Art History Timeline / Ancient Greek Art
Ancient Greek Art for Kids: Art History, Artists and an Easy Art Activity
Ancient Greeks built temples with tall columns and carved statues of people. They painted stories on clay pots called vases. Many pots have black figures on orange clay, or orange figures on black.
For teachers
Greek art moved from geometric patterns toward realistic human figures and balanced proportions. Painted pottery shows black-figure and later red-figure techniques, and some potters and painters signed their work. Greek ideas about balance and proportion shaped later Roman and Renaissance art.
What to look for
Pull up an artwork from this time and go on a looking hunt. Here is what to spot.
- Black figures on orange clay, or the reverse
- Key and wave patterns around the edges
- Columns and balanced, even shapes
- Stories from myths and sports
Meet the artists
Exekias
active about 545 to 530 BCE
He was a potter and painter who signed his vases, so we still know his name.
Phidias
about 480 to 430 BCE
He led the sculpture work for the Parthenon temple in Athens.
Berlin Painter
active about 500 to 460 BCE
We do not know his real name, so experts named him after a vase in Berlin.
Artworks to look at closely
Click any artwork to zoom in on The Met website. Big screen, slow looking, lots of talking.
Try it
An easy art activity you can do with paper and whatever drawing tools you have.
Cut a vase shape from orange paper. Draw a band of key pattern around the top and bottom with black marker, then fill the middle with a black silhouette of you doing your favourite sport.
Ms Artastic lessons
Ready-to-teach lessons that connect to this part of the timeline.
Questions teachers and parents ask
What is ancient Greek art?
Ancient Greeks built temples with tall columns and carved statues of people. They painted stories on clay pots called vases. Many pots have black figures on orange clay, or orange figures on black.
What time period is ancient Greek art from?
Time period: About 800 BCE to 31 BCE. Where: Greece and the Mediterranean.
Who are some famous artists of ancient Greek art?
Exekias (active about 545 to 530 BCE), Phidias (about 480 to 430 BCE) and Berlin Painter (active about 500 to 460 BCE).
What is an easy art project for kids about ancient Greek art?
Cut a vase shape from orange paper. Draw a band of key pattern around the top and bottom with black marker, then fill the middle with a black silhouette of you doing your favourite sport.
The Artastic Collective art curriculum
Full art lessons, videos and units for the whole year, ready when you are. Monthly, yearly and VIP plans.
Ancient Greece video lessons
Press play and paint along with me. Each video lesson comes with a printable lesson plan and a QR code, so it is ready for the classroom or the kitchen table.
🎬 Video lessons
Teach it with a video lesson
Each one has a step-by-step video tutorial and the printable lesson plan.
