What do artists love most about creating murals with groups?

Collaborative murals are about more than painting walls — they’re about connection, confidence, and creating something meaningful together. I reached out to artists who have worked with groups in schools and communities to ask what they enjoy most about collaborative art. Their answers reveal why this kind of creativity has such a powerful impact.

Artists featured in this article work across schools, community settings, and inclusive programs in Australia and internationally.

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Want to Try Collaborative Art with Your Own Group?

This free guide will help you start a collaborative art project with confidence.

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What are the benefits of collaborative murals?

Collaborative murals offer powerful outcomes for both participants and artists. When people create together, the impact goes far beyond the finished artwork.

Artists consistently describe benefits such as:

• Building confidence and connection
• Creating a strong sense of ownership and pride
• Valuing the process as much as the final result
• Making art accessible to everyone, regardless of experience
• Experiencing unexpected and meaningful moments

What do artists love most about collaborative art?

Every artist approaches collaboration differently, but common themes emerge — connection, growth, and the joy of seeing participants realise what they’re capable of. I asked these artists one simple question:

What do you most enjoy about creating collaborative art with students or community participants?

Here are their responses. Links to their sites are included so you can explore their work further.

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Leah Grant — Adelaide, South Australia | Street Artist | Educator | Potter

What do you most enjoy about creating collaborative art with students or community participants?

I love that we can create something different than what we would have created in isolation. It has more buy-in from the community when they involved, they value it more and it usually lasts longer and is enjoyed more because of that. When I work in a collaborative project like this, I’m very aware that I am making something for their space, so it’s important that I listen to their vision and ideas. The mural doesn’t belong to me, I’m there for a period of time to work with them and make something that they will see regularly, well after I leave. Public art belongs and is owned by the public.

– Leah Grant

Insight: Collaborative murals build deeper community ownership. When people are involved in the process, they value and care for the artwork long after it’s finished.

Discover More: Leah Grant

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Brode Compton — Sydney, Australia | Mural Artist Transforming Spaces Through Urban Art Since 2011

What do you most enjoy about creating collaborative art with students or community participants?

What I enjoy most about collaborating on murals with students or community participants is creating work they can genuinely feel connected to. Especially with community projects, I could just come in, paint a mural, and leave but that’s never been the goal for me. I prefer involving people in the process by sharing ideas, stories, or the area’s history so they have ownership of the mural long after I leave.

At the end of the day, the mural is for them. It should reflect something meaningful back to the people who see it every day. When the community has a hand in shaping the work, there’s a stronger sense of pride and ownership. Otherwise, what’s the point of creating something that people don’t connect with or value?

– Brode Compton

Insight: Connection and meaning matter more than the final image. When communities shape the mural, they feel pride and lasting ownership.

Discover More: Blackbook Ink

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Austin Gregory Ohm – Seattle, Washington | Community Artist | Art Teacher

What do you most enjoy about creating collaborative art with students or community participants?

A surprising fact about me is, like many artists, I’m very much an introvert. I’m content to spend hours and days alone in my studio creating. I don’t require validation or motivation from others to create my art and at this point in my life I don’t feel called to show my work in galleries either.  

I’ve also been a k-12 art teacher for over 10 years which has been extremely fulfilling in many ways. But teaching in a classroom is another very safe and controlled environment, not unlike the comfort of my home studio space.  As a creative person, I know that stretching outside of my comfort zone is where growth happens!

I discovered I also had a deep desire to make a contribution to my greater community in a direct way. I wanted to use my skill set as an artist and art teacher in a more outward facing way.  My solution became facilitating collaborative murals and other community art projects.

What I love most about these social art projects is helping others discover that they are part of something meaningful – and using art as the vehicle to make that visible.  Sharing the power of art to transform spaces and people. And how through my passion for art I continue to grow as an artist, educator, positive role model, and contributing community member in ways that are meaningful and authentic to me. 

– Austin Gregory Ohm

Insight: Collaborative murals allow artists to step beyond the studio and create meaningful impact through shared creative experiences.

Discover More: www.ARTwithAUSTIN.com

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Valentina Marin – Adelaide, South Australia | Artist & Graphic Designer

What do you most enjoy about creating collaborative art with students or community participants?

I’ve had the pleasure of working with two schools: Adelaide High School and Dernancourt Primary School. In both projects, I collaborated closely with teachers by providing a series of key questions to guide student input (usually with selected groups of students). From their responses, we identified common themes and used those to shape the overall vision for the space. It’s always fascinating to see how unique and insightful their ideas can be.

At Dernancourt, I also incorporated a show and tell element during the painting process. Throughout the day, different classes would come by, sit with me, watch the mural come to life, and ask questions. It was such a special and motivating experience to hear their creative thoughts and engage with them in real time. I truly loved those interactions and hope it inspired them to keep exploring their creativity.

– Valentina Marin

Insight: Inviting ideas and interaction throughout the process encourages creativity and helps participants feel seen and heard.

Discover More: Vilarte Studio

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Deb McNaughton – Melbourne, Australia | Artist | Illustrator | Muralist

What do you most enjoy about creating collaborative art with students or community participants?

