Richard Serra Verb List Workshop | Experimental Art & Materials Exploration

Richard Serra Verb List Workshop | Experimental Art & Materials Exploration

Looking for an engaging contemporary art activity that encourages experimentation, creative risk-taking and materials exploration?

This workshop is inspired by Richard Serra’s Verb List and invites students to investigate how actions can transform ordinary materials into unexpected and visually exciting outcomes.

Students select verbs from Serra’s list and apply them to a range of everyday materials, documenting their investigations through photography before curating a final collection of images.

The activity promotes experimentation, problem-solving and creative thinking while introducing learners to the work and ideas of a major contemporary artist.

Students will:

• Explore the work of Richard Serra
• Experiment with found, recycled and everyday materials
• Apply creative actions from Serra’s Verb List
• Record outcomes through photography
• Curate and edit a selection of successful images
• Reflect on process, experimentation and artistic decision-making

Resource includes:

• Artist introduction
• Richard Serra Verb List
• Clear task instructions
• Example artworks and outcomes from my students
• Discussion questions
• Suitable for classroom, cover lessons or independent learning

Ideal for:
GCSE Art & Design
BTEC Art & Design
Foundation Diploma
A-Level Art
Level 2 Art & Design
Level 3 Art & Design
Contemporary Art Projects
Photography Projects
Creative Thinking Workshops
Cover Lessons

The activity is highly adaptable and can be completed using almost any materials available, making it particularly useful when resources are limited or when encouraging students to think creatively about the everyday objects around them.