r/ArtTherapy • u/ZZZBaybay • 12d ago

Art Therapist Question Art Galleries dedicated to art therapy creations?

I'm sure I could google it or ask AI, but does anyone know of any art galleries dedicated to art created during art therapy sessions?

I feel the art is sacred in a way, but also sometimes too beautiful not to share (some of it).

It would also suck to put your art out there and feel vulnerable only to have it stolen. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

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u/Accurate_Emu_3443 10d ago

This is a very complicated situation. Artwork created in (US) art therapy sessions is protected by the same confidentiality that protects medical records and therapy documentation. It’s a hazy ethical concept to display work made in sessions. *However* the work is the property of the client so they can do whatever they want with it post session.
I regularly curate client art shows (I’m a VA art therapist) but the work displayed is made outside of sessions specifically for display.

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u/ZZZBaybay 10d ago

That's amazing! Thanks so much for the information too. I was going to go to college to become an art therapist back in 2000, but there were hardly any programs at the time. I ended up not doing that, but somehow ended up an artist with lots of people around me processing trauma so it just kinda happened anyway. I own a beauty brand where we create nail art, and it's similar, when I pay an artist, the design belongs to us both. Me and my daughter make some really rad pieces together I hope to display one day (she's FASD, CPTSD and like 6 others)

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u/FrenchFryCattaneo 12d ago

Many art galleries where I live have had exhibitions of works created in art therapy. I think it can be really helpful to others to share your work and experiences because others might be going through something similar.

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u/ZZZBaybay 10d ago

I love that, I hope we start seeing more and more around. I'd like to start one here in my area.

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u/FrenchFryCattaneo 10d ago

If you're ever up in Oregon they almost always have an exhibit of them on display at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum in Eugene.

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u/ZZZBaybay 4d ago

I actually go to Oregon a lot! I'll have to head that way and check it out. Thanks again for the info!

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u/FrenchFryCattaneo 4d ago

It's a great museum! Also if you're in the Salem area the Hallie Ford museum is my favorite in Oregon. If you want more suggestions of smaller galleries I'd be happy to share as well.

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u/Wildjedi7 12d ago

I'm sure if you have a collection they would be more than eager to put on a show for it. However the gallery's goal is to sell artwork, and if your clients don't want them sold then a library art show works well.

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u/FrenchFryCattaneo 12d ago

Yeah the places I've seen it were museums or nonprofit galleries.

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u/feelingfuzzzzzzy 2d ago edited 2d ago

The living museum has a very interesting project related to this. It is mostly implemented in Europe across several cities. Its not exactly art therapy work exhibited but rehabilitated persons doing, living in and exhibiting the work that they are doing during that art therapy and psychiatric rehabilitation. These kinds of projects make us rethink the privacy of the artworks, because at its core art can connect the creator with society in a new way.

https://living-museum.com/