Picasso Inspired Cardboard Art Project

Bring bold creativity into your classroom with this hands-on STEAM project that turns Picasso’s imaginative spirit into an unforgettable learning experience. In this lesson, students explore Cubism through sculpture, transforming everyday materials into expressive, 3D masterpieces. This isn’t just an art project, students will also learn about geometry, recycling, design thinking, and creative confidence. Whether you’re introducing a unit on modern art, building fine motor skills, or encouraging out-of-the-box thinking, this activity is packed with cross-curricular potential. With simple materials and minimal prep, students will construct their own Picasso-inspired creations that stand tall and challenge the rules of traditional portraiture. Get ready to spark joy, curiosity, and a bit of beautifully organized chaos in your classroom with this fun and memorable art project.

Picasso Sculpture STEAM Project

Disclaimer: This article may contain commission, paid partnerships, or affiliate links. We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

Who Was Pablo Picasso?

Pablo Picasso is one of the most recognized artists in modern history, and for good reason. His radical approach to art challenged convention and inspired a global movement. Along with Georges Braque, he co-founded the Cubist movement, which revolutionized how people viewed and created art. Instead of striving for realism, Picasso played with angles, exaggerated shapes, and mixed perspectives, often using bold geometric forms and unexpected materials.

Book Tip! We love the book Who Was Picasso if you want to supplement this activity with a great book!

All the pictures Picasso made were made up of shapes like cubes, triangles, circles and wiggly lines to show that an artwork could look different from all angles when looked at. He didn’t only make flat art on canvas or paper, but cut, folded, glued paper together, and built things out of wood, metal, cardboard, and all kinds of junk he found lying around his house. He loved to use recycled materials to turn flat things into cool, three-dimensional (3D) art.

We are embracing that wild enthusiasm for art and creation today!

Picasso can teach us:

Let’s look at what Picasso can teach us:

• How to think creatively and see shapes in a whole new way.
• How to use flat materials like cardboard to build tall, interesting standing sculptures.
• That it is fun to turn scrap materials into amazing, recycled art projects. 
• How to use shapes, balance, and design, just like a real artist!
• Not to be afraid of creating artworks that other people might find strange.
• That art is not just about drawing, but building, inventing, and playing with different materials.
• That it’s fun and exciting to turn trash into treasures!

Classroom and Curriculum Insights

For educators, this project offers a unique opportunity to show students that art isn’t about perfection (which often kills creativity and confidence!). It’s about vision, exploration, and expression. It’s particularly effective for helping learners develop spatial reasoning and understand the fundamentals of 3D construction and design, all while exercising their imaginations.

What makes this activity stand out is its accessibility and versatility. Using basic supplies like cardboard, glue, and recycled materials, students learn how to build free-standing sculptures that reflect the abstract beauty of Picasso’s Cubist portraits. It’s a brilliant way to emphasize resourcefulness and sustainability while reducing supply costs. Something that is always a big win for busy classrooms or budget-conscious homeschooling environments.

Developmental Goals Supported

This activity supports a wide range of developmental goals: encouraging divergent thinking, enhancing fine motor skills, developing an understanding of artistic composition and balance, and increasing confidence in self-expression. For educators working with students who hesitate to engage with art because they fear “doing it wrong,” this project helps dismantle that mindset. In fact, the weirder, more asymmetrical, and unconventional the outcome, the more in the spirit of Picasso it is.

Key Learning Outcomes

Here’s a closer look at the key learning outcomes this lesson supports:

• Introduces students to Cubism and the work of Pablo Picasso in an approachable, hands-on format.
• Teaches how to transform flat materials like cardboard into tall, balanced, standing sculptures.
• Encourages the use of recycled materials and sustainable practices in the arts.
• Fosters creativity and confidence through open-ended artistic exploration.
• Demonstrates how art and geometry intersect through shape, balance, and perspective.

Materials

To complete this project, you’ll need:

Cardstock
Printer that can print on cardstock
Large pieces of cardboard (such as from a shipping box)
Empty toilet paper roll or cardboard tube
Glue
Scissors
Ruler
Box cutter or try using cardboard creator saw or electric scissors for some cool tool options
Pencil
Glue stick
Colored crayons or felt-tip pens
Black permanent marker

Instructions

Prepare the templates

Print pages 2, 3, and 4 of the template on cardstock and cut out each shape. Then print page 5 (twice) on standard paper and cut out the face pieces, leaving a thin white border.

Use bright colors to decorate the face pieces with crayons or markers. These will be added later.

Adjust for the toilet roll

Measure the diameter of the toilet roll to ensure the template’s circular holes fit. Adjust as needed before tracing and cutting.

Trace and cut the cardboard pieces

Trace all template shapes onto cardboard and cut them out using scissors or a box cutter. You’ll need two head shapes, two full circles, and two circles with center holes.

Create the base

Glue the two full circles together and do the same with the two holed circles. Add weight and allow them to dry completely to form the sculpture’s base.

Prepare the toilet roll

Use the placement guide to mark four cut lines around the roll. Mark 1.5 cm down from each line and make narrow slits with scissors. These will hold the head pieces.

Assemble the head

Once dry, decorate both head pieces with bold black lines to represent Picasso’s stylized hair. Then glue on the colored face pieces, placing them abstractly—Picasso rarely put features in traditional positions. Make it asymmetrical, unique, and expressive.

Remember, Picasso didn’t always paint the way people expected, he liked to break the rules. Encourage your students to break the rules and let their imaginations go wild!

Final assembly

Glue the toilet roll into the center of the base. Let it dry completely. Then slide the two head pieces into the slits at the top of the roll to create a standing portrait.

Reflect and Encourage Discussion

At this point, educators may want to pause and reflect with students on the process: What did they find challenging? How did their final creation differ from their initial vision? What choices did they make that reflect Picasso’s influence?

Extension Activities

To extend the learning further, consider incorporating open-ended sculpture time using leftover materials. Encourage students to build original pieces using:

• Scrap cardboard, boxes, cereal packs
• String, bottle caps, straws, tape
• Paints, markers, and bold patterns
• Paper cut-outs or found objects

Check out our Cardboard Creations STEAM activity for more inspiration.

This not only reinforces artistic principles but also gives students a sense of creative agency as they invent their own 3D characters and forms.

And once sculptures are complete? Give them names worthy of a gallery and don’t forget to display them proudly. A classroom filled with Picasso-inspired portraits is a celebration of imagination in all its weird and wonderful forms.