Identity, art and self-expression
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can engage in thinking, making and discussion about art as self-expression.
Key learning points
- Some artists only make art as pure self-expression - there is no intention to share with an audience.
- Some artists intend to make art as pure self-expression, but eventually do share their work with an audience.
- Some artists start by creating art as self-expression and with the intention of sharing with others.
- In many cultures, creative self-expression is woven into daily life.
Keywords
Self-expression - when an artist expresses personal perspectives, emotions, identity, or experiences in their work, rather than striving for objective representation
Intention - the artist’s purpose or motivation behind creating a piece of work
Common misconception
All artists make art with the intention of sharing with an audience.
Some art is made as an act of pure self-expression. Even deeply personal works are shaped by history, identity, and society, meaning they can take on wider meanings even if the artist did not intend them to.
Teacher tip
You could lead by sharing examples of the final task so that pupils understand what the making aspect of the lesson is building up to.
Equipment
Material for sculpting e.g. boxes, modroc, papier-mâché, collage materials.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following best describes the purpose of mapping?
Q2.Artists have long used mapping as a way to tell personal, cultural, and historical stories.
Q3.Which of the following are methods of artist mapping?
Q4.Match the artist to their use of mapping in their art.
represents thoughts and emotions as a fictional geography
explores themes of identity, displacement, and migration
explores themes of home, displacement, borders, and migration
Q5.Which of the following could be key moments or experiences that have shaped your personal identity journey?
Q6.Some artists make art as an act of pure self-expression.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Why might artists make art as pure self-expression?
Q2.Match the artist to their approach to artistic self-expression.
inspired by her grandmother who was part of the Windrush generation
created intensely autobiographical drawings and fabric pieces
created large-scale abstract paintings rooted in personal expression
Q3.Art is always displayed in galleries and museums.
Q4.Match the culture with their creative practice.
painting as part of a Dreamtime story, a way to pass down knowledge
carving (whakairo), weaving (raranga), and tattooing (tā moko)
shokunin through pottery, paper-making, or cooking
To help you plan your 9 art and design lesson on: Identity, art and self-expression, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 art and design lesson on: Identity, art and self-expression, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 art and design lessons from the Personal identity unit, dive into the full secondary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.