful paper, arranged into a rainbow mural — Courtesy of @art.party.with.ms.d

3D Paper Houses

These 3D houses really bring the wow factor! Kids can learn a variety of art techniques as they create them. They assemble into an incredibly impressive display.

Learn more: 3D Paper Houses

Individually painted river rocks made into cement stepping stones, arranged around cement letters spelling out Oakhurst — Courtesy of @art.party.with.ms.d

Painted Rocks

You’ve probably seen painted rock collaborative art displays before, but we love Ms. D’s super-cool take on it! She collected the painted rocks into cement stepping stones, keeping them all safe, contained, and proudly on display.

Learn more: Painted Rocks

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