Teen Studio: Light Work

Teens: Ready to level up your art? Join us for Teen Studio, a free art-making program exclusively for teens ages 13–19. Push your artistic boundaries using materials and techniques inspired by artists whose work is now on view at the Hirshhorn.

This month, Art School is continuing its exploration of the big ideas in the Hirshhorn’s newest exhibition: Big Things for Big Rooms. The exhibition explores installation art, meaning large-scale artworks that wrap the viewer in a multisensory experience. This Saturday, we’ll experience “monument” for V. Tatlin (1967) by Dan Flavin. Then we’ll work with guest artist Matt Cooley to learn about stage lighting design. Then we’ll use professional lighting equipment to create a light show in Art School! 

Please note: This program will include flashing lights that may affect viewers who are sensitive to light.

Guest Artist


Matthew Cooley is a lighting designer and artist based in Washington, DC, specializing in live lighting performances. He has done work for acts like Jack White and Kim Gordon while also lighting a variety of pop-up events like National Landing BID’s Coffee Shop Rave and touring with his friend Madison Moore to light their lecture series. Matthew’s lighting designs use atmospherics and perception-shifting tools such as fog, haze, and bubbles that blur the direct visual sense of what is occurring and create a dreamlike scene.
Do this at home! Create a light sculpture inspired by artist Olafur Eliasson.

Olafur Eliasson: Rainbow Reflections


ABOUT TEEN STUDIO

Teens ages 13–19 are invited to hang out and get creative at the Hirshhorn’s Teen Studio. Teen Studio is a free series of art-making workshops offered from 2:30 to 4 PM every Saturday. All skill levels are welcome—from the novice notebook doodler to the experienced teen artist, there’s something for everyone!

Each month, we’ll dive into a fresh theme inspired by artists on view. Each workshop will offer a mix of time in the galleries, where we’ll encounter groundbreaking artists, and time in Hirshhorn Art School, where we’ll experiment with new media and materials. Whether you’re into painting, sculpture, 3D design, animation, or something else, you’ll get hands-on experience and unlock new creative skills.

If there are services or accommodations that can improve your experience (e.g., ASL interpretation, live captioning, etc.), please contact HMSGEducation@si.edu. We appreciate receiving such requests at least one to two weeks in advance.