How do artists compose their work?

Painter Elizabeth Murray talks about painting like a safe breaker cracks a safe. The thief listens, tunes in to something unseen, and waits until they hear an actual click. Metaphorical “safe breaking,” it turns out, is an engaging way to have my fourteen- to eighteen-year-old high school students think about the various ways that artists compose their work and how assistants, family, and community members sometimes play a role.

I use this all-ages playlist as a starting point for students to consider how they want to make and compose their own artwork. The students in my classes have typically not had much art experience prior to high school. Sharing these artists who may look like and have similar lived experiences to my students helps them begin to think about themselves as artists; identify some of what influences how they see the world; consider the various ways that they might choose images, symbols, and color; and decide how to begin putting it all together into something that clicks for them.

Whether students riff on symbols from their own cultures (Dyani White Hawk), push on canvas to feel where the tension is (Marela Zacarías), or relinquish image selection to an algorithm to avoid choosing just one (Ho Tzu Nyen), my students benefit from seeing how artists compose their work. Encountering these varied approaches helps students understand that making art is not just about skill, but about listening, experimenting, and staying with the process until something opens.

All Ages is a series of playlists featuring films that have been thoroughly screened for questionable content, such as nudity, cursing, or violence. These playlists are grouped by a teaching strategy, theme, or particular audience.

Middle school is a time when students embark on journeys of self-discovery, independence, and intellectual inquiry. This playlist has been thoughtfully curated to introduce students between the ages of 11 and 14 to the vibrant, diverse, and ever-evolving world of contemporary art through the lens of Art21.

Each film invites you to step into the studio, practice, or mind of an artist. You’ll hear their voices, see their processes, and discover how they use art to explore identity, community, history, and the future. These films are not just about making art—they’re about making meaning.

As you watch, I encourage you to ask questions. Consider how different approaches to making art impact the way these artists share their stories with the world. Reflect on what moves you—and why it moves you. Think about how your own experiences shape the way you respond to these artists. There is no single way to be an artist. That’s the beauty of it.

Let this playlist be a spark—for conversation, for creativity, for compassion, and for connection.

Happy watching, and even happier making!

All Ages is a series of playlists featuring films that have been thoroughly screened for questionable content, such as nudity, cursing, or violence. These playlists are grouped by a teaching strategy, theme, or particular audience.

Teaching with contemporary artists and art is a powerful way to engage students. It helps them see themselves in the curriculum and understand that art is alive and created by people living within our lifetime. Therefore, instructional pacing during a class period is crucial, especially for elementary-age students (ages 5 to 11 years old). Activities should be paced quickly enough to maintain interest with minimal dead time, but not so fast that students are left behind or become confused. This playlist features artist videos that are 5 minutes or less, curated with the Elementary classroom in mind.

All Ages is a series of playlists featuring films that have been thoroughly screened for questionable content, such as nudity, cursing, or violence. These playlists are grouped by a teaching strategy, theme, or particular audience.