YOUR ART, YOUR HEALTH

Art improves health. Yes—art really does improve health.

At long last, a study has emerged that confirms what artists, advocates, and cultural workers have known intuitively for generations: engaging with art is not only enriching, it is restorative. For as long as I can remember, those of us working within the arts have championed their profound benefits. We’ve insisted—sometimes loudly—that art is essential to a healthy life, just as critical as access to education, healthcare, or any of the resources that make up a strong social safety net. We have witnessed the impact firsthand. And now, thanks to new research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London, we finally have scientific validation.

The study examined the health effects of viewing original artworks in galleries and museums. What was once anecdotal wisdom has now become empirical fact: participants

experienced a 22% drop in cortisol, the stress hormone tied to so many modern ailments. Researchers also documented a notable reduction in inflammation and meaningful benefits across the immune, endocrine, and autonomic systems. In other words—your body responds positively to art.

These findings expand the conversation about the role of art in our communities. We often speak about food deserts, where lack of access to nutritious foods leads to higher rates of disease. But what about art deserts? What happens when communities lack access to original art, to beauty, to cultural nourishment? The study’s lead author, Dr. Tony Woods, called the results “compelling evidence that viewing art in a gallery is ‘good for you’… art doesn’t just move us emotionally — it calms the body too.” It is a powerful reminder that cultural experiences are not luxuries. They are necessities—essential to both mental and physical well-being.

These insights could not be more timely. As cultural resources shrink and access to affordable artistic experiences becomes more limited—just as access to healthcare does—the role of the gallery grows even more vital. Art may not cure all, but this research suggests something important: spending time with original artworks can have a meaningful impact on our health.

So, if you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or simply in need of a reset, a visit to ARTE NOIR—or any gallery—might be exactly what the doctor would prescribe. You can learn more about the King’s College study here.

Should you happen to be on the East Coast and seeking a dose of some exceptionally healthy art, I highly recommend you plan a visit to the newly reopened Studio Museum in Harlem. After seven years of delays, the museum has risen triumphantly at 125th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. It reopens with a featured exhibition by artist Tom Lloyd, whose work also inaugurated the museum’s first exhibition when it opened in 1968—a beautiful full-circle moment for a cultural institution that has shaped so many artistic journeys.

Stay healthy. Consume art!

Welcome back, Studio Museum in Harlem!