Celebrating Artists’ Birthdays All Year Round

Celebrating Artists’ Birthdays All Year Round

Why not bring a little more creativity into the classroom by celebrating the birthdays of iconic artists throughout the year? Honouring an artist’s birthday is a fun and meaningful way to introduce your students to a wide variety of art styles, mediums, and historical movements while connecting lessons to real-world events.

From January to December, there’s an incredible lineup of influential artists whose work continues to inspire. Whether you’re planning a one-off activity or looking to tie in a birthday celebration with a themed unit, there’s no shortage of artistic personalities to explore.

Start the Year with Bold Strokes

January kicks off the year with a celebration of diverse and influential artists. Explore the elegant brushwork and soft, light-filled scenes of Berthe Morisot (Jan 14), one of the leading women of the Impressionist movement. Dive into the fun, expressive works of John Olsen (Jan 23), and bring energy into the classroom with a Jackson Pollock-inspired action painting activity (Jan 28). This month is also perfect for exploring the quiet intensity of Paul Cezanne (Jan 19).  Let January be a launchpad for learning about Impressionism, abstraction, and the many ways artists express emotion and movement through their work.

Masters of March and April

March is a powerhouse month for artists with birthdays like Mondrian (Mar 7), George Rodrigue (Mar 13) Yayoi Kusama (Mar 22) and Van Gogh (Mar 30). Use these dates as inspiration and create some spotty artworks, a sunflower painting, or a blue dog artwork! Also in April, explore Joan Miró’s playful surrealism (Apr 20) and Bridget Riley (Apr 24) is a perfect fit for Op Art focused exploration.

 

Mid-Year Magic: May to August

May highlights include Henri Rousseau (May 21) and Mary Cassatt (May 22). Rousseau’s whimsical jungles and Cassatt’s intimate portraits of mothers and children make for thoughtful, age-appropriate projects across primary grades.

In June, celebrate Eric Carle’s birthday (June 25) with sweet animal collage projects. Then comes Frida Kahlo (Jul 6), whose rich symbolism and personal storytelling empower students to explore identity through self-portraits.

August is the time to go pop! with Andy Warhol’s birthday (Aug 6). Try bright pop art portraits or colourful ice cream designs in his iconic style. Jean-Michel Basquiat’s expressive mark-making (Aug 12) is a compelling entry point to street art and visual language.

Finishing the Year with Creative Fire

September to December includes visionary artists such as Pablo Picasso (Oct 25), Claude Monet (Nov 14), Wayne Thiebaud (Nov 15) and Henri Matisse (Dec 31). Incorporate collage, impressionism, or shape-focused projects into your lessons while celebrating the lives behind these masterpieces.

From Faith Ringgold’s story quilts (Oct 8) to Kandinsky’s colour studies (Dec 16), each birthday becomes a chance to celebrate creativity and bring diverse perspectives into the classroom.

Wrap-Up Idea

Why not start an “Artist Birthday Wall” in your art room or school hallway? Add a new artist each month with a small bio, sample image, and a related student artwork. It’s a colourful and educational way to keep the artistic spirit alive all year long!