The Silent Struggle in Creative Spaces: Seasonal Depression and the Art Industry

Feature image: Caspar David Friedrich, Monk by the Sea via Wikipedia

The stereotype of the Troubled Artist remains at the forefront of mental health conversations in the field, failing to acknowledge the nuance and individuality of these experiences. One of these experiences is no stranger to many of us: that feeling of bleak tiredness we feel creeping in as the temperature drops and the days get short. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a subtype of major depressive disorder that occurs with a seasonal pattern. This pattern often occurs in the fall and winter, but people can also experience seasonal depression in the spring and summer. Artists spanning multiple specialties, from sculpture and canvases to stages and microphones, elevate the individual experience of these issues.

Creative professionals often face unique mental health challenges in the wintertime, especially when approaching work-life balance amid it all. Kellie Gillespie, an artist based in Los Angeles, recounts her experience working in a basement as her studio during the pandemic. As she worked in that space, she found her mental health began to worsen as she would spend days in her windowless home studio, rarely emerging or venturing out during those years of pandemic isolation. While seasonal depression does not result in the same kind of lockdown scenario from the start of the decade, those experiences are similar in isolation from other people and the outside world.

Both artists and their audiences feel the winter blues from the studio to the gallery this season, but why do artists feel it so differently, and how do these spaces adapt to curate those feelings? The concept of the Troubled Artist is a surface-level way of understanding mental health in the arts, especially during the winter. Professional expertise on this topic provides insight into the psychological relationship between mental health and creativity, especially for artists.

Dr. Mangrola, psychiatrist and Medical Director at Sygnity Wellness said artists using their craft to cope with or navigate their mental health is an effective way of managing it. “When people are sad, they get more creative,” he said. 

Galleries and museums contribute to broader conversations about mental health by curating spaces and works designed to uplift and energize. Art itself can become a form of therapy for those affected by SAD. Galleries and artists try to boost engagement and morale during these months through bright, uplifting exhibitions or art events tailored to combat the winter slump through more events, exhibitions, and opportunities for fostering community and connection. These result in spaces that facilitate community and creativity. Specific colors, textures, and materials in artwork, such as warm hues or tactile mediums, can evoke feelings of comfort and vitality. For viewers, these elements provide an emotional refuge. For artists, creating such works can offer a sense of purpose and catharsis during difficult times.

However, how an exhibit displays work can cause concern when displaying art regarding health. Kellie Gillespie, an artist based in Los Angeles, expressed concern during her process of getting work displayed at some exhibits. The dark walls of the gallery space in her work would display and would not precisely capture the meaning of her work, dismantling the stigmas associated with medication and health. Luckily, this situation was fixed, and the walls were temporary, but the situation highlights how the flexibility of curated spaces can completely change how we view these works. 

For Lady Ro, a musician based in Baltimore, music is both her passion and a creative outlet to cope with depression and loneliness. Sometimes creativity and inspiration can come from those depressive times, but depression makes it difficult to be creative. She does yoga and picks up her guitar as one of those ways to cope with and push through those feelings of numbness. Music brings a familiar peace that is often comforting in those moments and can even be used to create space for community and togetherness.

One of the problems with the celebration of troubled minds in the arts is that mental health problems like seasonal depression can be celebrated or sought out to develop raw, vulnerable works. The idea that suffering is essential for great art may trap individuals in cycles of pain, discouraging them from seeking healing or joy in their creative pursuits. Dr. Mangrola discussed understanding the complex decision-making artists go through to navigate reaching out for help. From his expertise and experience, professional assistance helps artists recognize and manage their mental health without compromising creativity. 

Gillespie had her own experiences of hesitating to continue healing while drawing inspiration from profound emotional influence, once again rooted in those stereotypes surrounding “the troubled artist.”

“As an artist, it’s really easy to fall into that because I think I was in that mindset for a while,” Kellie said. “I know when I started healing and putting in the work to get better, I was terrified my art was going to start sucking.”The art world is increasingly recognizing its role in promoting mental wellness. This dynamic is not just personal but systemic. Galleries and organizations can use this constantly-developing research to cater to communities amid the changing seasons. For example, museums might have a late-night exhibit event. Where the gallery might otherwise utilize natural lighting, it can instead use brighter LEDs alongside its catalog of creativity to create a space optimized for reducing the effects of seasonal depression. 

There are other ways to support artistic communities during seasonal depressive months. For example, fostering community spaces for artists helps lessen those feelings of isolation. Creating spaces where artists can connect throughout the winter can help reinforce that sense of community that tends to get lost as the days get shorter and people go out less. In addition, If you are experiencing seasonal depressive symptoms during these colder and shorter days, there are resources available to manage them. Bright light therapy is a promising option for short-term treatment of light therapy symptoms. Making those resources known throughout gallery spaces can help make seasonal depression accessible. Speak with a mental health professional about options that may best suit you.

While the stereotype of the Troubled Artist as a whole provides an introduction for opening conversations about mental health in the arts, speaking with these artists reinforces the need to understand the individuality of their experiences while highlighting seasonal depression as a common and recurring concern in the industry. Seasonal depression often exacerbates existing challenges in the arts industry, where work is unpredictable and emotionally demanding. While museums are developing more ways to reach and help the larger community during seasonally depressing seasons, more outreach must be done to ensure the same is done for the artists who dedicate their lives to showing the most vulnerable sides of themselves in the most quintessentially human fields. Artistic practices can also create spaces for processing emotions collectively, using creativity as a therapeutic outlet during crises. The arts bridged us all during silent struggles during periods of collective uncertainty like the pandemic, but that line has only become increasingly blurred as we move past 2020. 

Seasonal depression can weigh heavily on creatives, but help is available. Sygnity Wellness offers professional support tailored to artists, helping them navigate mental health challenges without compromising creativity. Take the first step toward a healthier, more balanced life—visit  Sygnity Wellness today.

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