Today, we continued our Black History Month celebrations by learning about the amazing artist and photographer Lorna Simpson. Lorna is an African American artist known for her photography and thought-provoking artwork, which explores identity, race, gender and how people are represented. We looked at some of her work together and talked about what we could see, noticing the different hairstyles, facial features and details in her photographs. This gave the children a lovely opportunity to learn about an inspiring Black artist while developing their Understanding of the World and appreciating different forms of art and representation.

Inspired by Lorna Simpson’s work, we decided to create some artwork of our own! We started by taking photographs of one another using our nursery camera. Once the photographs were printed, we attached them to paper and gathered around the art table to explore Lorna’s artwork more closely. We took our time looking at the different images, sharing our observations and discussing what we noticed. The children were encouraged to share their ideas and talk about what they could see, supporting their Communication and Language skills as they developed their confidence in expressing themselves and listening to others.

After looking closely at the artwork and sharing an example, it was time for the children to create their own masterpieces! They used paint, their imaginations and their own ideas to bring their photographs to life. It was lovely to watch them carefully studying their pictures, noticing their own features and thinking about the details they wanted to add. The children made their own choices about colours and designs, showing wonderful creativity and concentration. This supported their Expressive Arts and Design as they experimented with materials and developed their own artistic ideas, while also strengthening their Physical Development through holding paintbrushes, controlling their movements and making detailed marks.

As the children worked, we encouraged them to take their time, explore their ideas and create something that felt special to them. Every piece of artwork was different, and that was what made the activity so lovely! The children were given the freedom to express themselves in their own way, helping to build their confidence and sense of individuality. This also linked to their Personal, Social and Emotional Development, as we celebrated what makes each of us unique and encouraged the children to appreciate one another’s creations.

We were so proud to see how focused and enthusiastic the children were, and their faces lit up when they saw their finished artwork! It was wonderful to see them taking pride in what they had created while learning about an inspiring Black artist. Activities like this help us celebrate diversity, encourage children to see themselves reflected in the world around them and show them that everyone has something special to bring to art.