Contemporary Art and Creative Problem Solving
Contemporary Art and Creative Problem Solving
Embedded Files
Contemporary Art & Creative Problem Solving invites students to explore how artists respond to the world around them—social issues, emotions, systems, and everyday challenges—using imagination and experimentation. Students will learn about contemporary artists working today across painting, sculpture, and installation, while building skills in visual thinking, risk-taking, and creative confidence. Rather than focusing on “right answers,” this class emphasizes curiosity, questions, and multiple solutions.
Learning will be implemented through a dynamic mix of short lectures, hands-on studio projects, group discussions, and collaborative sculpture. Students will experiment with materials, brainstorm ideas, respond to creative prompts, and reflect on their process through sketchbooks and group critiques. The class will include a local field trip to the Henry Art Gallery, where students will practice looking closely at contemporary art, discussing ideas, and connecting what they see to their own creative work.
The course culminates in a final project and group conversation where each student develops an original artwork that addresses a problem, question, or theme they care about—such as identity, environment, routines, or imagination. Students will present their work to the class, explaining their concept, materials, and creative choices, which will build confidence in creative problem solving and idea sharing. The final presentation celebrates both the finished artwork and the thinking, experimentation, and growth along the way. Some examples of final projects are a detailed self-portrait (identity) or a spreadsheet of each state’s amount of plastic bags used in a year (environment). We celebrate creative freedom.
This course requires the use of a laptop or similar device. The Robinson Center can provide a device if your student does not have access. You can learn more about Device Requests here.
Location:
Location:
See 'Maps' in the 'Getting to Campus' menu to find your classroom!
Instructors:
Instructors:
Megan Gottfried - mgottf@uw.edu
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly Newsletters
Every week, Instructors will produce a Newsletter to update families on course happenings and progression! Check here for new newsletters.
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Course Folders
Course Folders
Some Instructors use online course folders to share assignments, slides, and other content. Click here to access your course's folder. Please note, we restrict access to this folder to students, administrators, instructors, and classroom assistants for student privacy.
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