Grieving artists: Influences of loss and bereavement on visual art making

Abstract

This qualitative survey explored how eight professional artists navigated personal loss experiences that were due to the death of a loved one. By considering how bereaved artists experience their own art making through contemporary practices, the results of this research may serve to understand how fine art processes and grief might be interrelated. The guiding questions were explored through semi-structured interviews and reflections of the participants on their selected artwork. All artists self-identified regarding age and gender, and ranged in subject matter, media choices, and artistic practices. Each had experienced the loss of at least one significant relationship during their professional career. Kvale’s (1996) method of research interviewing and narrative structuring was applied and led to the emergence of six themes including 1) experiencing grief; 2) faith and beauty; 3) merging; 4) storying; 5) exhibiting work; and 6) curative aspects of art as well as 13 sub-themes. Art-work reflecting the imagery created during each participant’s bereavement experiences are also included. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the grief experience, when used as a catalyst for art making, may bring about clarity and meaning of an individual’s personal loss experience while simultaneously communicating collective human truths.