21 Best Art Team-Building Activities to Boost Collaboration in 2025

Benefits of Art Team Building Activities

In 2025, art team building activities are revolutionizing workplace dynamics. Here's why they're becoming the secret weapon for innovative companies:

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Sparks Real Creativity (Not Just Buzzword Creativity)

Remember when your colleague came up with that brilliant solution during a casual coffee chat? That's because our best ideas often come when we're relaxed and thinking creatively. Art activities create this same mental state, helping teams approach work challenges from new angles.

Breaks Down Those Awkward Office Barriers

There's something about creating art together that makes those usual office hierarchies melt away. We’ve seen CEOs and interns laugh together while trying to sculpt with clay - it's hard to maintain that formal work persona when you've got paint on your nose!

Actually Reduces Stress (We Have Proof!)

This isn't just feel-good talk. Studies published in Frontiers in Psychology show that creative activities significantly lower stress levels. One team we worked with started keeping art supplies in their break room after seeing how much calmer everyone felt after our sessions.

Builds Real Connections

Unlike forced networking events, art activities create natural conversations. When you're working on a mural together, those connections happen organically - no awkward small talk required.

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21 Best Art Team-Building Activities

Best In-Person Art Team-Building Activities

1. Collaborative Mural Creation

Transform a plain wall into a masterpiece as employees work together to create a large-scale mural. This is an activity known for encouraging creativity, communication, and collaboration, as team members gather, plan and execute their vision. The finished mural can be added to your office walls as a way to remind your team of their collective effort and creativity.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Divide the team into smaller groups
2. Brainstorm ideas and create a rough sketch
3. Assign sections of the mural to each group
4. Paint the mural together
5. Present the finished artwork

⏰ Duration: 2-3 hours

👤 Group size: Up to 50 participants

🔎 Required materials: Large canvas or wall space, acrylic paints, brushes, pencils.

✅ Why it works for teams: Fosters collaboration, encourages problem-solving, and creates a sense of accomplishment.

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2. Sculpting Session

‍Get ready to get your hands dirty with a clay sculpting session. Watch your teams work together to create sculptures, and challenge participants to think three-dimensionally and problem-solve while they bring their ideas to life. Because this is a tactile activity, it can be both relaxing and engaging.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Introduce basic sculpting techniques (hire a professional if you have the budget for it)
2. Divide into small teams
3. Brainstorm and sketch ideas
4. Create sculptures together
5. Present the finished pieces

⏰ Duration: 1-2 hours

👤 Group size: Up to 20 participants

🔎 Required materials: Clay, sculpting tools, work surfaces, aprons.

✅ Why it works for teams: This activity improves communication and develops problem-solving skills.

3. Landscape Painting Excursion

‍Take your team outdoors for a landscape painting session. This activity combines the benefits of being in nature with the creative process of painting. Besides stimulating creativity, this is a great way to reduce stress and bond while working together.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Choose a scenic outdoor location
2. Set up easels and materials
3. Provide a brief tutorial on landscape painting techniques (or hire a professional for this effect)
4. Allow time for individual painting
5. Share finished works

⏰ Duration: 2-3 hours

👤 Group size: Up to 20 participants

🔎 Required materials: Portable easels, canvases, acrylic paints, brushes, water containers, paper towels.

✅ Why it works for teams: Combines teambuilding with stress relief and encourages mindfulness.

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4. Painting Show & Tell Challenge

‍Time for competition with a themed painting challenge. Groups work together to create artworks within a set timeframe, then present their masterpieces to the group. This activity encourages teamwork but also enhances public speaking skills.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Divide into small teams
2. Announce the theme and time limit
3. Teams collaborate on their paintings
4. Each team presents their artwork
5. Vote on various categories (Most Creative, Best Teamwork, Most Surrealist)

⏰ Duration: 1-2 hours

👤 Group size: Groups of any size

🔎 Required materials: Canvases, acrylic paints, brushes, water containers, paper towels.

