Black History Month Art Project: Jean-Michel Basquiat Portraits & Art Sub Plan

🎨 Jean-Michel Basquiat Art Lesson – Black History Month Project

Looking for a fun, meaningful, and creative Black History Month project for your art class? This Jean-Michel Basquiat-inspired art lesson will captivate your elementary and middle school students while teaching them about one of the most influential modern Black artists.

Kids will connect with Basquiat’s bold style and his inspiring story of grit, determination, and social commentary. As they design their own abstract portrait in Basquiat’s style, students will explore how art can be used to communicate identity, culture, and important social issues.

✨ What’s Included

This lesson gives you three engaging ways to guide students, so you can choose what works best for your classroom:

• 🎲 Roll a Dice Game – add fun and randomness to the creative process
• 📝 “You Pick” Worksheet – student choice drives the artwork
• 💻 Digital Spinner Wheels – integrate technology into your art room

Plus, everything you need to run a successful project:

• Step-by-step picture directions
• Printable dice template (no dice? no problem!)
• Drawing practice worksheet
• Artist Biography – Jean-Michel Basquiat’s life and work, ready to go
• “Big Ideas” reflection worksheet
• Student self-assessment worksheet
• Art grading rubric (expectations, craftsmanship, creativity, and clean-up)
• 8 “I CAN” statements aligned with the Studio Habits of Mind
• 4 quick art exit tickets for easy assessment
• Art history coloring pages inspired by Basquiat’s work

🎯 Why You’ll Love It

• Engages students with modern art history in a way that feels exciting, not boring
• Helps kids connect art and culture to real-world issues and identity
• Easy-to-use lesson plan saves teachers valuable prep time
• Perfect for Black History Month, substitute plans, or anytime you want to inspire creative confidence

✅ Great for elementary & middle school art

✅ Perfect for February (or any time of year)

✅ Connects to art appreciation, social studies, and SEL

Bring the energy, creativity, and story of Jean-Michel Basquiat into your classroom and watch your students shine!