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kara walker

May 8, 2025 4 Comments

Artworks that Use Shape

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.

👉 Want a printable to go with it? Grab the free Elements & Principles Pack below to bring this concept to life in your classroom. Click the yellow “Download” button.

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* Elements & Principles Printable Pack *

The Elements & Principles of Art are the foundation of every artwork, but teaching them can be a bore. Wake your students up and engage them with full color artworks, easy to understand definitions, and thought-provoking higher level thinking questions. This versatile resource can be hung in the classroom or used as an art manipulative.

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* Elements & Principles Printable Pack *

The Elements & Principles of Art are the foundation of every artwork, but teaching them can be a bore. Wake your students up and engage them with full color artworks, easy to understand definitions, and thought-provoking higher level thinking questions. This versatile resource can be hung in the classroom or used as an art manipulative.

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.

Download the Free Elements and Principles Printable Pack


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

The Art Curator for Kids - Elements and Principles of Art Series - Artworks that Show Shape1

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
The Art Curator for Kids - Elements and Principles of Art Series - Artworks that Show Shape2

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
The Art Curator for Kids - Elements and Principles of Art Series - Artworks that Show Shape3

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
The Art Curator for Kids - Elements and Principles of Art Series - Artworks that Show Shape4

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
The Art Curator for Kids - Elements and Principles of Art Series - Artworks that Show Shape5

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

💡 Looking for more comprehensive art appreciation resources?

Join the Curated Connections Library to access a wealth of lessons, activities, and professional development materials tailored for art educators.
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The Art Curator for Kids - Elements and Principles of Art Series - Artworks that Use Shape

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

Elements and Principles Teaching Bundle

This extraordinary bundle includes the best resources for teaching each of the elements and principles—37 worksheets/handouts, 15 lessons (with accompanying PowerPoints and Handouts), 3 ready-to-go art analysis activities, 3 art analysis videos, and 13 elements and principle PDF articles.

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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.

The Art Curator for Kids -Example Artworks that Show Space - The Elements and Principles of Art Series-300The Art Curator for Kids - Example Artworks that Show Line - The Elements and Principles of Art - 300The Art Curator for Kids - Example Artworks that Show Emphasis - The Elements and Principles of Art SeriesElements and Principles of Art - Artworks that Show Proportion in art and ScaleThe Art Curator for Kids - Elements and Principles of Art Series - Artworks that Show Shape - 300The Art Curator for Kids - Why I Hate the Elements and Principles But Teach Them Anyway - 300The Art Curator for Kids - How Artists Depict Space - Masterpiece Monday - John Sloan , South Beach Bathers, 1907-1908, Art Lessons for Kids - Elements of Art Lessons

Photo Credits:

  • Pont du Gard, Benh LIEU SONG

Filed Under: Elements and Principles of Art
Tagged With: andre kertesz, andy goldsworthy, claes oldenburg, david smith, diego velazquez, edward steichen, georges seurat, grant wood, henri matisse, joan miro, kara walker, le corbusier, leonardo da vinci, m.c. escher, marsden hartley, michelangelo, okun akpan abuje, pablo picasso, paul gauguin, paul klee, piet mondrian, raphael, wassily kandinsky

 

August 24, 2015 2 Comments

10 Artworks Perfect for an Art Criticism Lesson

Artworks for Stimulating Discussion

Through my many years of teaching, I’ve accumulated a nice list of artworks that are perfect to discuss with students and teach them how to analyze art. These artworks spark lots of interesting ideas, have easy to notice design choices that contribute to the meaning and always lead to a great art criticism discussion (or a great student-written essay) with the students.

Artworks for Stimulating Discussion

These artworks are great for high school and college students, but many work for elementary and middle as well. You can use your judgment to decide what works best for your students.

The Four Steps of Art Criticism Lesson Plan

I created this list for my lesson on the art criticism steps available for sale. The Four Steps of Art Criticism lesson teaches students how to analyze art through the art criticism steps of description, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation. This resource includes a lesson outline (pdf), a PowerPoint, a written assignment instructions handout (pdf and editable .doc), a quiz (pdf and editable .doc), and a list of artworks including (but not limited to) the ones below. Buy it now for $14, and use it in your classroom tomorrow!

The Four Steps of Art Criticism Lesson Plan

This lesson covers the four steps of art criticism using artworks. Explore description, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation with your students using engaging activities and examples.

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Ten Artworks Perfect for Art Criticism with Students

Most of these are not in the public domain. I have included small thumbnails for your reference. Click the picture to view a larger image.

