Discover 30 creative collage art ideas for adults! From mixed media to paper collages, these fun projects will help you unleash your inner artist.
Did you ever make a vision board as a teen or create paper collages as a child? Collage art isn’t just for those early years—it’s a fun and versatile form of expression that you can explore at any age.
Whether you’re interested in making art journals, mixed media collages, or even digital collage art, there are so many creative collage ideas that can help you tap into your inner artist.
But what exactly is collage art?
In simple terms, collage is about bringing together an assortment of items – whether it’s magazine clippings, old postcards, or even textiles – and arranging them on a flat surface to create a unique piece of art.
With a pair of scissors, decoupage medium, and some imagination, you can explore many types of collage, from traditional paper collages to photo collages and beyond.
What materials are great for creating collages?
Most people first think of newspaper or magazine cutouts, but collage art goes way beyond just paper. Here are a variety of materials you might want to try in your creative journey:
- Textiles: Scraps of fabric, lace trim, or even crochet doilies can add texture and personality.
- Ephemera: Collectibles like old book pages or postcards make for charming vintage details.
- Paints and Markers: Adding painted elements or drawn features can turn a simple collage into a mixed media masterpiece.
- Natural Elements: Feathers, pressed leaves, or dried flowers add a touch of the outdoors.
- Found Objects: Think buttons, beads, bits of string, broken jewelry – anything that can be repurposed to make your pieces of art truly unique.
For this collection of projects, I’ve focused on non-photo collages you can hang as wall art.
However, if you’re interested in other creative directions, like photo collage ideas, don’t miss my other projects, such as a vintage suitcase, sewing pattern box, baseball card table, or photo pillow.
Ready to be inspired? Scroll down to see over 30 types of collage art that will get those creative juices flowing and bring out your inner artist!
Collage Art Ideas
Anyone can make a collage! Check out the 30+ ideas in the list below to get some inspiration.
Watercolor Collage
Learn how to make a rainbow collage with watercolors - using a canvas and Mod Podge. This is easy enough that your kids can make it!
Magazine Pages
Learn how to make a collage with Mod Podge on canvas! This magazine collage art is easy enough for anyone to make, and it can be personalized.
Tissue Paper
Don't throw away that tissue paper from your gifts! Instead, you can use it to create a masterpiece like this one. A canvas, tissue, and Mod Podge are all you need.
Pet Collage Portraits
Britt had her adult art class make paper collages of their current or former pets. There are numerous examples on her site, but this little piggy was my favorite! You could do this with pets OR people.
Vintage Ephemera
Create your own retro art collages using ephemera (your own, or found at antique or thrift stores). These were made using a vintage wrapping paper base.
Mixed Media Pear on Canvas
First you will layer a canvas with fabric scraps of various textures using Mod Podge. Then you can paint your art over the collage of fabric! It's pretty easy.
Marbled Paper Owl Collages
The layers of watercolor pulled together to make an owl are absolutely beautiful in this design.
Bible Collage
If you're interested in Bible collaging or more faith inspired ideas, this post has a lot of different layouts.
Junk Mail Art Using Recycled Mailers
Some of the fliers you might get in the mail have bold fonts and colors! They are perfect for cutting up and mixing into your art.
Scrap Fabric Collage
Save all of those scrap fabric pieces and learn how to make a fabric decoupage collage. What a great no-sew fabric craft!
Upcycled Coloring Book Art
Adult coloring books are still quite popular—I love them! You can use those drawing to create something beautiful like this collage shown above, or this unique name plaque I made.
Landscape Collage
This is another of Britt's projects she had her adult class try. They were to create a paper collage landscape similar to the ones that artist Shelli Walters makes. Beautiful!
American Flag Wall Art
Learn how to create this American flag on canvas using small fabric pieces and Mod Podge.
Paper Patchwork Collage
For those of you who struggle with the (sometimes) chaotic look of collage art, this collage is for you! Use paper to create a patchwork design that kind of reminds me of the Q*bert game from the 80's.
Comic Book Collage Letters
Learn how to make these comic letters with Mod Podge! Perfect for a superhero themed kids' bedroom or man cave.
Mixed Media Canvas Bird Art
Learn how to make a mixed media canvas with scrapbook paper and Mod Podge! This was a fun experiment with cute chipboard accents. So easy!
Tissue Paper Collage
Inspired by a wall in an advertisement, Marybeth made a couple of collages using tissue paper. Even if you aren't artistic, you can make this fun art piece!
Cactus Collage
Use patterned scrapbook paper to make a cactus collage. Find out how in this tutorial.
Mixed Media Wedding Canvas
If you haven't visited Anita's website before, you have to check it out. She makes some of the most beautiful pieces using found objects and recycled materials. This one was made using items from her daughter's wedding.
Floral Collage & Sketch Art
I love the look of this combination sketch and faux floral collage. If you don't feel comfortable sketching, you could create the face using paper collage!
World Map Art Collage
"What a crazy mixed up world we live in."—is the title I would give this fun map craft! If you make a smaller version, you could use map pieces of places you've visited.
Comic Wall Art
Use comic books (or color copies!) collaged together to make this comic book canvas wall art – a great gift for guys or any comic book lover!
The Little Button Mermaid
Yes, button art is actually a form of collage! This is a pretty detailed example, but she goes over how to create button art step-by-step. You can do a verision of this with any image.
Embossed Magazine Collage
Find out 3 different ways to add embossing to a magazine collage. This example is for a junk journal, but you could do it for a stand alone art piece as well.
Washi Tape Collage Background
Karen created a collage background for her mixed media art with numerous washi tape designs. The bright colors are perfect for this piece!
Geometric Lion Wall Hanging
Anita used various pieces of faux leather to create this beautiful geometric lion art piece. The use of different colors of leather looks great with the small pieces in the lion's head.
Photo Mats
If you are a collector of memorabilia like concert tickets, restaurant placements, matches, etc. this is a great collage idea for you! Elisa made some DIY photo mat collages with her memorabilia.
Wedding Cards
Learn how to make a wall collage using your wedding cards! Perfect for commemorating that special day.
Monochromatic Cut Outs
Cut squares from magazine pages to create this collage. Keeping with the yellow theme throughout gives it a cohesive look.
Cricut Floral Deer
If you find image you would like to use for a collage, but don't want to cut them out yourself, grab your Cricut! This is also a good way to plan your art ahead of time. You can do it right in Cricut Design Space.
Dollar Tree Supplies
Learn how to make Dollar Tree DIY wall decor using simple supplies! This tutorial shows you how you can use a die cutter to get the exact shapes you'd like for your collage.
Holiday Themed
Sadie created some Halloween collage art starting with a moody photo she found at a thrift store. You could do something like this for any holiday!
Which of these collage ideas for adults do you think you’ll try first? Let me know in the comments below and then check out these other popular posts:
Decoupage Art • DIY Button Art • DIY Desk Organizers • DIY Lampshade Ideas • Mirror Crafts • Painted Trays • Photo Frame Decoration Ideas • Vase Decorating • Wine Bottle Decor