Aaron Osborn's path to teaching began in Guatemala, where he spent years doing community work in the aftermath of the civil war — teaching art to children, translating for volunteer doctors, and collaborating with artisans across the country. That experience became the foundation of everything he does in a classroom: the belief that making something together changes people, and that art is never just about the object.

Aaron teaches 3D Art at Pinellas Park High School, where his students have built coral reefs from recycled plastic, heart-shaped trees that bloomed with the whole school's handwriting, and large-scale sculptures that have gone up in theaters and magnet programs across campus. His approach is rooted in fundamentals — proportion, material, process — because he believes that real skill is what gives students a genuine creative voice, not just an assignment to complete.

Outside the classroom, Aaron maintains an active studio practice in painting, drawing, and sculpture. His work explores the questions underneath everything else — how we know what we know, what it means to be present, what happens when we pay close attention to materials and process. That curiosity doesn't stay in the studio. It follows him into every class he teaches.

In my classroom, students make things first. They learn the fundamentals.

Skill + Craft isn't opposed to technology. It's what makes you fluent in it.

FEATURED TEACHING PROJECTS


Recycled Coral Reef

Our coral reef project began with a simple question: what can trash become?

Giant iPhone

When I walked into my classroom for the first time in 2023, I noticed something immediately.

Heart Tree

For Valentine's Day, my students constructed a heart-shaped tree from recycled cardboard…

Get in Touch

One of the greatest joys in life is collaborating with great people who are passionate about what they do.

Get in touch if you want to start working on a project.