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Looking In, Looking Out

Creating Places Real and Imagined

Community Exhibition

Sant Building, Lower Level 2 Galleries

Free / In-Person

Included with general admission; free for members

Plan Your Visit
Print looking through a window with curtains in blue ink

How do we celebrate the beauty of the world around us? How do we create cozy places  in our lives? How can artworks inspire us to look at everyday life through a new lens?  Inspired by the vibrancy of Bonnard’s Worlds, students from three Washington, DC,  schools explored these questions and the places that have meaning for them. 

In fall 2023, as part of ArtLinks, The Phillips Collection’s multi-visit school partnership  program, the Phillips Education Department worked with classroom teachers from  Powell, Noyes, and Takoma Elementary Schools to design art projects that met the  unique needs and interests of each class. ArtLinks enhances students’ classroom  learning through arts integration.  

Then in January 2024, students studied the work of Pierre Bonnard. They looked at his  colorful landscapes and also considered his use of windows that let us both peer out  and gaze in. They investigated the connection between Pierre Bonnard and The Phillips  Collection through primary sources in the museum’s Library and Archives. Then they  each brought their own perspective to create artworks that celebrate the feelings and  places that matter to them.  

Enjoy spending time with the 100 student works inspired by Bonnard’s Worlds.  How do the artworks help you appreciate the beauty of the everyday?

On View
Noyes Elementary School Grade 4 
Powell Bilingual Elementary School Grade 5 
Takoma Elementary School Grade 5

Noyes Elementary School Grade 4 

SCHOOL: Noyes Elementary School

TEACHERS: Frances Evangelista and Jerika Williams-Smith

CLASS: Grade 4 Visual Arts

ARTWORK INSPIRATION: Pierre Bonnard, Open Window, 1921

These three-dimensional windows were inspired by Pierre Bonnard and his use of windows to peer into different scenes. Students began this process with close looking at Bonnard’s art, where they noted his vibrant use of color. They sought to emulate Bonnard’s brush strokes onto the windows by using watercolor and acrylic paints. Students brought their personal identities into each piece by creating a view of DC out of their window. In these works, they show how you can take inspiration from past artists and turn it into your own masterpiece.

painting of an open window with soft colors that fade into each other with woman resting

Pierre Bonnard, Open Window, 1921, Oil on canvas, 46 ½ x 37 ¾ in., The Phillips Collection, Acquired 1930

Participating Students

Semaj M.

Heaven T.

LeRay J.

Leah T.

August G.

Riley G.

Knowell D.

Brian R.

Lexavy O.

Jennifer G.F.

Ma’Kiyha M.

Nadir T.

Kourtney B.

Darnell L.

Mi’Angel D.

Silvestre C.E.

Devin P.

Zavion S.

Nylan J-K.

Josmary R.

Raeghan L.

Nora Z.

Jaxson C.

Noyes Students

Gallery wall of colorful cardboard windows depicting city scenes.
9 cardboard windows with colorful drawings of city scenes.
9 cardboard windows with colorful drawings of city scenes.
9 cardboard windows with colorful drawings of city scenes.
6 cardboard windows with colorful drawings of city scenes.

Powell Bilingual Elementary School Grade 5

SCHOOL: Powell Bilingual Elementary School

TEACHERS: Heather Samuels

CLASS: Grade 5 Visual Arts

ARTWORK INSPIRATION: Pierre Bonnard, Southern Landscape with Two Children, 1916-18

Step into the vibrant world of Powell’s 5th grade class, inspired by the breathtaking hues and luminous landscapes seen in Bonnard’s World. Powell’s young artists meticulously sculpted these papier mâché mobiles in response to the French countryside’s lights and colors as witnessed by Bonnard in the early 20th century, as well the shapes present in his works. Join us in exploring this swirling landscape of colorful mobiles that the young artists have brought to life.

Pierre Bonnard colorful landscape of French Riviera

Pierre Bonnard, Southern Landscape with Two Children, 1916-18, Oil on canvas, 54 3/4 x 77 7/8 in., Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Gift of Sam and Ayala Zacks, 1970

Participating Students

Allison L.S.

Aylin S.C.

Brendan M.

Brihenme G-R.

Daniel A.A.

Edwin H.

Hector J.A.

Iker D.

Jeffrey B-L.

Jessy G-A.

June L.

Kayla R.

Kimberly H.

Maryelin N.S.

Merlyn R-C.

Merlyn R-C.

Paola V.V.

Noble M.

Maysonking O.

Amari W.

Aeklesia A.

Amanda L.P.

Antonio T.L.

Bela V.

Caleb J.

Daniel L.R.

Evin A.C.

