Introducing Students to Sonia Delaunay’s Art

When students think about art, realistic paintings and time spent in front of an easel likely come to mind! Most kids don’t realize that much of the art we consume today goes beyond the canvas. That’s why I love teaching about Sonia Delaunay’s art.

Delaunay is an example of art coming off of the page and influencing our lives, including what we watch and what we wear. Sonia Delaunay’s art also shows students that art isn’t always about emotion or realism - it’s also a bit of science!

Who is Sonia Delaunay?

Sonia Delaunay is a Russian-born artist and designer known for leading the Orphism movement. In adulthood, Delaunay moved to Paris, where she spent many years painting but had yet come into her iconic style.

A few years after moving to Paris, Sonia met Robert, and they eventually married. During this time, both Sonia and Robert were inspired by many Cubist works, but they began using color theory to create an offset of this work, later called Orphism.

Sonia applied this technique to the paintings, textiles, and garments she created. Throughout her life, she worked on costumes for many plays and created custom clothing for designers.

Sonia Delaunay's artwork became well-known during her lifetime, having many successful art exhibitions and receiving awards.

Why Should Students Learn About Sonia Delaunay?

I know there were many impactful artists throughout history, and it can be challenging to decide which you will introduce to students! However, I believe Sonia Delaunay is worth mentioning.

First, Sonia Delaunay is known for her unique style and composition. Using color theory and color blocking techniques, Delaunay was able to create master arts, fabrics, and garments. Sonia and her husband were leaders of Orphism, where geometric shapes and vibrant colors came together. By talking about Sonia Delaunay, you will be introducing students to different art styles and movements!

Delaunay also created textiles, garments, and costumes, which became widely known. It’s important for students to see that art can be more than painting on a canvas. By studying Sonia Delaunay's art, students can see the possibilities of what being an artist really means.

Lastly, Sonia Delaunay had an inspiring career as an artist. By sharing her story and career, you can encourage students to pursue their artistic goals and use their creativity beyond art class!

Teaching Students About Sonia Delaunay

If I’ve convinced you to bring Sonia Delaunay to your art room, this is a great place to start. With the Concentric Apples Art Lesson, students will learn about Sonia Delaunay and apply her method to bring various colors and shapes together to create appealing images.

Students will create their own concentric apples by laying together different patterns, colors, and textures! They will use the apple as the main shape of the design and then layer additional elements to create a unique image.

This lesson is great to use with grades 3-5th. The lesson includes an analysis of Sonia Delaunay’s art, lesson sequence, progress photos, reflection sheets, guided drawing, and more to help you build a well-rounded unit!

I’m Amanda, and I align standards and integrate content to help teachers meet the needs of the Whole Child in art class! I have yet to find a standard that I couldn’t teach through art, and I want to share it all with you.

Not sure where to start with bringing art and content together? This freebie guide is packed with 25 ideas to align your art lessons with math and ELA standards. Your students will be crafting art and practicing algebraic thinking. Win-win!

I want all students to feel successful in the art room, so I created a standards-based Daffodil Collage lesson to do just that! The lesson includes an artist study, student reflection, and more, so push your artists to their full potential.

Follow along on my Instagram page for more tips on teaching the Whole Child in the art room!

Connecting art and content together doesn’t have to be mind-boggling. I’ve made it simple with 25 math and ELA art lesson starters - for free! Plus, I included 15 worksheets for students to reflect on their art-making journey.