The thing I enjoy most about creating collaboratively is the conversations that take place while painting. Kids/students really open up while they are painting and once they start talking, they don’t stop. It’s wonderful. I really value the chats I have with the people I meet on each project site. 

– Deb McNaughton

Insight: The conversations that happen during painting are just as important as the artwork itself — strengthening relationships and trust.

Discover More: Deb McNaughton

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Charndra Pile – Adelaide, South Australia | Inclusive Social Artist | School Murals and Community Artworks

What do you most enjoy about creating collaborative art with students or community participants?

What I love most about collaborative murals is seeing people — often nervous to pick up a brush — dive in, experiment, and realise what they’re capable of.

We start with a blank wall, build it up in messy, fun layers, and each week add more patterns, spirals, and colour. The kids have so much fun they come running back at recess or lunch to see the progress with their friends.

I love that they have ownership from start to finish. My reward is their pride and sense of accomplishment — and knowing they can walk past and say, “I painted that!”

– Charndra Pile

Insight: When participants experience success in a shared artwork, it builds confidence that extends far beyond the mural itself.

Discover More: Painting Around is Fun!

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If you’re a mural artist who enjoys working collaboratively, I’d love to include your perspective here too. Feel free to get in touch and share what you enjoy most about creating murals with groups — you can respond to the same question: What do you most enjoy about creating collaborative art with students or community participants?

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Why does collaborative art matter in schools?

Collaborative murals can transform how students experience art and their learning environment.

In schools, creating art together supports:

• Student voice and ownership
• Engagement and motivation
• Confidence building
• Social connection and teamwork
• Inclusion across abilities
• Pride in shared spaces
• Cross-age collaboration

As a secondary art teacher turned inclusive social artist, I’ve seen how powerful it is when students realise they can contribute to something bigger than themselves. When they paint a mural in public, they often become braver in other areas of their lives.

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Why does collaborative art matter in communities?

Collaborative art also plays an important role beyond schools.

When people create together, it can strengthen:

• Belonging and identity
• Community pride
• Social connection
• Intergenerational relationships
• Emotional wellbeing
• Accessibility to creative experiences

Many participants join collaborative projects believing they “aren’t artistic,” and leave with a completely different perspective.

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What makes collaborative murals different from traditional murals?

Traditional murals are often created by a single artist or small team, with the community watching the process.

Collaborative murals are different.

Participants actively contribute to the artwork or the design process, guided by the artist or facilitator. This creates:

• Shared ownership
• Participation and inclusion
• Personal connection to the artwork
• A meaningful creative experience

The focus shifts from perfection to participation — and that’s where much of the impact happens.

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What surprises artists about collaborative murals?

Many artists describe similar unexpected moments during collaborative projects:

• Quiet participants becoming deeply engaged
• People discovering creativity they didn’t know they had
• Emotional reactions to the finished artwork
• Strong group pride and connection

These moments are often the most memorable part of the process.

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My Approach to Collaborative Murals

In my collaborative projects, I focus on inclusion, accessibility, and confidence building so that everyone can participate in a way that feels comfortable. This reflects what many artists value — seeing people engage, grow, and contribute in meaningful ways.

I use a guided approach that provides structure while still allowing creative freedom.

The Pattern Play Collaborative Art Process

The Pattern Play process makes creativity simple and accessible for everyone. It’s playful, inclusive, and confidence-building.

It follows three stages:

• Messy Playing – start with fun, expressive marks
• Exploring – build layers with simple repeating patterns
• Bling! – add details and definition with paint pens

The goal isn’t just the mural — it’s the shared experience of creating it.

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How can you start a collaborative mural with your group?

If you’re considering a collaborative mural, a few simple principles can help:

• Choose a flexible theme – You can use abstract styles, existing Pattern Play patterns, or create new patterns for a specific project. Themes can guide the work without limiting creativity.
• Keep materials simple and accessible – Limiting your materials helps participants feel confident and keeps the process manageable.
• Provide guidance without over-controlling – Too much direction can intimidate participants. Offer gentle prompts, visual examples, and demonstrations to encourage them to get started.
• Focus on participation rather than perfection – The learning (and the fun) is in the messy middle. Mistakes and unexpected outcomes are part of the process.
• Allow room for individual expression – Encourage each person to contribute their own ideas within a structure that keeps the mural cohesive.
• Celebrate contributions from everyone involved – Simple touches like incorporating names or recognising participation help people feel seen and valued.

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If you’d like more support, the free guide below walks through the process step-by-step.

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Discover easy tips about how to plan and run a collaborative art project with your group:

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The real impact of creating together

Collaborative murals are not just about creating something beautiful – they’re about connection, confidence, and shared experience.

When people create together, barriers disappear. Participants feel seen, valued, and capable. The artwork becomes a reminder of what can happen when individuals come together to contribute their ideas and energy.

That impact often lasts far beyond the painting itself, especially as each time you see it you recall the experience.

Happy Painting,

Charndra

Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.

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For schools in Adelaide

If you’re based in Adelaide and would love to bring a collaborative mural to your school, you can learn more about my school mural projects here → Collaborative Murals for Schools

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Explore more collaborative art resources:

• How to make a collective artwork: A step-by-step guide to painting a group mural
• Different types of collaborative art projects
• 2 Group art mural examples

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