Marc Chagall, Young Girl in Pursuit, ca. 1927-28

Marc Chagall, Young Girl in Pursuit, ca. 1927-28
Marc Chagall, Young Girl in Pursuit, ca. 1927-28

This one is so simple and straight-forward, but it always sparks the imagination of the students.

Questions to Ask: How does this artwork make you feel? What choices does the artist make to make you feel that? Who is this woman? Why is there a woman in her hair? What is the meaning of this artwork?

Salvador Dalí, Persistence of Memory, 1931

Salvador Dalí, Persistence of Memory, 1931
Salvador Dalí, Persistence of Memory, 1931

Everyone knows this one. I read some study one time that said Salvador Dalí was the most recognized artist name among people interviewed on the street. I found that to be fascinating. From the melting clocks to the sleeping head, to the ants crawling all over the pocket watch, to is that a snake coming out of his nose?, this one has a lot for students to unpack.

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Get the Full Lesson!

This Lesson is in The Curated Connections Library!

Find the full lesson from this post along with hundreds of other art teaching resources and trainings in the Curated Connections Library. Click here for more information about how to join or enter your email below for a free SPARKworks lesson from the membership!

John Feodorov, Animal Spirit Channeling Device for the Contemporary Shaman, 1963

John Feodorov, Animal Spirit Channeling Device for the Contemporary Shaman, 1997
John Feodorov, Animal Spirit Channeling Device for the Contemporary Shaman, 1997

I wrote more about this one on the post: 5 Artworks to Intrigue your High Schooler.

Frida Kahlo, The Two Fridas, 1939

Frida Kahlo, The Two Fridas, 1939
Frida Kahlo, The Two Fridas, 1939

This one is also on 5 Artworks to Intrigue your High Schooler. Read more there. 🙂

Edvard Munch, Separation, 1896

Edvard Munch, Separation, 1896
Edvard Munch, Separation, 1896

Students love coming up with stories about this one. He is having a heart attack, and the woman is an angel taking him away. The woman is the ghost of his wife who has passed. And more, lots of great stories. The artist’s use of line, color, and contrast adds meaning to the student’s interpretations.

Luis Felipe Noé, Cerrado por brujería [Closed by Sorcery], 1963

Luis Felipe Noé, Cerrado por brujería [Closed by Sorcery], 1963
Luis Felipe Noé, Cerrado por brujería [Closed by Sorcery], 1963


This is one of my all time top artworks to discuss with students. I usually show it on the first day of class in my community college art appreciation class. I wrote a whole post about it here.

Pablo Picasso, Girl before a Mirror, 1932

Pablo Picasso, Girl Before a Mirror, 1932
Pablo Picasso, Girl Before a Mirror, 1932

This painting made me weep when I saw it the first time. It’s stunning in person. Read more about it on 5 Artworks that Promote Introspection. This is a great one to have students write about at the beginning of class.

Lawrence Beall Smith, Don’t Let That Shadow Touch Them, 1942

Lawrence Beall Smith, Don’t Let That Shadow Touch Them, 1942
Lawrence Beall Smith, Don’t Let That Shadow Touch Them, 1942

I love connecting history and art. I include this piece of propaganda art on one of my tests for students to write about. You would be surprised how many students don’t recognize the swastika. In addition to discussing the power images have on our feelings and decision, the historical significance of the image is an important discussion to have with the students.

George Tooker, The Subway, 1950

George Tooker, The Subway, 1950
George Tooker, The Subway, 1950

Creepy, suspicious men and multiple perspectives make this one a fun one to talk about with students. The lone, solitary woman with the concerned expression makes us think, and why is she holding her stomach? Lots to talk about.

Kara Walker, Darkytown Rebellion, 2001

Kara Walker, Darkytown Rebellion, 2001
Kara Walker, Darkytown Rebellion, 2001

This one has some sensitive subject matter. I wouldn’t hesitate to use this for a college class, but only you can decide if it works for your students. I actually got in an argument with one of my friends in front of one of Kara Walker’s artworks like this one. I love art that sparks opinion and discussion. I don’t shy away from big topics in my classroom. Art opens up important dialogues, so I think it is important to let those happen in the classroom. After students look and figure out what is going on through art criticism, we discuss the element of the projection and how the viewer can become a part of the art by standing in between the light and the wall. It leads to some interesting thoughts.

Filed Under: Art and Artists
Tagged With: best of art class curator, edvard munch, frida kahlo, george tooker, john feodorov, kara walker, lawrence beall smith, luis felipe noe, marc chagall, pablo picasso, salvador dali

 

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