Art has always been used as a tool for self-expression. From Paleolithic cave art to postmodern art installations, art has been used to convey ideas or emotions that normally cannot be expressed by themselves. Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam, Edvard Munch’s The Scream, Vincent Van Gogh’s Self Portrait, and Rembrandt’s The Return of the Prodigal Son are just some examples of how artists used their talents to express themselves. Similarly, art therapy uses the self-expression of a client to aid in the process of mental or physical recovery. Because of its unique nature, art therapy is a method of therapy that has soared in popularity over the last couple of decades. In my research of art therapy, I discovered that art therapy also has strong connections with Christianity, especially the aspects of self-expression and healing. I would like to share my findings by first explaining some facts about art therapy, how art therapy is found in Scripture, and the ministry integration between art therapy and Christianity.

First, here are some facts about art therapy. Art therapy was first used by Adrian Hill, a British World War I war painter who suffered from tuberculosis. During his recovery, Hill discovered art was therapeutic and created the term "art therapy" to describe art as therapeutic (Bitonte and De Santo, 2014, p. 18). At around the same time, Hungarian-born artist and teacher Edith Kramer discovered how art therapy could be used in the classroom. Working in a New York classroom during the 1940's, Kramer used art therapy to combat negative behaviors and to provide a creative outlet for her students (Wright, 2021, p. 40). It is through art therapy that clients can freely express their thoughts or emotions. Ever since its discovery, art therapy has become more of a preferred treatment by stroke victims, war veterans, and those who are diagnosed with psychological disorders. Throughout the years, there have been case studies done to prove the effectiveness of art therapy. One case study, for example, found that four out of six brain trauma victims were less depressed after undergoing art therapy (Bitonte and De Santo, 2014, p. 18). Another case study found that art therapy helps stroke victims refine their motor and mental skills (Wright, 2021, pp. 41-42). It is through the creative efforts of art therapy that patients can recover physically and mentally, all while utilizing the self-expression art therapy brings.

Second, art therapy is found in Scripture. While the words "art therapy" do not appear in Scripture, elements of art therapy do. Specifically, there are two instances where art is used in a therapeutic sense. The first instance is found in 1 Samuel 16:22-23. Here, God uses David to heal King Saul of the evil spirit troubling him. David’s music and Saul’s reaction can be considered an early form of art therapy since he uses his musical talents to therapeutically relieve Saul of the evil spirit. The second instance is found within the Psalms themselves. A collection of 150 songs and poetry, the book of Psalms is most written by David and contains different psalms for different occasions. Some of David's psalms are full of praise (cf. Psalm 100), while others are full of sadness (cf. Psalm 13). These psalms can be considered a form of therapy since David uses written prose to express himself and thus uses these psalms as a coping mechanism.

Third, art therapy can be integrated with Christianity. Aside from its biblical roots, art therapy has been historically integrated with Christianity through stained glass artwork. The church has a rich history with art, especially in the medieval times. Churches in medieval Europe used their windows as medium for artwork, fitting together pieces of colored glass to form an image. Stained glass artwork depicted various scenes from the Bible, from David's victory over Goliath to Jesus' accession. Stained glass artwork was brought to life through the power of the sunlight, thus creating an ethereal effect. Stained glass artwork was not only created to keep the wandering eyes of church congregants busy, but was also created as a means of experiencing God. According to the website Ecclesiastical and Heritage World: "Medieval man experienced a window more than he read it. It made the church that special, sacred dwelling place of an all powerful God" ("A brief history of stained glass," n.d.). It was through stained glass artwork that a church congregant could visually and therapeutically process a story from Scripture. Art therapy has also integrated itself with Christianity through worship music. It is through song and dance that Christians can express their inmost thoughts or emotions.

To conclude, art therapy and Christianity can be successfully integrated with each other. Though different from each other, art therapy and Christianity share compatible values to each other. Both art therapy and Christianity focus on healing, whether spiritually or physically. This can be seen with Scriptural instances and through traditional church practices. Both art therapy and Christianity have an emphasis on self-expression, which again can be seen play out in Scripture and in the church today. For more of an in-depth explanation of this integration, read this paper. For a compacted version of this integration, look at this infographic.

References:

Bitonte, R. A., & De Santo, M. (2014). Art Therapy: An Underutilized, yet Effective Tool. Mental illness, 6(1), 5354. https://doi.org/10.4081/mi.2014.5354

Ecclesiastical and Heritage World. (n.d.). A brief history of stained glass. Retrieved April 19, 2022, from https://ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk/news/877-a-brief-history-of-stained-glass

Wright, K. J. (2021). Art Therapy a Stroke of the Brush. Journal of Nurse Life Care Planning, 21(1), 39–43