Each month, we are spotlighting a different artist by sharing their unique stories and exploring their work. For each artist we spotlight, we invite you to utilize our Instructables to create your own art inspired by their work! Scroll through our previous artists of inspiration and instructables below.
Artist of Inspiration: Justin Favela
All month in the Art Lab, we’ve been creating paper sculptures inspired by the work of artist Justin Favela. To show you how you can do this activity in your home, we’ve created a helpful online instructable including more information on Justin and his work! Check it out.
Create Sound Art, Art You Can Hear!
Sound art is art you can hear. Derek Hoffend, a local Boston artist, creates sound art installations that combine sculptures with sound, interactivity, and sometimes light. Learn about Derek’s amazing work and create your own sound art with our instructable. We hope you’ll share what you create with us!
Performing Artist of Inspiration: Cornell Coley
Percussionist and educator Cornell Coley, M. Ed joins us today, teaching some of the cultural traditions and healing powers of drumming and demonstrating a variety of different percussion instruments-including ones you can make and use at home!
Artist of Inspiration: Dana Awartani
Dana Awartani is a Palestinian-Saudi artist born and raised in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where she lives and works today. Dana draws, paints, and creates spaces with tiles. We’ve adapted her methods into a simple, fun art activity for all.
Artist of Inspiration: London Basquiat
Our newest Artist of Inspiration is local artist London Basquiat, maker of incredible wearable art. Through his work, London hopes to show others that no matter what you go through in life, you can make it somewhere. Learn about his work and create your very own wearable art inspired by London with our new instructable!
Performing Artist of Inspiration: Jean Appolon
We continue our Performing Artists of Inspiration series with Jean Appolon: dancer, choreographer, teacher, Founder, and Artistic Director of Jean Appolon Expressions. In this video, Jean shares his story of growing up in Haiti and explains how dance can build community and heal trauma. He also demonstrates some dance steps to the Haitian rhythm, Yanvalou, that are fun and easy to follow! Many people may be feeling stress or anxiety following recent disturbing national events, and we are grateful to Jean for sharing how dance can be healing and bring us together.
Performing Artists of Inspiration: Ellice Patterson
Advocates for Disabilities Rights Through Dance Our #BCMPerformingArtists series continues with dancer & choreographer Ellice Patterson, founding director of Abilities Dance. Ellice shares how her dance advocates for disabilities rights and how you can use dance to tell a story. Check it out, and tuned for more Performing Artists of Inspiration each week in January.
Performing Artists of Inspiration: Sandeep Das Demonstrates the Tabla
Over the next four weeks, Boston Children’s Museum will share a new series called Performing Artists of Inspiration, featuring local performing artists who will teach us how they make art and what they learn by making it. We kick off the series with Grammy-winning composer and musician Sandeep Das. Sandeep shares how we can find joy in music by demonstrating his instrument, the tabla.
Artist of Inspiration: Lauren Crazybull
Draw your own self portrait inspired by our new Artist of Inspiration Lauren Crazybull! Lauren creates portraits of people from their community that reflect each individual’s unique self. Learn more about them and get step-by-step instructions to create your own portrait.
Artist of Inspiration: Cindy Lu
Our newest Artist of Inspiration is Cindy Lu, an amazing artist and former scientist! Much of Cindy’s art reflects her background in biology. In Part 1 of our spotlight, you can learn more about Cindy’s process, see examples of her art, and watch as she works. Then in Part 2, Cindy demonstrates two awesome art projects inspired by her work that you can try at home using easily accessible household objects.
Jamaal Eversley: Artist of Inspiration and Instructable
Check out our Collaging with Shapes instructable inspired by the work of Jamaal Eversley, our newest Artist of Inspiration! Jamaal pursued his talents as an eccentric abstract artist, intertwining business with the arts to serve his community. Learn more about Jamaal’s background and work and try out the instructable.
Artist of Inspiration: Maya Freelon
Our new Artist of Inspiration Maya Freelon creates artworks out of colorful tissue paper, water, and glue! Learn about Maya and find out how to make a tissue paper kinetic sculpture inspired by her work.
Artist of Inspiration: Stephen Hamilton
Stephen Hamilton, our newest Artist of Inspiration from Roxbury, utilizes West African art forms including traditional hand-dyed weavings, upon which he paints portraits of local people. Hamilton’s techniques are based on experience with living artists in Nigeria and skills passed down by his grandmother.
Artist of Inspiration: Tyahra Angus
We’re spotlighting local artist Tyahra Angus in the third installment of our Artist of Inspiration series! Tyahra is a Boston-based portrait photographer currently focused on polaroids. In Parts 1 and 2 of the spotlight learn how to make your own DIY polaroid with simple materials – no camera needed!
Artist of Inspiration: Hannah Burr
We’re spotlighting artist Hannah Burr in the second installment of our Artist of Inspiration series! Hannah is a lifelong artist who works with many mediums, including sculpture, painting, drawing, and interactive art. Follow along and create your own art inspired by Hannah’s techniques!
Artists of Inspiration: Chanel Thervil
The Artists of Inspiration series will showcase the work of local artists with the hope of inspiring kids and adults to create their own artwork with the techniques they learn. Check out upcoming Boston Children’s Museum Gallery Artist and Artist of Inspiration Chanel Thervil.