Is Artistic Ability Genetic? Or is it a Trauma Response?
Great philosophers often ask the question “What came first? The chicken or the egg?” Which quite often leads to an unending spiral of hypotheses with no real answers.
So it got me thinking about artists and where their hidden ‘talents’ come from.
Is artistic ability genetic? Or is it more of a response to something else.
Roughly ten years ago, it was estimated that about 17% of people around the world actively exercised ‘creation’ in their daily lives. This figure had been comprised from working citizens categorized as ‘artists’ as the primary occupation(1), mixed with sources such as university student registries, and polls that ask the question “Do you identify as an artist?”(2)
Today, that figure, I believe, is still around the 20% mark, of worldwide citizens.
Just to make sure we are clear, that means 1 out of every 5 people ‘gravitate’ towards ‘art’ - music, painting, creation.
Many of these people will wonder where these talents come from - the classic ‘nature versus nurture’ debate.
Artists may spend years of family tree tracing to draw a definitive correlation to genetics being the sole reason for their talents but come up empty.
While yes, some sources will argue you that genetics play a heavy role - but read carefully. Many of those sources will site ‘structural cell changes’ and ‘mental disorders’ as a reason for ‘artistic genius’. However, it seems the scientific and medical communities are also still debating ‘nature vs nurture’ in those respective areas as well.
HOWEVER, it is becoming widely accepted that there is a direct correlation between art and trauma, and creation as a traumatic response.
People around the world are coming forward with the admission that ‘art as successfully helped them heal’. (4)
In 2025, the amount of Google Search Queries for ‘art therapy’ is on the rise again. ‘Art Therapy’ rose to new heights within the United States just after the 911 Tragedy - based on the ‘need for healing’.(5)
Current statistical data reveals that art does scientifically heal mental anguish.
With that said, that just begs to ask the question:
“Do artists create art innately to heal themselves in the first place?”
Conclusion
We know art heals.
We know people fill their lives with art and music for feelings of comfort to themselves individually.
It’s time to ask ourselves:
“What comes first? Art or anguish?”
- https://www.americansforthearts.org/by-program/reports-and-data/legislation-policy/naappd/artists-in-the-us-workforce-2006-2020
- https://www.ideatovalue.com/lead/nickskillicorn/2022/01/less-than-half-of-people-would-describe-themselves-as-creative/#:~:text=As%20you%20can%20see%2C%20less,are%20fulfilling%20their%20creative%20potential.
- https://www.arttohealing.org/healing-trauma-through-art/, https://balancedawakening.com/blog/transforming-trauma-the-healing-power-of-art-therapy-for-ptsd
- https://www.guggenheim.org/articles/checklist/depictions-of-trauma-how-art-can-heal-invisible-wounds
- https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=US&q=art%20therapy&hl=en
