Artists’ brains are different from non-artists. That we know. But do artists have a high IQ, too, necessarily? In this post, I let you know whether creativity and intelligence are related, if artists are smarter than average, and what scientists say about “artistic intelligence.” Sounds interesting? Ok, let’s get into it together!
We already know that artists have different brains. Artists see the world differently because they have more neural matter in an area in the brain, the so-called preceneus, where non-artists have less. This allows them to perceive shadows, colors and contours that non-artists would miss and helps them to create their own art.
But does that actually mean that artists have a high IQ?
Well, in this post, we’re going to get into it. So, if you want to find out if you are an artist smarter than average—read on!
Is creativity a sign of intelligence?
We know for a fact that creating visual art increases the neural connections in the brain and activates the visual cortex.
But making art also enhances other brain functions. For example, it has a positive impact on brain wave patterns, the nervous system and our emotions because it can elevate serotonin levels. That’s why art-making is also considered to be good for our mental health.
All in all, art can change how someone views and experiences the world. With a more positive mindset, you might be able to make smarter decisions than you would with a rather pessimistic outlook on the world.
In that way, one can say that intelligence and creativity are related. Being creative helps you make more intelligent life choices!
But let’s delve a bit deeper into the science. How exactly is art related to IQ?
Is art related to IQ?
First off, what exactly is IQ? Well, the intelligent quotient is a number that represents a person’s reasoning ability, measured using problem-solving tests. Those tests assess a range of mental capacities, such as logic, spatial awareness, memory, and problem‐solving skills.
With that said, is art related to IQ? In fact, there are studies that show a relation between art-making and cognitive development.
However, it’s important to pay attention to the difference between relation and causation. In other words, creating art can improve a person’s cognitive abilities. Nevertheless, there is no evidence that there is a direct link between art and IQ score. That means when you start making art, you IQ is not necessarily going to increase.
Now, in what way are IQ and creativity related?
For example, when it comes to solving problems, it’s easier for creative people to view problems from a different angle and think of new possibilities. They tend to have better communication skills than non-creative people and can express their ideas in a convincing and eloquent manner.
What’s more, creatives have a high degree of emotional intelligence. Many artists tell their own stories through their art. They express their experiences, thoughts, and feelings—good and bad. That means they draw on their emotions to make art that resonates with their audience. That requires the ability to feel, manage and express one’s own emotions and relate to what other people are feeling.
Artists with high emotional intelligence tend to have better social skills, better relationships with others, and better mental health than people with low emotional intelligence.
Learn more: What To Know When Dating An Artist (Difficult Or Good Choice?)
Already some good reasons to make art, don’t you think so? But, does that mean that artists have higher intelligence in general as well?
In ‘oblivion.‘, I’m expressing my own experiences with oblivious, neglectful, and self-forgetful people. You can learn more about the story behind this artwork and my creative process in The Making of ‘oblivion.’ here.
Do artists have higher intelligence?
The difference between emotional intelligence and analytical intelligence, as used for IQ scores, lies in the person’s approach to knowledge and creativity. While artists rely more on their emotions and intuition, intellectuals tend to view things with a rather analytical and rational mindset.
As Joe Behen, PhD, Executive Director of Counseling, Health, and Disability Services at SAIC, summarizes:
“Artists, as a whole, are more empathic than non-artists. They’re more sensitive. They tend to have more fluid, permeable personal boundaries that allow them to connect to people in meaningful, emotional ways.”
Do artists have higher intelligence at the end of the day? Well, artists may not necessarily have high intelligence in the traditional sense. But they do have unique emotional and cognitive skills.
That type of artistic intelligence includes flexible and creative thinking, empathy, as well as practical and technical skills that allow them to excel in their art.
In conclusion, do artists have a high IQ?
As I already mentioned earlier, IQ tests mainly assess a certain set of mental abilities, such as logical reasoning, problem‐solving, and spatial awareness.
Do artists have a high IQ score in those tests? Well, it has been found that artists don’t necessarily score high on regular IQ tests, meaning artists are not necessarily smarter than average. ´\_(ツ)_/`
However, artists are often exceptionally smart in other areas that aren’t usually covered by those IQ tests!
How does that work? Well, intelligence includes many different areas. Creativity, for example, requires technical knowledge, practical skills and innovative ways of thinking.
As for the technical knowledge, artists need to master the materials they use—be it traditional media or digital art tools. They need to practical skills, meaning they must understand how to capture light and shadows, how to choose color correctly, and how to compose an artwork in an impactful and compelling manner.
To help you master those practical skills, I’ve put together a guide to the Secrets of Good Composition in Art that you can download for free in the Freebie Library!
Last but not least, artists also need to come up with innovative ways to solve problems, because there is hardly any time when you don’t encounter a problem during your creative process. There is always something that doesn’t work out as you wish, meaning you’ll need to find ways to work around it and solve the issue.
Related: 7 Things Artists Struggle With (& How To Tackle Them!)
Those skills that artists possess are known as “practical intelligence.”
Oftentimes, artists challenge social and political norms in their work, such as the early lowbrow artists. That requires critical thinking and the ability to reflect on complex societal shortcomings.
Likewise, artists may apply their intellectual competences to real-life situations and find creative solutions to novel problems.
To wrap it up, we can say that “traditional” intelligence and creativity are not directly related. Artists don't have a higher IQ than non-artists. But they have very unique and particular capacities that the rest of the population may not have. ʕᴖᴥᴖʔ
Are artists smarter than average?
On a final note, one could wonder if artists are smarter than average—maybe a least a bit—because they have higher emotional and practical intelligence than average.
But no. That’s not the case. You can even find views that a high IQ may be an obstacle for some creative activities. Andy Warhol, for example, had a completely average IQ of 86. Nevertheless, he is one of the greatest artists of the 20th century!
Further reading: “Great Art Comes From Great Pain.” – Art Comes From Suffering… Really?
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This just goes to show that you don’t need to be an intellectual genius to create ingenious art. So, if you have just completed an IQ test and didn’t score as high as you expected—don’t worry. You can still be a great artist!
But apart from that, never forget: art is a matter of taste and even bad art gets attention. (ಠ‿↼) What I want to say is what matters most anyways is that you create the art you love to make!
With that being said, I hope you enjoyed this post and got some interesting insights into the relation between intelligence and creativity. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I’d love to hear from you! Make sure to sign up for my email list below so you don’t miss out on new blog posts and other cool stuff. ♥
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Thank you so much, Callie, it means a lot to me to hear that from my readers! ♥︎