Asylum Art: Artists Who Created While Living in Psychiatric Institutions (And Those Who Did Not)

Aloise Corbaz, Barbara Suckfull, Bryan Charnley, Camille Claudel, Louis Wain, Martin Ramirez, Unica Zurn and more than a dozen other artists who did and didn't create while in inpatient care

images free via Unsplash using search term “asylum” unless otherwise captioned

When you think about artists who created from inside the walls of a psychiatric institution, who comes to mind? Van Gogh is the most famous example, and the one that many people name first. People interested in contemporary art and women artists may instead first name Yayoi Kusama. These are just two examples of many creative people who have created asylum art.

History of Asylum Art: Ebbs and Flows

The history of patients being allowed to or restricted from creating art within institutionalized settings is complex and varies greatly depending on the period, place, and specific institution. Broadly speaking, the use of art in therapeutic contexts dates back to antiquity, but its formal recognition and widespread implementation is more recent.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was limited understanding and acceptance of the therapeutic potential of art. Some psychiatric institutions may have allowed patients to draw or paint as a form of distraction or simple occupation, without necessarily recognizing the therapeutic value. However, the situation varied greatly. Some institutions might have imposed strict rules and restrictions on patients' activities, including creative expressions.

Consider, for example, the history of hysteria and neurasthenia and the "rest cure." Consider the example of Leonora Carrington and the question of whether a compassionate art therapy approach to her institutionalization would have made a difference in her work and mental health.

Art Therapy In Psychiatric Institutions

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Below the paywall you’ll find a comprehensive article including information about more than twenty artists who spent time in psychiatric institutions and their work.