Michelle Grabner, Untitled (egg carton), 2017, black iron and glass, 12 x 12 x 3 in. Courtesy of the Artist and James Cohan, New York.

This online guide explores artwork that uses household items as inspiration, featuring works previously exhibited at the museum. Learn more about how artists elevate the everyday - and you can too.

Families are invited to make artwork from household materials such as coffee, chocolate syrup, or scrap technology parts. These projects encourage you to consider objects in your own life and discover their potential for creating something profound. Show us your creations on social media by tagging the museum and using the hashtag #MuseumFromHome and #ElmhurstArtMuseum.

For our ongoing project Art in the Post, you are invited to contribute to a collaborative mail art project by sharing something about your life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tell us how you are passing the time, write a poem, or even share a recipe. We’ll exhibit these at the museum after reopening.

Browse our Museum Store to see our featured item of the week - I Work From Home, a monograph on the artist Michelle Grabner.

If you enjoyed this content, please consider supporting the museum by purchasing a membership, purchasing an Art-ivity pack to do at home, or donating to help our critical operating costs. Your support directly impacts our vital efforts to enrich generations and build a stronger community.

Art & The Everyday downloads

Online guide and activities to do from home.