Let’s face it; we’re all busy. We don’t always have time to sit down and read a blog post or article. That’s what makes Instagram so great. The visual nature of the platform makes it one of the most loved social media platforms for artists and art teachers alike. And, because you can scroll through quickly, it’s a great place to grab inspiration and ideas.
Instagram is a place for creative inspiration. Here are 20 artists you should start following on Instagram right now!
1. Kristin Farr
Instagram Handle: @kristinfarr
Kristin Farr’s work is driven by color and influenced by folk art. Her bright paintings are a favorite among students and teachers. One of the most notable features of her feed is her Instagram stories. She always takes you behind the scenes of her latest project and her dancing cameos will always make you smile!
2. Katie Daisy
Instagram Handle: @katiedaisy_artist
This Oregon-based artist will make you feel as if you are part of a beautiful wildflower field. Katie Daisy’s feed is filled with paintings including inspirational literature and quotes. She often takes you behind the scenes in her Instagram stories showing you the artist at work.
3. Humby Art
Instagram Handle: @humbyart
Artist Taylor Humby’s work is inspired by the cosmos. His Instagram feed is full of mesmerizing time-lapse process videos showing his work with watercolor and ink. Many of his paintings are emphasized by strong silhouettes which make for an even more exciting viewing experience.
4. Space Ram
Instagram Handle: @space.ram
Ramzy Masri’s Instagram feed takes you into a digital rainbow world. He is a designer at Nickelodeon who playfully manipulates photos. Do you want one of your photos transformed into a magical rainbow world? He takes submissions through direct messaging!
5. Drawn to High Places
Instagram Handle: @drawntohighplaces
Seattle-based artist and alpinist, Nikki Frumkin, takes you on an adventure on her Instagram page. Her work is inspired by her hiking, climbing, and mountaineering adventures. A lot of her work is created in the mountains. It’s not uncommon to see a large piece of drawing paper attached to her pack.
6. Teil Art
Instagram Handle: @teilart
Teil Duncan Henley is an artist based in Charleston, SC. Her paintings explore pixelated compositions which always cause the viewer to stop and take a closer look!
7. Lightwave Pottery
Instagram Handle: @lightwavepottery
Hawaii-based artist Dean McRaine is the master of colored clay! Follow his feed for inspiration in working with colored clay and creating blocks of clay with a design. Just viewing his work will make you feel like you are enjoying the sunshine of the islands.
8. Melanie April Art
Instagram Handle: @melanieaprilart
Melanie April is an artist and teacher whose Instagram feed is full of beautiful watercolor paintings. Her work is inspired by nature, art history, and spiritual literature. Her cosmic paintings and beautiful botanics will encourage you and your students to explore new watercolor techniques.
9. Josie Lewis
Instagram Handles: @josielewisart and @petrifiedrainbow
Minnesota-based artist, Josie Lewis, is constantly exploring color. Her feed includes a variety of mediums with watercolor and resin being most notable. For a new twist on color, give her a follow!
10. NOSÉGO
Instagram Handle: @nosego
Yis Goodwin, better know as NOSÉGO, combines his love for illustration and imagination. His work exhibits a surreal style that always seems to tell a story. You can find many of his large-scale murals on the streets of Philadelphia.
11. Morgan Blair
Instagram Handle: @mmorgannbblairr
At first look, Morgan Blair’s paintings seem to be filled with abstracted gradients. Which is certainly a distinguishing factor in her work, but she also explores visual culture through abstracted language. An interesting feature of her work is that the titles are taken from clickbait articles that allow for an almost comedic experience.
12. Obey Giant
Instagram Handle: @obeygiant
Shepard Fairey is a highly-followed artist. Our students can relate to his work which makes him an excellent follow on Instagram so you can see his most current work!
13. ThankYouX
Instagram Handle: @thankyoux
ThankYouX got his name after attributing a piece to his inspiration, Andy Warhol. This Los Angeles-based artist is well known for his larger-than-life op art cube paintings, but his work goes beyond that. His Instagram page makes you feel like you get to know the artist, and he’s pretty funny, too!
14. Cindy Sherman
Instagram Handle: @cindysherman
It only seems natural that photographer Cindy Sherman is a must follow on Instagram. Her conceptual work always leaves you thinking and wanting more.
15. Judit Just
Instagram Handle: @_jujujust_
Barcelona native, Judit Just, fills her page with dreamy, colorful fiber arts. Her vibrant wall hangings combine weaving and macrame techniques that will leave you itching to get started with fiber arts right away!
16. Forest Ceramic Co.
Instagram Handle: @forestceramicco
The artist behind this account is Sean Forest Roberts. His porcelain work is one of a kind as he has mastered the art of casting with colored slips. If you watch his Instagram stories, he takes you through the process of his amazing creations.
17. Okuda San Miguel
Instagram Handle: @okudart
This street artist from Spain characterizes his work as pop surrealism. The vibrant colors and architectural nature of his work can seem contradictory but always stand out amongst the landscape.
18. Kate Schroeder
Instagram Handle: @kate.schroeder.ceramics
Ceramic artist, Kate Schroeder, creates mesmerizing clay pieces. From her precise forms to her organic subjects inspired by nature, her work is amazing!
19. Drawing from Nature
Instagram Handle: @drawingfromnature
Andrea Slusarski, the artist behind the account, is a high school art teacher in Colorado. She is the master of sketchbooks, and her account takes you on her outdoor adventures. You can catch her on Art Ed Radio, at the Art Ed Now Online Conference, and in the Art Ed PRO library.
20. Santos Orellana
Instagram Handle: @theartofsantos
Born in Honduras, now living in California, Santos Orellana’s work has many pre-Columbian Mayan ties. His work focuses on creating imagery inspired by both his conscious and subconscious experiences.
If you’re familiar with Instagram, you know this list is just the beginning. While there is no doubt these artists are inspiring, we could easily have added 100 more. Make sure to check them out and tell us who your favorite artists are to follow!
Do you have an artist page on Instagram?
Who is your favorite artist to follow on Instagram? Share their page in the comments below!
Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.
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