✅ Why it works for teams: Encourages competition, creative problem-solving, and improves communication skills.

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5. Self-Portrait Session

Here’s a new challenge for your employees! Encourage team members to draw or paint their own self-portraits, providing an excellent opportunity for self-reflection and personal expression. This activity can lead to meaningful discussions about how we see ourselves and how others perceive us.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Provide a brief introduction to self-portraiture (hire a professional for this step, if you have the budget for it)
2. Allow time for individual creation
3. Experiment with different styles
4. Share portraits with the group
5. Discuss the experience and feedback gained

⏰ Duration: 1-2 hours

👤 Group size: Up to 30 participants

🔎 Required materials: Mirrors, canvases or paper, various art supplies (paints, colored pencils, markers)

✅ Why it works for teams: Promotes self-awareness, encourages vulnerability, and fosters deeper understanding among team members.

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6. Glassblowing Workshop

Introduce your team to the ancient art of glassblowing. Under the guidance of skilled instructors, participants can create unique glass objects while learning about teamwork and precision. This activity offers a memorable, hands-on experience that many may never have tried before.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Safety briefing and demonstration by instructors
2. Practice basic techniques
3. Work in pairs to create simple glass objects
4. Cool and finish the creations
5. Reflect on the experience

⏰ Duration: 2-3 hours

👤 Group size: Up to 20 participants

🔎 Required materials: Professional glassblowing studio with all necessary equipment and safety gear

✅ Why it works for teams: Builds trust, improves communication, and provides a unique experience.

7. Ice Sculpting Workshop

Treating your team to an ice sculpting workshop is probably one of the best creative activities for winter time! Transform blocks of ice into sculptures with a guided workshop where professionals will teach participants the basics of ice carving. Teams can work together as a whole or split into groups to promote healthy competition. This activity fosters teamwork and enhances communication.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Gather all necessary materials and set up a designated workspace, preferably outdoors or in a well-ventilated area
2. Conduct a safety briefing on proper tool handling and safety precautions
3. Have participants sketch their design ideas on paper
4. Choose simple shapes for beginners, such as geometric forms
5. Let the professionals demonstrate how to use chisels and hammers to start carving
6. Guide participants in smoothing edges and adding details to their sculptures
7. Assist participants in polishing their sculptures by gently melting surface areas for a smooth finish.

⏰ Duration: 2 hours

👤 Group size: Up to 20 participants

🔎 Required materials: Ice blocks, chisels, hammers, safety glasses, and gloves.

✅ Why it works for teams: You’ll learn a new skill while experiencing a unique activity as a team.

8. Found Art

Encourage your team to explore their creativity with Found Art, a very popular (and exciting!) outdoor team-building activity! Participants will split into groups and hunt for interesting materials in their environment, which can be a nearby park, streets, or even around the office. Using these finds, teams will craft art projects, such as sculptures or poems. This experience promotes innovation and teamwork.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Divide into small groups and explain the activity
2. Set a time limit for the scavenger hunt (30-45 minutes)
3. Create art projects using collected materials (1-2 hours)
4. Present creations to the group.
5. Reflect on the experience together

⏰ Duration: 2-3 hours

👤 Group size: Up to 50 participants

🔎 Required materials: Bags for collecting materials, basic art supplies (glue, scissors, paper), optional phones and cameras for videos and photos.

✅ Why it works for teams: Fosters collaboration, enhances communication, and encourages creative problem-solving in the outdoors.

