Artists with Schizophrenia and Schizophrenic Art:
A Window into Other Realities

There have been many artists with schizophrenia over the centuries, although not as many examples of schizophrenic art exist as, say, bipolar or depressive art. High intelligence and creativity often accompany mental disorders, and schizophrenia is no exception.

Artists with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder or clinical depression have produced famous works. In some cases, it is unclear which disorder affected the artist. While Vincent van Gogh may have produced bipolar art, some believe he was an artist who struggled with schizophrenia.

Depressive art and bipolar art tends to focus on emotions and feelings. Schizophrenic art tends to be emotionally distant and intellectual. While artists with bipolar disorder report a drop in creativity when their disorder is treated, medication does not appear to affect the creativity of artists with schizophrenia.

In 1945 French artist Jean Dubuffet created the term "Art Brut," or Raw Art. Art Brut refers to art produced without connections or influences from culture or established art styles.

Dubuffet was greatly influenced by artists with schizophrenia, especially Adolf Wolfe and Heinrich Auton Muller. Both artists were schizophrenic, and spent most of their lives in mental health institutions.

Dubuffet created the Collection de l'Art Brut, a sizable collection of artwork he felt exemplified Raw Art. Over half the collection was painted by artists with schizophrenia.

Ralph Albert Blakelock (1847-1919) was an American artist well known for his Western landscapes. Blakelock suffered from mental disorders throughout his life, and was hospitalized in 1899, with a condition people believe to have been schizophrenia. He continued to paint while hospitalized, stopping after his release in 1916. Blakelock's works are regarded as fine examples of schizophrenic art, with bold use of light, dark silhouettes, and remarkable moonlight effects.

While schizophrenia often prevents people from reaching their full potential, artists with schizophrenia have produced ground-breaking work. Edgar Allan Poe's grim, haunting tales may be schizophrenic art. Schizophrenics have also made contributions to science: mathematician John Nash is perhaps the most notable example.

Some argue that the genetics responsible for schizophrenia are closely connected to creativity. Although not schizophrenic themselves, both Albert Einstein and James Joyce were the father's of schizophrenic children.

Today there are many groups dedicated to schizophrenic art, and artists with schizophrenia can find both audiences and markets for their work. Art is often used as therapy for schizophrenics. Perhaps the ability to visually express themselves allows artists with schizophrenia to share their perceptions of reality with others.

Resources

Beers, M.H., & Berkow, R. (ed). Schizophrenia and related disorders. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 17th Edition. Merck Research Laboratories, NJ, 1999.

Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th Edition. (2001). Blakelock, Ralph Albert.

Fauci, A., Braunwald, E., Isselbacher, K., Wilson, J., Martin, J., Kasper, D., Hauser, S. & Longo, D. (ed). Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th Edition . McGraw-Hill, New York, 1998.

Goodwin, F. (2001, December 5). Art and madness. Infinite Mind, Lichtenstein Creative Media.

Jansen, S. (2002). Twilight: Ralph Albert Blakelock (1847-1919).

Murphy, M., Cowan, R. & Sederer, L. Blueprints in Psychiatry. Blackwell Publishing, Massachusetts, 2004.

Navratil,L. (nd). Art brut and psychiatry. Raw Vision Magazine, 15.