Young Hearts Showcases Picasso-Inspired Art

At Young Hearts, a Great Hearts Preschool, young learners explored the art of legendary artist Pablo Picasso. School Director Cori Lewis engaged with her students in a week-long exploration of Picasso’s life and creative style, all leading up to a unique “fashion show” that allowed them to showcase their Picasso-inspired masterpieces through the hallway-turned-runway.

Picasso, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century who famously began painting as a child, was a perfect figure for the Young Hearts students to study. “The kids learned that he started a love of art at a young age, and we believe the same thing here at Young Hearts,” she said.

Pablo Picasso, 1921, Three Musicians, oil on canvas, Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Known for pioneering Cubism, Picasso’s approach to art emphasized imagination, breaking boundaries, and experimenting with unconventional forms. Picasso’s creativity led him to revolutionize the art world by challenging traditional perspectives, using vibrant colors, geometric shapes, and unexpected forms. Picasso created over 20,000 artworks during his life and experienced different artistic phases, including his famous “Blue Period” and “Rose Period,” where he used color to convey emotion.

To bring their Picasso-inspired artwork to life, the preschoolers were given a variety of shapes and colors to work with. Lewis explained that Young Hearts embraces “process art,” where children freely express themselves through color, texture, and shape. “Let me tell you, the kids use their imagination! They’re very creative. Our goal here is to use process art, which means that we like to throw a lot of different material out and have fun, let them use their imagination and express themselves throughout art.”

After their artwork was complete, the children playfully paraded their pieces on the runway in a vibrant and dramatic fashion-style art show. Some of the students really got into character as they sashayed down the temporary catwalk. The event celebrated their creations and showed Young Hearts’ commitment to making art a key part of each child’s early education. The preschool encourages expression through art, aiming to cultivate a lifelong love of creativity and pursuit of beauty.

The art show was a wonderful way for these young learners to embrace Picasso’s spirit of exploration and creativity. “We had an awesome day today,” she said. “I can’t wait to do it again next year.”

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