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9. Cardboard Boat Building Challenge

Welcome to the exciting Cardboard Boat Building Challenge! In this engaging team-building activity, groups will design and construct boats (functional ones, please!) using only cardboard and tape. Teams must collaborate to create a vessel capable of racing across a body of water without sinking. This high-energy challenge promotes problem-solving, communication, and teamwork. Ideal for outdoor venues with safe water access, like pools or lakes, this activity is sure to spark creativity and friendly competition among participants.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Divide into small teams and explain the challenge
2. Provide materials and set a time limit for building (1-2 hours)
3. Teams design and construct their boats (collaboratively)
4. Test each boat in the water for functionality
5. Hold races to determine the winning team

⏰ Duration: 2-3 hours

👤 Group size: Up to 50 participants

🔎 Required materials: Cardboard, tape, scissors, markers, and optional decorative supplies.

✅ Why it works for teams: This activity fosters collaboration, enhances communication skills, and encourages creative problem-solving.

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10. Back to Back Drawing

Back to Back Drawing is a crowd-pleasing icebreaker and art activity. Participants will pair up, sitting back to back, and one teammate describes an image while the other attempts to draw it without seeing the original picture. This game tests communication, creativity, and listening skills in an engaging way that breaks down communication barriers and encourages precise verbal instructions. The best part? You don’t have to be an expert at drawing to do a good job and have some fun along the way.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Pair participants and have them sit back to back
2. Give one person an image to describe
3. Describer explains image without using key identifying words
4. Partner draws based on description
5. Compare original image to drawn result
6. Rotate pairs and repeat

⏰ Duration: 45-60 minutes

👤 Group size: Up to 30 participants

🔎 Required materials: Drawing paper, pencils, pre-selected images or word cards.

✅ Why it works for teams: Promotes active listening and communication.

11. Lego Building Challenge

Put your creativity and art skills to the test with a Lego Building Challenge, a popular in-person activity that’s all about collaboration and artistic thinking. In this interactive team-building exercise, groups will collaborate to construct a model based on a specific theme, such as a bridge or cityscape, using only Lego bricks. But what’s the catch? Only one team member has seen the design and must describe it to the builders without touching the bricks. This challenge promotes communication, teamwork, and creative problem-solving as participants work together to bring their ideas to life while competing against other teams.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Divide participants into small teams and explain the challenge.
2. Provide each team with a set of Lego bricks and a design diagram to one member.
3. The designated describer studies the diagram for a few minutes without touching the bricks.
4. Teams collaborate to build their model based on the describer's instructions.
5. Present creations and judge them based on creativity and adherence to the design.

⏰ Duration: 1-2 hours

👤 Group size: Up to 30 participants

🔎 Required materials: Lego bricks, design diagrams, tables for building.

✅ Why it works for teams: This activity enhances communication skills, fosters collaboration, and encourages innovative thinking.

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Best Art Team-Building Activities For Hybrid Work Teams

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12. The Emotional Play

The Emotional Play is a dynamic team-building game that helps build emotional intelligence and empathy. Participants draw emotion cards, pair up, and act out scenarios reflecting those feelings within a time limit. The rest of the group then guesses the emotions portrayed, encouraging creativity and originality. This exercise fosters an environment where team members can connect on a deeper level while improving their emotional awareness. It’s a great activity that can take place in-person or in a virtual setting.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Divide participants into pairs
2. Each pair draws emotion cards
3. Pairs act out scenarios based on their emotions
4. Group guesses the emotions portrayed
5. Discuss insights and experiences as a team

⏰ Duration: 45-60 minutes

👤 Group size: Up to 20 participants

🔎 Required materials: Emotion cards, timer.

✅ Why it works for teams: Improves emotional intelligence, promotes empathy, and strengthens connections.

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13. Virtual Art Show & Tell

Transform the classic show and tell into an artistic hybrid team-building experience where team members create and share their personal art pieces virtually. Participants can create artwork at home and present their creations during a video conference, explaining the inspiration and story behind their piece.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Announce the art theme to your team
2. Participants create their own artwork
3. Each member presents their piece virtually
4. Group votes on most creative piece
5. Discuss artistic inspirations and personal stories

⏰ Duration: 1-2 hours

👤 Group size: Up to 30 participants

📲 Digital tools needed: Video conferencing platform, screen sharing.

🧑‍💻 Technical requirements: Stable internet, webcam.

✅ Why it works for teams: Works with personal expression, builds empathy, and helps team members connect.

14. Hybrid Edible Art Night

A Hybrid Edible Art Night is a creative and interactive team-building experience that combines artistic expression with culinary skills. In this activity, team members can participate both in-person and remotely. Participants will receive kits containing edible materials to create art, such as frosting, fruits, and baked goods, allowing them to design and decorate edible masterpieces while connecting with teammates in and outside of the office. 

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Send edible paint and food materials to all participants
2. Host a live virtual painting session
3. Create art using edible materials
4. Share and discuss creations
5. Optional: Taste your artwork!

⏰ Duration: 45-60 minutes

👤 Group size: Up to 20 participants

📲 Digital tools needed: Video conferencing platform

🧑‍💻 Technical requirements: Ingredient kits mailed to remote participants

✅ Why it works for teams: Creates an inclusive environment that breaks down communication barriers.

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15. Global Art Heritage Challenge

The Global Art Heritage Challenge is a unique team-building activity that explores art traditions from around the world, encouraging participants to understand different cultural art forms and their history or origin. By researching and recreating art from various cultures, team members work on their creative skills but also develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of global art.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Assign different cultural art styles to teams
2. Research and understand the art form
3. Create a modern interpretation
4. Present your artwork
5. Discuss cultural significance

⏰ Duration: 2-3 hours

👤 Group size: Up to 30 participants

📲 Digital tools needed: Presentation software, video conferencing

🧑‍💻 Technical requirements: Art supplies

✅ Why it works for teams: Enhances cultural awareness and creativity.

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16. Hybrid Paint-by-Numbers Challenge

Combine in-person and remote participants in a classic paint-by-numbers activity, where teams work together to complete large-scale artworks. If you want to increase healthy competition, choose to work individually and have a jury pick the best creations.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Divide into hybrid teams (in-person and remote)
2. Assign sections of the artwork to each team
3. In-person members paint physical sections
4. Remote members complete digital sections
5. Combine physical and digital elements for the (epic!) final reveal

⏰ Duration: 1-2 hours

👤 Group size: Up to 50 participants

📲 Digital tools needed: Video conferencing platform, digital paint-by-numbers app‍

‍🧑‍💻 Technical requirements: Paint-by-numbers kits for in-person participants, tablets/computers for remote members

✅ Why it works for teams: Bridges the gap between remote and in-office employees.

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17. Hybrid Sculpture Symposium

The Hybrid Sculpture Symposium is an interactive team-building activity that combines physical and digital sculpting, allowing participants to work together to create 3D artworks while integrating traditional and modern art techniques.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Form hybrid teams with in-person and remote members
2. Brainstorm sculpture concepts together
3. In-person members sculpt with clay
4. Remote members create digital 3D models
5. Combine physical and digital elements in final presentation

⏰ Duration: 2-3 hours

👤 Group size: Up to 30 participants

📲 Digital tools needed: 3D modeling software, video conferencing platform

🧑‍💻 Technical requirements: Clay and sculpting tools for in-person, 3D modeling software for remote participants

✅ Why it works for teams: Combines traditional and digital art techniques, promoting cross-functional collaboration.

Best Art Team-Building Activities For Remote Teams

18. Collaborative Digital Mural

Teams work together on a shared digital canvas, with in-person and remote members contributing at the same time for the creation of a masterpiece, using collaborative online tools.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Choose a collaborative digital platform
2. Choose a theme
3. Divide your virtual canvas into sections
4. Each team member contributes with their own artistic input
5. Discuss the final result of your collaborative artwork

⏰ Duration: 1-2 hours

👤 Group size: Up to 50 participants

📲 Digital tools needed: Miro, Canva, Google Drawings

🧑‍💻 Technical requirements: Stable internet, digital drawing skills

✅ Why it works for teams: Promotes digital collaboration and creativity across physical boundaries!

