Here are some amazing Antoni Gaudí Art Projects for Kids to help us learn about the artist without whom Barcelona would be incomplete!

“The straight line belongs to men, the curved one to God.” ~ Antoni Gaudi

Imagine being an architect who finishes architecture school with low grades, but then goes on to build some of Spain’s most iconic buildings – so iconic that seven of them are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites!

We’re talking about Spain‘s very own master artist and architect, Antoni Gaudí, who built the gorgeous monument that you see here:

This is the Sagrada Familia church, Gaudí’s Magnum Opus. Looking at the sheer grandeur of the structure, it’s easy to understand why he’s one of Barcelona’s most well known individuals.

Born in Reus, Catalonia, Spain, Antoni Gaudí completed his architecture studies at the Barcelona Higher School of Architecture. During his time there, he worked with many popular architects as a draughtsman. This opened his eyes to an entire new world – which he then made his own!

That’s why Gaudí’s work is said to be sui generis, which means it’s completely unique to him. He is probably the most well-known face of Catalan Modernism, an art movement that combined Catalan identity with modernist elements.

Since June is his birthday month, we think it’s the right time to learn more about this amazing artist, who contributed so much to Barcelona – and the world! Here are some amazing Antoni Gaudí art projects for kids to explore and try out new styles.

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10 Admirable Antoni Gaudí Art Projects for Kids

1. Gaudi Cardboard Box Town

Most architects tend to draw very detailed plans before they start a project, but not Gaudí. He used to make 3D models of his projects, adding details as he built them. In short, he was an artist who ‘went with the flow’! Creative Spaces brings us a project that has the same idea – gather junk materials from around your home, and use your creativity to combine them into Gaudí-inspired structures with lots of curves and colors!

2. Antoni Gaudí-Inspired Lizard Collage

One of Gaudí’s famous patrons was a rich businessman named Eusebi Güell. He recognized the artist’s genius and financed many of his works, including the Bodegas Güell, the Güell pavilions, the Palau Güell, and the Park Güell. The Park Güell features a mosaic salamander which has become one of the most popular sights at the park and one of Gaudí’s most identifiable works. Blowing Rock Art and History Museum shows us how to create our own version of the salamander, with a step-by-step tutorial!

3. Antoni Gaudi Lizard Art Lesson

Antoni Gaudí was trained as an architect, but that didn’t stop him from experimenting with carpentry, wrought iron work, ceramics and stained glass. He even introduced new techniques such as using waste ceramic pieces to create art. Our list of Antoni Gaudí art projects for kids needs to celebrate it, and we have Amber Pasillas to show us how to create a Gaudí-inspired art project that looks a lot like stained glass!

4. Gaudi-Inspired Animal Mosaics

There are a few things that are common in Gaudí’s work – they all reflect his love for nature, religion and architecture. He was deeply Catholic, and used religious imagery so much that he was called ‘God’s Architect’. It’s only natural that someone with a nickname like that would pay homage to God’s creations, like animals! If you love animals too, you’ll enjoy these mosaic art projects from Arte a Scuola.

5. Antoni Gaudi Printable Activity Sheets

Our list of Antoni Gaudí art projects for kids will be incomplete without the story of the Sagrada Familia, Gaudí’s most famous structure. Antoni Gaudí was assigned the task of building it in 1883. However, in the years that followed, he experienced the deaths of many of his friends and family members. From 1915, he devoted himself entirely to this project, burying himself in work. He was so engrossed in it that from 1925, he began living inside the church’s workshop. Learn more about this and other structures in this printable set from Mini Mad Things.

6. Gaudi-Inspired Collage Mirror Frames

Creative Spaces brings us a fun mirror project that uses the mosaic-style found in many of Gaudí’s works. Do you wonder what Gaudí must have seen when he looked in the mirror? Many people described him as a rather unpleasant man, but his close friends remember him as pleasant, loyal and polite. Just goes on to show that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover!

7. Gaudi Style Mosaic Sculptures

Geek Mom combines different worlds by combining dinosaurs and dinosaur eggs with the mosaic art style of Antoni Gaudí in this fun project! We don’t think Gaudí would have minded, though; he was a man deeply proud of his Catalan culture, identity and language. In fact, when he was visited by the King of Spain, he insisted on speaking to the King in Catalan instead of Spanish!

8. Antoni Gaudi Texture Art Project

These Antoni Gaudí art projects for kids are an interesting way to see how Gaudí’s style changed over the years. Soon after completing his architecture education, he practiced a kind of florid Victorianism. Soon, he developed a design similar to Moorish style – Spain’s special mixture of Islamic and Christian design. Later, he also experimented with Gothic and Baroque styles, eventually creating his own style. Use the techniques from Art To Grow On to create your own art style too!

9. Gaudi’s Casa Batlló Drawing Tutorial

While designing his building projects, Antoni Gaudí created the Equilibrated Structure, which is a structure that stands on its own, much like a tree does. This kind of building does not have any internal bracing or external buttressing, making it a unique kind of structure. Gaudí created two apartment buildings in Barcelona in this style – the Casa Milà and the Casa Batlló, which is also a UNESCO Heritage Site. Nika’s Channel shows us how to draw the Casa Batlló – way easier than building it!

10. Paper Mosaics Inspired by Antoni Gaudi

Antoni Gaudí loved nature, and he joined an organisation called the Centre Excursionista de Catalunya, which arranged nature expeditions across Catalonia and France. He used his learnings from his nature excursions to insert specific geometrical forms in his buildings, like the hyperbolic paraboloid, the hyperboloid, the helicoid and the cone, which are found in natural forms. You’ll notice that Gaudí preferred curves over straight lines in his work, something Mrs. Vasquez Art Room celebrates in this art project!

These Antoni Gaudí art projects for kids don’t just introduce us to many new concepts in art and architecture; they also teach us that grades aren’t everything. Gaudí wasn’t a great student, and often failed classes. When he was getting his degree, his school’s director wasn’t too sure about what would become of this below-average student. In fact, even Gaudí didn’t have high hopes, telling his friend that he was surprised that he even got the degree!

But we now know that the man was truly a genius, and his grades were a poor reflection of his real skills and talents. This should encourage kids to persist despite bad grades; you have other talents that could even make you famous one day!

If you’d like to explore the work of other famous artists, check these out: