Learn Together

Installation art is an artistic genre of three-dimensional works that is often site-specific and designed to transform the perception of a space. Practice your fine motor skills and creative thinking while learning how to collage with mixed media.

Materials

  • Poster board or cardboard piece
  • Thick black marker
  • Tissue paper
  • Stickers or jewel stickers 
  • Gift wrap, construction paper, streamers, ribbons, etc.
  • Scissors
  • Glue or tape

Make Together

Installation art is a style of visual art that usually uses three-dimensional objects. These artworks are usually meant to change the way a space is seen. Installation artworks are shown in museums, galleries, and in public spaces. A mural is art applied directly to a wall, usually in public spaces. Many walls around the world are covered in murals by artists.

Make your own 2-dimensional mini-installation mural at home with simple paper products. 

  1. Choose a wall in your home where you want your installation to be seen. Tape a poster board or cardboard piece a few feet above the floor. You can also create your mural on the floor and add it to a wall later.
  2. On the bottom of your poster, sketch Frida’s famous eyebrows with a thick black marker and color them in. The eyebrows should be wide and bold, but shouldn’t take up a lot of space on the poster. 
  3. You can also draw her hair line and two buns for her hair. For a more abstract and minimal installation, draw only eyebrows. 

Frida was famous not only for her artwork, but for her colorful style. Her traditional Tehuana dress became her trademark. It consisted of a floral headdress, a shawl, a loose blouse, gold jewelry, and a long skirt. A famous photograph called “Frida Kahlo on White Bench, New York,” taken in 1939 by Nickolas Muray, shows her well-known sense of style. 

  1. Cut up tissue paper for different sized flowers. 
  2. For each flower, scrunch the paper in the center of your hand and unfold corners for different blooming pedal effects.
  3. You can place a sticker or jewel sticker in the middle of the tissue paper for the bud if you have it.

Many art installations start with one center piece and expand. For an exploding flower effect, begin with using closely-placed flowers as her headband a few inches above Frida’s eyebrows. Let your creativity and imagination take over from there.

  1. Place a row of flowers above her eyebrows and forehead space. 
  2. Draw pedals, flowers, and leaves on gift wrap and construction paper. These add contrast, dimension, patterns, and textures to the installation. 
  3. Cut these shapes and add to your installation. 
  4. Add more tissue paper flowers, pedals, and leaves. 
  5. Get creative — use streamers, ribbons, and other fun materials around the house to add texture and pattern to her wild headpiece!