19. Virtual Pictionary

Virtual Pictionary is a top activity for remote teams, where your team's drawing skills are put to the ultimate test online. Participants will compete in real-time, sketching clues like “a flying unicorn” or “an alien pizza party” while their teammates guess what’s being drawn. A host keeps the game interesting with surprise questions and challenges. Make sure you prepare prizes for the winners! This game is perfect for breaking the ice and fostering creativity online.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Set up a video conferencing call and share the virtual whiteboard
2. Divide participants into teams of 3-5 members
3. Explain the rules: one person draws while teammates guess within a time limit (usually 60 seconds)
4. Use a random word generator so your participants know what to draw
5. Rotate roles after each round and keep score

⏰ Duration: 1-2 hours

👤 Group size: Up to 50 participants

📲 Digital tools needed: Video conferencing software (Zoom, Microsoft Teams), virtual whiteboard tool (Miro, Whiteboard.fi), and a random word generator (RandomWordGenerator.com).

🧑‍💻 Technical requirements: Stable internet connection, webcams for all participants, and access to the digital tools.

👋 Virtual facilitation tips: Make sure all participants are familiar with the digital tools beforehand and encourage everyone to use their cameras for better engagement.

✅ Why it works for teams: This activity enhances communication skills, encourages teamwork, and promotes creativity.

20. Virtual Street Art Tour and Creation

Gather your team and join a digital journey through famous street art locations worldwide, followed by an online mural creation with your crew. This activity combines cultural exploration with hands-on creativity and is expected to open your team’s horizons when it comes to art.

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Take a guided virtual tour of street art hotspots
2. Discuss street art styles and techniques
3. Break into teams to design digital murals
4. Present your team creations
5. Vote on the most impactful mural

⏰ Duration: 2-3 hours

👤 Group size: Up to 30 participants

📲 Digital tools needed: Virtual tour platform, collaborative digital canvas (e.g., Miro)

🧑‍💻 Technical requirements: Stable internet connection, webcam, digital drawing tools

✅ Why it works for teams: Promotes creative collaboration and cultural awareness, but also develops digital art skills.

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21. Virtual Art Gallery Curation

The Virtual Art Gallery Curation activity allows teams to work together and create a digital exhibition that showcases a diverse range of artworks, improving their art curation skills. Participants will not only select and arrange the artworks but also design an engaging layout, making use of interactive features to provide an immersive viewer experience. 

📝 Step-by-step instructions:

1. Introduce the virtual gallery concept and tools
2. Divide into curation teams
3. Teams select artworks and design gallery layout
4. Create virtual exhibitions with descriptions
5. Host a virtual gallery opening for all participants

⏰ Duration: 2-3 hours

👤 Group size: Up to 40 participants

📲 Digital tools needed: Virtual gallery platform (e.g., Artsteps), video conferencing software

🧑‍💻 Technical requirements: Stable internet connection, access to digital art collections

✅ Why it works for teams: Encourages critical thinking, aesthetic decision-making, and collaborative storytelling through art!

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Ready to Transform Your Team Through Art?

You've now got 21 creative ways to bring your team together, no awkward trust falls required. Whether you're managing a remote team or all in one office, there's an art activity here that'll get people talking, laughing, and working better together.

Remember, you don't need to be Picasso to run these activities. Start small with something like Back-to-Back Drawing in your next meeting, or dive right into a collaborative mural project. The magic happens when your team forgets about deadlines and just enjoys creating together.

Want to make your next team event truly unforgettable? At TeamOut, we specialize in planning corporate retreats where these art activities (and many more!) come to life. Our retreat planners can help you create the perfect blend of creative team building and productive sessions.

Ready to plan something special? Schedule a free call with our retreat experts, and let's design an experience your team won't stop talking about.