A playful surreal photomontage activity inspired by Collagism

One of my favourite things to teach in the art room is collage.

It’s low pressure, highly creative, and incredibly accessible for all learners. Students who don’t always feel confident drawing often absolutely shine when working with found imagery, cutting, layering and rearranging the world into something new.

This resource was designed to introduce students to photomontage and surreal collage, inspired by the vibrant, hyperreal, and slightly quirky digital works of contemporary Australian artist Collagism.

Collagism’s practice blends photography, animals, fashion, humour, and surreal storytelling. Her characters often feel like they exist in a dream version of Australia. Familiar settings become strange, funny, and imaginative through unexpected combinations. That sense of “this almost looks real… but not quite” is exactly what makes this project so engaging for students.

Below are the slides and also I’ve attached the file itself as well as the Australian animal resource.