Ending the Year with Bold Creativity: Romero Britto in the Art Room

This week in the art room, I was excited to introduce our new Artist of the Month, a moment the students always look forward to. Before revealing the artist’s name, I like to build curiosity by giving the students a few clues. This time, I described the artist as someone born in Brazil, now living in Miami, who creates colorful, vibrant artwork that can be found all throughout the city. I mentioned that his art appears in public spaces, sculptures, and even stores in many local malls.

It didn’t take long before one student confidently guessed his name. When I finally showed examples of the artwork, the room immediately filled with excitement. One after another, the students exclaimed, “Yes, yes! I’ve seen his art!” It was such a joyful moment to see them make real-world connections and recognize how art exists beyond the classroom walls.

We spent some time learning about Romero Britto, discussing his background, his artistic journey, and his impact on the Miami art scene. To deepen their understanding, I shared a short video about his life and work, which helped bring his story to life and made his art feel even more accessible and inspiring.

Next, we focused on two important vocabulary words: bold and patterns. Britto’s work is a perfect example of both. His art is highly vibrant, filled with bold, contrasting colors, and defined by thick black outlines. The repeated patterns within his compositions create energy, movement, and visual interest, making his style instantly recognizable.

I then showed the students some of my own artwork inspired by Romero Britto, and they absolutely loved it. Seeing an example created by their teacher helped them feel confident and excited about starting their own projects.

Ms Ibert's work inspired by Britto

After all the learning and discussion, it was time for the students to begin their Britto-inspired projects. Second and third graders worked with a winter-themed template, filling their shapes with patterns and using vibrant colors to bring their designs to life. Fourth and fifth graders were challenged to take it a step further by drawing their own objects and transforming them into bold, eye-catching compositions using color, pattern, and strong outlines.

We will be finishing these projects next week, which also marks our final art project of 2025. It’s a wonderful way to wrap up the year—celebrating creativity, color, and confidence—before heading into a well-deserved break. I can’t wait to see the finished artworks and share them with our school community.