Discover how art can spark conversation, challenge injustice, and bring communities together. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore how artists and activists—from Chicano and Native American movements to contemporary social justice campaigns—have used bold imagery, symbolism, and public spaces to make powerful statements.

Through discussion and hands-on making, participants will create their own protest-inspired artwork while reflecting on how visual art can challenge narratives, reclaim identity, and speak to issues that matter today.

What we’ll explore

• Art as a tool for protest, resistance, and community voice
• Visual storytelling through symbolism and cultural identity
• The role of murals, posters, and street art in social movements
• How bold, simple design can amplify a message
• Finding your own voice through creative expression

Techniques you’ll try

• Stencil-making for repeatable imagery
• Introductory printmaking and silkscreen-style methods
• Layering painted and printed designs
• Composition and contrast for visually striking artwork
• “Less is more” approaches to bold graphic design

Participants will leave with their own completed artwork reflecting a message that matters to them—along with creative skills they can continue to use long after the workshop ends.

Discover more exhibition programs
Explore programs connected to Life, Liberty, and Los Angeles and other exhibitions across the museum—each offering a different point of entry into the histories, ideas, and communities that shape the American West. Inspired by the Galleries