Ian V.N.

Jayden B.N.

Jeffrey G.A.

Jose C.L.

Kelvin A.P.

Melany L.A.

Nathaly G.

Rommel M.L.

Kimberly B.

Allison Z.H.

Danessa R.

Edgar R.

Francisco P-S.

Jacob M.

Jaden M.

Jayleen H.

Kevin V-E.

Luis A.J.

Melina A.

Melvin C.Z.

Milen T.

Miuler A.G.

Shaleak W.

Sofia A.V.

Zechariah M.

Joshua P.E.

Surama R.D.

Willie P.

Wilber G.

Yoel M.

Mobile with paper mache shapes.
Mobile with paper mache shapes (orange and yellow).
Mobiles with paper mache shapes, displayed from the ceiling.
Mobiles with different colored paper mache shapes.
Mobiles with different colored paper mache shapes.
Mobile with paper mache shapes (orange, yellow, blue, and purple).
Mobiles with paper mache shapes, displayed from the ceiling.

Takoma Elementary School Grade 5

SCHOOL: Takoma Elementary School

TEACHERS: Gillian Carey, Sheena Styles, Zenneya Hester

CLASS: Grade 5 Visual Arts

ARTWORK INSPIRATION: Pierre Bonnard, The Palm, 1926

Students at Takoma Elementary created prints inspired by Pierre Bonnard’s outdoor scenes. After visiting the museum to see how Bonnard and other artists represent nature in art, they considered which elements of nature were significant to them. Back in Takoma’s art room, the student artists etched their object or symbol onto a foam sheet. Then they selected a color from Bonnard’s palette and used brayers to transfer the ink to their foam. The final step was to imprint their design on cardstock using a printing press. Can you connect any of their works to your own experiences in nature?

A painting of a person in a garden.

Pierre Bonnard, The Palm, 1926 Oil on canvas, 45 x 57 7/8 in., The Phillips Collection, Acquired 1928

Orange print of a bee and flower in the sun.

Sunbee by Aamiyah 

Green print of the sun and lines swirling around it.

Green tree

Green print with the sun and some waves.

The Ocean

Blue print with clouds and fish.

Blue lake by Alondra

Blue print with the sun, a tree, and large fish.

The Arctic

Blue print with trees and branches.

The forest

Yellow print with a mountain scene.

The Yellow Sky

Blue print with the sun and fish underneath the water.

peaceful sea

Green print with the sun behind a mountain.

The Sun Habit View

Pink print with a circle and curved lines above it.
Orange print with the sun setting in the ocean.
Orange and purple print with the sun setting in the ocean.
Green print with lines and leaves.

Love Nature!! by Arianna

Blue print with stars, and waves above.
Black print with a tree and leaves falling.

Autumn leaves

Yellow print with hills and the sun.

Nature Vibes by Berenisse

Pink print with a house and tree beneath the clouds.
Blue print with lines up and down.

rainy ambience by Carlos

Yellow print with waves beneath the sky with birds.

Water Wave by Elise

Green print with flowers and trees.

Plants all around

Green print with mountains.

mountains

Pink print with a leafless tree in the grass.

The Life in Pink

Black print with 8 triangles filled with different shapes.

earth is the goat

Blue print with ocean waves.

Sea by Jake

Green print with a tree underneath the sun.

beautiful tree

Pink print with an ocean scene.

mar pacifico

Green print with the sun setting.

The Green

Green print with the sun beneath 2 clouds.

Peaceful Sunrise

Blue print with rows of wavy lines.

Wavy fog

Blue print with a sun and four clouds in the corners.
Orange print with a penguin next to a tree.

penguins are the best

Orange print with 3 clouds and the sun.

Sunset Fields

Green print with an abstract, line design.
Orange print with three mountains.

Beautiful Mountains

Blue print with a curtained window.

Peaceful window by Meklit

Yellow print with the sun and clouds.

Flatland

Orange print with a beach umbrella and hills.

Fresh Day at the Beach

Green print with 5 leaf outlines.

Leaf

Orange print with the sun setting.

A Beautiful Sunset by Penelope

Green print with the sun surrounded by waving lines.

The sunset by Prince-Elijah

Green print with the sun setting.

Sunset

Green print with 5 flowers in the grass.

nature

Green print with a large tree underneath the sun and clouds.

Green Tree

Green print with a large tree.

A Tree

Orange print of a flower under the sun.

A Beautiful Day

Blue print with a large tree.

Sunshine by Serenite

Pink print with a tree beneath a cloud and sun.

red hills

Yellow print with the sun, rain, and clouds.

A Raining Forest

Blue print with an ocean scene.

el oceano maravilloso