New
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Lesson 5 of 18
  • Year 11

Analysing the work of artists and designers who work collaboratively

I can take inspiration from collaborative artwork to develop ideas and concepts.

Lesson 5 of 18
New
New
  • Year 11

Analysing the work of artists and designers who work collaboratively

I can take inspiration from collaborative artwork to develop ideas and concepts.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Collaborations often showcase innovative techniques and approaches.
  2. By studying collaborative projects, artists gain insight into how different creative processes function.
  3. Collaborative works frequently blend various disciplines, such as visual art, design, music and performance.

Keywords

  • Select - to carefully choose a particular element, area, or idea

  • Explore - to experiment, investigate, or try out ideas, materials, techniques, or visual possibilities

  • Cross-disciplinary - mixing two or more disciplines to produce a creative work that draws on more than one area

Common misconception

Collaborative artwork ends when the group finishes working together.

In reality, collaborative pieces continue to evolve as viewers engage with them, as participants reflect on the process and as the artwork is displayed or adapted in new contexts.


To help you plan your year 11 art and design lesson on: Analysing the work of artists and designers who work collaboratively, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

When guiding cross-disciplinary work, prompt students to select ideas or materials from different subjects or creative fields and explore how they can combine them. Encourage experimentation and reflection, highlighting how blending approaches can reveal new techniques and richer creative outcomes.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Pens, pencils, sticky notes, digital technology equipment, cameras, free digital apps, sketchbooks, paper, paints, paintbrushes, oil pastels

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What does the word collaboration mean in the context of art and design?

When an artist only works on their own ideas
Correct answer: When different artists or designers work together to create something
When an artist copies another person’s work without credit
When a curator selects pieces for an exhibition

Q2.
True or False? When personally interpreting a collaborative artwork, an artist might focus on how it makes them feel or which parts capture their attention most.

Correct answer: True
False

Q3.
What does the term cross-disciplinary mean?

Using only one medium in your work
Avoiding collaboration with other people
Studying different school subjects separately
Correct answer: Mixing different art forms or practices in a single piece

Q4.
Which of these best describes selection and abstraction in developing artwork?

Correct answer: Choosing fragments or shapes from a collaborative piece and transforming them
Copying a collaborative piece exactly as it is
Selecting other people to do the work for you
Removing all meaning from an artwork

Q5.
Match the keyword with its best definition:

Correct Answer:Slides,Visual aids that support a lesson or presentation

Visual aids that support a lesson or presentation

Correct Answer:Explore,To look into ideas, images, or concepts in more depth

To look into ideas, images, or concepts in more depth

Correct Answer:Abstraction,Simplifying an image to focus on shape, colour, or texture.

Simplifying an image to focus on shape, colour, or texture.

Q6.
Match the artist to their collaborative or cross-disciplinary approach:

Correct Answer:Niki de Saint Phalle & Jean Tinguely,Made sculptures and environments mixing playful and mechanical element

Made sculptures and environments mixing playful and mechanical element

Correct Answer:Zadie Xa,Exploring mythologies through installation

Exploring mythologies through installation

Correct Answer:Benji Reid,Combines choreography, photography, and theatre into live performances

Combines choreography, photography, and theatre into live performances

Additional material

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