You Got This: Keith Haring Mural Project

During our AP Art History classes, students were studying the modern art period of pop and street art and were introduced to the art and mission of Keith Haring.  Classes were then challenged to create a 5' x 15' poster mural utilizing the visual language that Haring designed. The project connects with the Colorado Visual Arts Standards: Invent and Discover to Create, and Relate and Connect to Transfer, by asking students of different perspectives to create a cohesive mural design, while also speaking to the arts' ability to communicate positive ideas and affect community change.

At the beginning of the project, students were broken into groups based on class size and the number of posters each class was responsible for. Each group worked together to collaborate on their individual poster designs, exchanging ideas and creating unified pieces. They then chose a spokesperson for the group who facilitated communication with the other groups to compare poster layouts, made creative decisions, and relayed that information back to their groups, ensuring a cohesive final product. 
Throughout the course of this project, students worked in small teams and designated leaders who collaborated with other groups and across class periods to create their mural. Groups were able to share ideas organically and worked as a collective as well as establish leadership. This gave students opportunities to develop communication skills and use team strategies to achieve larger creative goals.

Lesson Materials