Artists with Mental Illness

When you look up Creativity and Mental Illness on Wikepedia, the first sentence tells us, "Numerous studies have demonstrated correlations between creative occupations and mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia." In addition, a search for mental illness and its connection to art and creativity will offer endless hours of reading to better understand this phenomenon. Further reading tells us that this correlation first appeared in literature in the 1970's. It also says, "Psychotic individuals are said to display a capacity to see the world in a novel and original way, literally, to see things that others cannot."

How many times have you seen this sort of relationship between "madness" and "genius" at the Enterprise Resource Center? In the Saturday Art Group, we discuss this relationship and use our handicaps to our artistic advantage. In my recovery, I have been in touch with my creativity and through my new position as Art Facilitator, I have been able to watch this creativity flourish in the art of other individuals touched by mental illness.

The list of artists who suffer from mental illness is long and an important fact to remember is that many people go undiagnosed with disorders as the percentage of people on earth with mental illness is upward of 20% (probably closer to 25%). A few major examples are Vincent Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Georgia O'Keeffe, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock,Francisco de Goya y Lucientes, and Edvard Munch. It is not known what Vincent Van Gogh suffered from but it is common knowledge that he did some of his work in an asylum, that he cut off an ear, and ultimately ended his life in a wheat field like those he depicted in some of his paintings.

It is also known that Van Gogh suffered from epileptic seizures as the result of heavy absinthe drinking so he is a classic example of what we know today as dual diagnosis. Michelangelo suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and refused to take off his boots while working in isolation. He also had a temper and suffered outbursts.

Georgia O'Keeffe reportedly suffered from clinical depression.

Pablo Picasso was also thought to have had clinical depression.

Jackson Pollock was also dual diagnosis, suffering from alcoholism and clinical depression. He had a nervous breakdown in 1938.

Goya suffered depression and it is said that his work dealt with this with " themes such as absurdity, meaninglessness, physical torment and death."

Edvard Munch also painted in depressive states. He had an obsession with his first love that is depicted in a period of paintings he did of women devouring men like vampires.

He was also an alcoholic and spent time in a sanitarium. "There is no doubt that mental states, be it highs or lows, have inspired some of the greatest artwork in history." (Famous Artists who suffered from Mental Illness, Wordpress WWW)