Explore a new side of artists whose work you know by considering their mental health state and the ways it may have shaped their works. Authored by Kathryn Vercillo and edited by Angelica Jardini.
Anyone who considers themselves creative, who enjoys looking at art, or who finds comfort in art while living in our high-tech, high-stress era, will be intrigued by the mental-wellness issues that each artist has lived with.
-What's behind the idea that madness is linked to creativity?
-Does having an artistic temperament mean that creative people operate in a mental state different from the norm?
-And why is art often used as therapy for mental illnesses?
The artists discussed in the main chapters and sidebars reflect a wide range of mental health topics, including anxiety and depression, substance abuse, bipolar conditions, body dysmorphia, disordered eating, institutional racism, and PTSD, among others.
