Looking for women in art projects for kids that are simple to prep and genuinely fun to make? This collection highlights famous female artists—from Faith Ringgold and Frida Kahlo to Yayoi Kusama and Georgia O’Keeffe—with hands-on art activities that work for Women’s History Month, International Women’s Day, or any time of year.
Each artist project below includes a free printable to make planning easy for classrooms, homeschool, and home art days.
Want the full artist list (men + women + more styles)?
Head here: Famous Artists for Kids (Full List + Projects)
Quick Pick: Choose an Artist by Theme
If you only have 30–45 minutes, pick a theme and go!
- Storytelling & Identity: Faith Ringgold, Lorna Simpson, Frida Kahlo
- Dots, Pattern & Repetition: Yayoi Kusama, Alma Thomas, Howardena Pindell, Laurel Burch
- Nature & Observation: Georgia O’Keeffe, Bronwyn Bancroft, Kenojuak Ashevak, Grandma Moses
- Abstract & Geometry: Hilma af Klint
Why Study Women in Art?
Women artists bring bold ideas, new perspectives, and powerful stories to art history. Studying them helps kids:
- see a wider range of role models
- connect art with history, culture, and identity
- build skills like pattern, color, symbolism, and visual storytelling
- practice creative confidence (“my ideas matter”)
Famous Female Artists and Projects for Kids
How to use this list: Pick one artist, read the short “look for” tip, then jump into the project. Great for centers, early finishers, sub plans, and art club.
Faith Ringgold (Story Quilts)
Faith Ringgold is known for story quilts—painted scenes combined with fabric borders and words that share personal and cultural stories.
Look for: borders, repeated patterns, and words that add meaning.
Try this project: Story Quilt Square
Quick classroom tip: Make one square per student and display them as a “class quilt” wall.
Optional mini-lesson:
Faith Ringgold used quilts to tell stories about people, culture, and important events.
Ask kids: What story would you tell in your quilt square? It could be about your family, a favorite memory, or something important in your community.
Howardena Pindell (Abstract Collage + Dots)
Howardena Pindell created layered, textured works using circles, repetition, and color.
Look for: overlapping shapes and lots of small repeated marks.
Try this project: Abstract Circle Collage
Easy prep: Pre-cut circles for younger students; older kids can punch their own.
Bronwyn Bancroft (Indigenous Pattern + Landscape)
Bronwyn Bancroft creates vibrant, patterned artwork inspired by nature and her Indigenous heritage.
Look for: bold lines, patterns, and symbols that repeat.
Try this project: Bancroft Landscape or Bancroft Ornament
Kenojuak Ashevak (Owls + Birds)
Kenojuak Ashevak was an Inuit artist best known for bold, graphic prints of owls, birds, and Arctic animals. Her work uses strong outlines, repeated shapes, and vibrant color to create powerful animal portraits.
Look for: symmetry, patterned feathers, bold outlines, and high-contrast color.
Try this project: Kenojuak Owl or Bird Art
Quick classroom tip: Use a simple bird/owl template for younger kids. Older kids can design their own feather patterns and add a patterned background inspired by printmaking.
Optional mini-lesson:
Kenojuak Ashevak often used symmetry, where both sides of the design mirror each other.
Ask kids: Can you design feathers or shapes that repeat on both sides of the bird?
Yayoi Kusama (Dots + Infinity)
Yayoi Kusama is famous for dots, repetition, and immersive installations that feel endless.
Look for: polka dots, repeated shapes, and bright color choices.
Try these projects: Kusama Tulips, Kusama Butterflies, or Kusama Watermelon Art
Fast option: 10-minute dot warm-up: cover a page with dots using one marker color.
Optional mini-lesson:
Yayoi Kusama uses dots over and over again to create patterns that seem to go on forever.
Ask kids: How does repeating the same shape change the way your artwork feels?
Frida Kahlo (Symbolism + Self-Expression)
Frida Kahlo painted deeply personal self-portraits filled with symbols connected to identity, nature, and culture.
Look for: meaningful objects (flowers, animals, plants) and strong color.
Try these projects: Frida Leaves, Frida Flowers, Frida Collage
Prompt to add: “What symbols would you include to show who you are?”
Georgia O’Keeffe (Nature Close-Ups)
Georgia O’Keeffe is known for large flower paintings and desert landscapes that zoom in on shape and color.
Look for: simplified shapes, close-up views, and smooth color blending.
Try these projects: Pastel Flowers, O’Keeffe Skull, Poppy Art Project
Optional mini-lesson:
Georgia O’Keeffe often painted flowers very large so people could notice details they might normally miss.
Ask kids: What happens if you zoom in on one part of a flower or plant? Try filling the whole page with just a small section.
Alma Thomas (Color + Pattern)
Alma Thomas used rhythmic color blocks that feel like movement, music, and light.
Look for: repeated brush marks and bright, joyful color.
Try this project: Alma’s Rings / Circle Art Activity
Skill focus: warm vs cool colors + pattern building.
Optional mini-lesson:
Alma Thomas created rhythm in her paintings by repeating shapes and colors across the page.
Ask kids: How can repeating a color or shape create movement in your artwork?
Lorna Simpson (Identity + Mixed Media)
Lorna Simpson uses photography, text, and collage to explore identity and representation.
Look for: images + words working together to tell a story.
Try this project: Lorna’s Collage
Easy classroom add-on: Provide a word bank (powerful, brave, curious, creative, etc.).
Grandma Moses (Folk Art + Everyday Life)
Grandma Moses began painting later in life and became known for charming scenes of daily life.
Look for: simple shapes, tiny details, and storytelling scenes.
Try this project: Moses Landscape
Great for: winter village scenes, farms, or neighborhood maps.
Hilma af Klint (Early Abstract + Geometry)
Hilma af Klint created bold abstract works full of symbols, spirals, and geometry.
Look for: symmetry, shapes, and hidden meanings.
Try this project: Hilma’s Collage
Optional mini-lesson: Abstract art uses shapes, lines, and colors to show ideas or emotions instead of realistic objects. Hilma af Klint believed shapes and symbols could represent deeper meanings, almost like a visual language.
Ask kids: What might a spiral, circle, or triangle represent? Try choosing shapes and colors that represent a feeling, idea, or part of nature.
Laurel Burch (Bold Lines + Pattern)
Laurel Burch created bright, joyful designs—especially cats—with bold outlines and vibrant patterns.
Look for: thick outlines, repeating patterns, and metallic accents.
Try this project: Laurel Burch Cat Art
Stencil note (printable upgrade): If you’re using a printable template, it can also work as a simple stencil. Trace the shape, then invite kids to create their own patterns inside the design (dots, lines, checkerboards, swirls, triangles, texture marks, etc.). This keeps the activity open-ended while still being easy to prep.
Free Printable Women in Art Guide
Want to save this list for later (or share with your co-teacher)?
👉 Grab the FREE Women in Art Guide with quick links to easy projects.
Extend Learning With Women in Science STEAM Projects
Want to blend art + engineering (STEAM) for March? Pair a woman artist project with a matching Women in STEM activity:
- Create an Ocean Map with Marie Tharp
- Explore Binary Coding with Margaret Hamilton
- Draw Scientific Illustrations with Maria Merian
- Craft an X-Ray with Marie Curie
Want a Done-For-You Famous Artists Study?
If you’d like everything organized and classroom-ready, check out the artist study:
Famous Artists Project Pack (25+ artists)
Perfect for ages 5–12. Includes women artists, artists of color, and Indigenous artists, plus printables, challenges, and journaling pages.
