The Artist's Mind: The Creative Lives and Mental Health of Famous Artists

by Kathryn Vercillo, Angelica Jardini, Sartle Inc (Contributor)

How does art reflect and affect mental wellness?

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?

Anyone who enjoys looking at art, or who finds comfort in art making while living in our high-tech, high-stress era, will be intrigued by this look at historical and contemporary artists whose work reflects the mental-wellness issues that each one has lived with. Through biographies of individual artists, readers will explore existing research and theories about the relationship between mental health and creativity.

The artists' lives prompt topics like why substance abuse is found at high rates among artists, how we can learn about the mental health of artists who were diagnosed with now-obsolete terms like "melancholia," and in cases where a formal diagnosis was lacking, how artists are posthumously “diagnosed” by modern-day professionals.

The artists discussed reflect a wide range of mental health topics, including anxiety and depression, schizophrenia, bipolar conditions, body dysmorphia, disordered eating, and PTSD, among others.

Genres: Psychology

216 pages, Hardcover

Published May 28, 2023

Reviews

[Kathryn Vercillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviously I can’t write a review of my own book. But I reread my copy now that it’s been fully edited and ready for publication and I am so happy with how the team helped me complete it. Love their illustrations and visual layout.

[Glen Helfand]

I think we all know that artists are a special breed. That's why we love them. But many just become names that we see in art history books, they're brands. Some, like Frida Kahlo and Picasso, are as known for their personalities, or personas. I learned about the inner lives about a few artists that I didn't know much about, but no surprise between these covers, they suffered from mental illnesses, imbalances, depressions, etc. These are gleaned from pages of other art history books, but the profiles in sanity are only a few pages long for each artist, and there are no examples of their work, something clearly driven by budget and permissions. It is a reductive disservice to frame these creative legends in this way. Olivia Laing does much better in grouping artists under themes-- loneliness-- and investigating that in relation to specific bodies of work. This just offers background tidbits and clues. It is inspiring, in some ways, to see how so many rose to success above, despite, because of their mental states, but there is so much more to know.

[William Collen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to a profoundly interesting subject. Through detailed profiles of several of the world's most notable artists, Kathryn Vercillo meditates upon the ways our culture talks about mental health, art, and the intersection of the two. It's a very thought-provoking survey of an often misunderstood aspect of artistic practice. How does mental illness affect the lives of artists? The answer is that each artist is unique and each artist's experience of mental disorder is unique; Vercillo's book is admirable in how it emphasizes this point. You can read a lengthier review of this book on my blog: https://open.substack.com/pub/ruinsru...

[Mya Dexter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling read! Kathryn Vercillo approaches her topic of choice with great thoughtfulness and open mindedness. She invites her readers to think about the complex relationship between creativity and mental health struggles. This is a fascinating insight into artistic resilience, vulnerability and some of our own preconceived ideas.

[Megan Roth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super interesting and I love this concept. I learned a lot. Would’ve liked the artists’ stories to be multidimensional and seen some of the art the author was referencing instead of having to go between Google and the book the whole time I was reading. Some of the language is a bit overly complex and confusing.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because the one thing it really needed was reproductions of some of the artists key works to go along with the written analyses.