The Cool Girl’s Guide to Easter Egg Decorating
We’re channeling an array of artists, from Abstract Expressionists to modern visionaries.
Updated Apr 5, 2023 12:10 PM
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When it comes to Easter egg decorating ideas, the artistic direction is usually led by little ones. This year, we’re taking charge by looking outside the standard scope of pastels and stripes to bold prints and painterly patterns inspired by none other than a few of our favorite artists. You’d never guess these mini masterpieces came to life with mainly basic craft supplies.
Yayoi Kusama–Inspired Easter Eggs
Just as Kusama‘s iconic polka dot motif has transformed contemporary art, it can transform your Easter table. To re-create it, take to your eggs with an assortment of classic color-coding stickers—a primary scheme is encouraged—and overlap the circles at random.
Wayne Thiebaud–Inspired Easter Eggs
Our ode to painter Thiebaud comes in the form of a visually sweet treat. Vibrantly dyed eggs topped with the tiniest of pom-poms are set within equally mini cupcake liners. Place one atop each plate or cluster together for a sweet centerpiece.
Yves Klein–Inspired Easter Eggs
Klein‘s signature cobalt blue is a welcome update to the typical Easter palette. Instead of paint or dye, apply a bright blue powder dust for the most saturated shade. Cover the entirety of the egg or opt for a swipe of dramatic color by layering a few brushstrokes in the center.
Mark Rothko–Inspired Easter Eggs
To bring Rothko’s abstract aesthetic into the mix, begin by coloring your eggs a vibrant red or yellow using a standard dyeing kit. Next, use a paste of edible powder to replicate the artist’s signature blocks of color in contrasting hues.
Henri Matisse–Inspired Easter Eggs
Decoupaging Matisse-esque cutouts is the ideal kids’ craft. Cut up an assortment of colorful tissue paper in the artist’s classic squiggly shapes, then paste them onto hard-boiled eggs with glue.
Donald Judd–Inspired Easter Eggs
We’re channeling Judd‘s structured minimalism with this pared-back idea, which also happens to be the simplest of the bunch. Dye your eggs in a bright hue—we chose yellow—and set each within a sake cup (a small box will do as well). Place each creation atop a plate and they can double as place settings.
James Turrell–Inspired Easter Eggs
Turrell is known for his works that celebrate light and the perception of space, a thematic challenge we were all too happy to take on. Our spin? It’s all about the ombré. We created four cups of dye in subtle variations: yellow, yellow-orange, orange, and red. Begin by dunking the entire egg in the yellow cup to designate the base hue. Pat the egg dry before inserting it 3/4 of the way into the next darkest color. Repeat the steps with the orange and red dyes, dipping a slightly smaller portion of the egg each time.
Agnes Martin–Inspired Easter Eggs
Not ready to give up on pastels? These Martin-inspired eggs are just the thing. Color the eggs using traditional dye, but add only a few drops to the water for the subtlest shade. Set aside to dry. Then use painter’s tape to section off vertical or horizontal stripes in varying widths. We used a water-soluble powder to paint on the contrasting lines.
Jackson Pollock–Inspired Easter Eggs
These eggs à la Pollock may not be edible, but they definitely make for a wow-worthy tablescape. Cover a large cutting board with parchment paper to protect it, and space out a handful of hard-boiled eggs on top. Select a trio of paint colors—we chose yellow, blush pink, and black—and splatter them on with the flick of a paintbrush or a drizzle straight from the can.
