Inspiration Artists
Scroll through to learn about the artists that inspire our work and some more who inspire our world.
M.C. Escher
1898-1972
Originally studied to be an architect, but quickly swapped to graphic design.
Graphic design at this time was primarily printmaking, a form of art where a block is altered to essentially make a stamp to print in a series of pieces.
Travel highly influenced his life and work- he met his wife, Jetta, in Italy and their travel to Spain ultimately led to his famous tesselation works.
He is most famous for his tesselations, or patterns, but perspective, surrealism, and contrast are prevalent throughout the span of his work.
Yayoi Kusama
1929-Present
Her art began as a tool for coping with her hallucinations, she began depicting them through her paintings as a child. This led to her study in college and her designs flourished and led to her being one of the leading contemporary artists.
She uses her art and influence to battle various forms of oppression and struggle, from her own battle with her mental health to the fight for equality and human rights.
Her avant-garde work ranges from paintings to sculptures. She also creates immersive installations known commonly as infinitey rooms. This wide range is unified by her use of color and polka-dots.
Georgia O'Keefe
1887-1986
Regarded as on of the most significant modern artists, she moved from her hometown in Wisconsin to study art, first in Chicago and later in NYC. She travelled to the American Southwest and was transfixed with the land.
She moved to New Mexico following the death of her husband, an artist named Alfred Stieglitz, in 1949. She created a unique language in her painting style and this language helped shift the world's recognition of women in art forever.
Washington Irving and his book, Legend of Sleepy Hollow
1783-1859
Book published in 1819
Synopsis: A teacher, Ichabod Crane, moves into a small village called Sleepy Hollow, in which residents are prone to believe in the supernatural. Among the legends they claim haunt the area is that of the Headless Horseman, a soldier who haunts the land hunting for his head with a jack-o-lantern replacement in hand.
Ichabod gives music lessons in addition to running the schoolhouse. During one of these lessons, he falls in love with Katrina Van Tassel. However, his affection is common in the village and local brute Brom Van Brunt sets out to scare him away. This leads to the end of the book where our teacher is chased by a headless horseman.
Read the book (or watch the Disney movie) to find out what becomes of poor Ichabod Crane!
Peter Pan Board Book,adpapted from J.M. Barrie's book by Brooke Jorden
This board book adaptation of the Barrie's classic theatre adventure features gorgeous illustrations and dynamic moving features. This pop-up book not only serves as inspiration for our endangered species pop-up books, but also as a prime example of a successful career in art.
This book is available in the classroom library and is one of hundreds of creative takes on the story that has captured the imagination of children and adult artists since its creation. It greatly shortens the tale and also includes quotes from the original work.
Keith Haring
1958-1990
This street artist is most well-known for his vibrant figures. He began his art career on paper, gained popularity through his murals, and quickly became an icon in the 1980s.
His work features bold lines, bright colors, and movement. He integrated ideas from pop culture and advocated for healthy lifestyle choices.
The Littlest Yak, written by Lu Frasier and illustrated by Kate Hindley
Book published in 2020
Synopsis: Gertie, the littlest yak in the pack, is upset about not having any of the bigness of the adult yaks. She tries desperately to grow, but doesn't. One day, her difference is the reason she is the only one who can save a yak stuck on a cliff.
The book is available at Author's Note on Main Street or a variety of online readings on Youtube.
A Book for Escargot, written by Dashka Slater and illustrated by Sydney Hanson
Book published in 2020
During the reader's trip to the library, a charming French snail named Escargot is on the hunt for a new recipes and shares the horror of not having a book who shows snails being heroic. Find out how he defeats the evil cookbook that wants to turn him into a garlicky entrée.
This work is also available at the Author's Note
Katsushika Hokusai
1760-1849
This Japanese printmaking artist is most famous for his woodblock print titled, The Great Wave. His prints were crucial to documenting Japanese culture during the Edo period. He made roughly 35,000 prints for 70 years following his apprenticeship's beginning at the age of 15.
Romare Bearden
1911-1988
This African-American artist grew up in both New York City and Pittsburgh and grew used to the bustling noises of city life and the rhythms in those noises. He as a huge jazz fan and musician, and found there were similar rhythms in the music as there were in city life. He tried to capture these rhythms in his art, using cartoon, painting, and most famously, collage.
Nick Cave
1959-Present
Born into a large family in Missouri, Nick Cave always was supported in his creative endeavors. Known for his sound suits, this performance artist and sculptor has pushed the surreal and dreamlike into a joyful and playful realm. His blends of fashion and sculpture is best viewed as the choreographed videos, but the level of detail is incredible to view in photos.
Art 21 has many great resources about him, and can be viewed here:
Kara Walker
1969-present
This African-American artist is world renowned for her imagery of the Antebellum South. While she also has drawings, watercolors, and performance pieces, she's most famous for her silhouettes and cycloramas. She infuses history and challenges stereotypes in her work, down to her choice of media as she tries discredit negative connotations.
*If you would like to learn more, please be aware that she includes the traumas of history in her work and not all pieces may be appropriate for students*
Rosa Bonhuer
1822-1899
Rosa Bonhuer was an incredibly revered French animaliere, or animal painter. She and her siblings were raised by an artist father and musician mother. Her after was a practicing Saint Simonian, a group that was felt women and men were equals, a rare trait in her life. Her upbringing naturally led to her being an artist. She and her sister took over her father's art school. She was completely independent and had one of the most successful careers of her time.
El Antsui
1944-present
This artist was born in Ghana but now lives and works in Nigeria. He employs locals to help him create repurpose materials into his large scale installations. He chooses the materials based on how their original purpose and hopes to have viewers consider how products can be interwoven into the very fabric of cultures.
*If you would like to learn more, please visit the following links:
Henri Matisse
1869-1954
Matisse was a French artist who practiced a wide variety of media. While primarily known for his paintings, he also sculpted and was one of the first collage artists. He began collaging when his age made other art forms too difficult, and referred to it as "drawing with scissors." He was a fauve artist, meaning he used wild colors, as well as an expressionism and impressionism artist.
The book Matisse's Garden, by Samantha Friedman, explores his work wonderfully and has this read-aloud.
You can also find the Mati and Dada episode featuring Matisse for free on YouTube.
Banksy
1974-Present
This mysterious artist is based in England and keeps his identity a secret by using his pseudonym. He is most famous for his street art, which is spray paint and stencil based. He creates films, installations, and other art that often criticizes current events and modern art.