claes oldenburg

Shape is one of the most accessible elements of art—students can see it immediately, but helping them understand it on a deeper level opens up a whole new way of seeing.

In this post, you’ll find artworks that demonstrate shape in all its forms, ready to support your next elements of art lesson, critique, or student project.

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Inside: A curated collection of artworks that show how artists use shape—from bold geometric compositions to expressive organic forms and powerful uses of negative space.

Explore the full Elements of Art series for more resources and examples to enrich your curriculum.

I’m continuing the Elements and Principles of Art series today with a post that includes example artworks that use shape.

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This pack of printables was designed to work in a variety of ways in your classroom when teaching the elements and principles of art. You can print and hang in your classroom as posters/anchor charts or you can cut each element and principle of art in its own individual card to use as a lesson manipulative.

Shape in Art Examples

Example Artworks that Use Shape, General

• Henri Matisse, The Snail, 1953
• Okun Akpan Abuje, Nigerian Funerary shrine cloth, late 1970s
• MC Escher, Cycle, 1938
• Pablo Picasso, Three Musicians, 1921
• Grant Wood, Spring Turning, 1936
• Edward Steichen, The Sunflower, c. 1920

Artworks with Geometric Shape

• Piet Mondrian, Broadway Boogie-Woogie, 1942-43
• Marsden Hartley, Night – and Some Flowers, 1940
  
• Grant Wood, Parson Weems’ Fable, 1939
• Paul Klee, The Red Balloon, 1922
• Le Corbusier, Notre-Dame-du-Haut at Ronchamp (interior), 1950-1955
• Claes Oldenburg, Geometric Mouse – Scale A, 1969-1971
• Wassily Kandinsky, Squares with Concentric Circles, 1913

Artworks with Organic or Free-Form Shape

• Paul Gauguin, La Orana Maria (Hail Mary), 1891
• Joan Miro, Harlequin’s Carnival, 1925
• Henri Matisse, The Joy of Life, 1905-06
  
• Henri Matisse, Icarus, from Jazz series, 1947
• Henri Marisse, Beasts of the Sea, 1950
• Pablo Picasso, Great Still Life on Pedestal, 1931
• Kara Walker, Darkytown Rebellion, 2001

Shapes Made by Negative Space

• David Smith, Cubi IX, 1961
• Andy Goldsworthy, Circles, Varied (Shape, Color, Value)
• Henry Moore, Reclining Figure, 1951
• André Kertész, Self-Portrait, 1926
• Ancient Roman, Pont du Gard, 40-60 C.E.

Shapes that Guide your Eye Around the Picture

• Grant Wood, Parson Weems’ Fable, 1939
• Marsden Hartley, Night – and Some Flowers, 1940

Shapes Used to Organize Picture (Pyramidal Configuration, etc.)

• Leonardo da Vinci, Virgin of the Rocks, c. 1483
• Michelangelo Buonarroti, Pieta, 1498-99
• Diego Velázquez, Las Meninas, 1656
• Raphael, Madonna in the Meadow, 1506
• Georges Seurat, A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, 1884

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For ready-to-use classroom activities, check out our printable art interpretation worksheets.

There you have it! The best shape in art examples for your elements and principles of art lessons. Want more elements and principles of art teacher resources? Check out the below posts.

Photo Credits:

• Pont du Gard, Benh LIEU SONG