“Art can reach the deepest part of us, where words do not exist.”
Eileen Miller
Our Mision
Across the globe, 1 in 4 individuals faces mental health challenges during their lifetime. In Costa Rica, we are committed to closing the gap in mental health care by leading a movement that empowers individuals through creative expression and art, paving the way for a more empathetic and inclusive future. Join us in building communities of care, where creativity drives transformation and recovery.
Living Museum Society
Info
Located in Queens, New York, The Living Museum is an art studio dedicated to showcasing the works of patients from Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, the largest state psychiatric facility in New York City. It is the first functioning studio and museum of its kind and houses the largest collection of outsider art in the United States.
In 1983, Dr. Marton, a psychologist at Creedmoor, invited Bolek Greczynski, a Polish artist known for his work in political art and experimental theater, to join the hospital staff. Together, they transformed an abandoned building on Creedmoor’s grounds into a place of extraordinary beauty.
Mr. Greczynski became the first director of the museum. Dr. Marton assumed the position in 1995, shortly after Greczynski’s passing. Today, around 70 artists work regularly at the museum.
A question arises: Would Van Gogh have been a great artist if he had not suffered from mental illness?
I believe mental illness is an advantage in art. One does not need to suffer from it to become a great artist, but there is no doubt that one must strive greatly to reach the place where people with mental illness find themselves automatically.
Dr. Janos Marton, co-founder and current director of The Living Museum