Artists have the reputation of being narcissistic individuals. In fact, narcissism is widespread in the art world and it’s true that many artists tend to be self-absorbed. But are all artists narcissists? In this post, I venture to explore the relation between creativity and narcissism, aiming to find out whether and why so many artists are narcissists, myself included. Come join me on my journey and find out if you are maybe a little bit of a narcissist, too! (•ᴗ•)
I already addressed the stereotype of the tortured artist, who is often portrayed as self-absorbed and egotistical. But even if they are not “tortured,” artists tend to have the reputation of being self-centered.
Narcissism is just a little step away from egocentrism. But does that mean that all artists are narcissists?
Fact is that narcissism seems to be widespread in the art world. History is full of artists famous for their larger-than-life personalities.
Vincent van Gogh and Frida Kahlo, to just name two examples, are known for struggling with personal demons that influenced their work. However, their intense emotions also led them to create art that is still celebrated today.
Related: Does Great Art Come From Suffering?
Being an artist myself, I want to explore if narcissism and creativity are related and try to find out whether all artists are narcissists—including myself... (◔_◔)
…and maybe you too. (ಠ‿↼)
Sounds interesting? Ok, let’s get into it!
What is narcissism in general and in the art world in particular?
Narcissism exists on a spectrum, and—according to psychologists—most people possess some level of narcissistic traits. Psychology distinguishes between healthy narcissism and pathological narcissism.
Healthy narcissism is characterized by self-confidence and self-worth—two qualities that are essential for pursuing personal goals.
In contrast, pathological narcissism involves a lack of empathy, a need for admiration, and an inflated sense of self-importance. That type of unhealthy narcissism is often referred to as narcissistic personality disorder.
According to Taproot Therapy, people with narcissistic personality disorder are ashamed of some parts of themselves on an unconscious level. That shame often stems from early trauma, abuse, or neglect and drives them to focus their conscious and unconscious energy on controlling how others perceive them.
Narcissists view life as a competition where they must constantly assert their superiority, compensating for an underlying feeling of inadequacy. Whether other people’s perceptions of them are accurate doesn’t matter. What’s more important for narcissists is that others do hold positive views of them.
They invest great effort in shaping others’ opinions, but they typically do not work on improving themselves to make these opinions genuine.
At their core, narcissists are emotionally vulnerable, concealing this vulnerability through defense mechanisms like control, anger, manipulation, and a lack of empathy.
Related: Art And Personality: What Does Art Say About A Person?
“Desert Rose” is a digital artwork of mine that portrays themes of vulnerability, loss, and transformation. The porcelain woman, with her broken elbow and hollow chest, implies fragility—symbolizing a delicate, constructed beauty that has been damaged.
Do artists tend to be narcissists?
Let’s come back to artists. Creative individuals often fit the personality style that Karen Horney, a German psychoanalyst, describes as “moving away from people.” Horney notes that children who lacked consistent attention during their development tend to withdraw inward, creating their own inner world for self-soothing.
These individuals grow deeply interested in exploring and expressing their own identity. They show a creative streak that may or may not be consciously recognized as such.
Related: Why It Is True That Everyone Is An Artist (Including YOU!)
Storytelling through art—an indicator that you are a narcissist?
Self-expression in this personality type not only helps them learn to self-soothe in childhood but also allows them to subtly convey their personality through style, storytelling, or humor.
People with “moving away” personalities feel more comfortable in smaller groups or communities, where they can better observe and understand the dynamics at play and anticipate how people will interact—with each other and with themselves.
Other personality styles may be more responsive and can manage larger, more complex social situations without feeling overwhelmed.
Those with a “moving away” personality, however, may be intensely aware of their emotions and feel a strong need to express their experiences creatively or verbally. At the same time, they have a unique ability to embed their beliefs, personality, and opinions within artistic expressions.
Art becomes a medium for them to passively communicate their inner self to others and satisfy their desire for recognition and understanding that was often unmet during their childhood.
Related: How Storytelling Can Improve Art: 12 Hands-On Tips From An Artist
I love to tell stories through my art. “Parishing Bunny” from the Holy Sinner series, for example, tells a story of innocence and sin, decay and ruin. The spelling is intended; by writing “parishing” with an “a” instead of an “e,” the title is supposed to allude to a parish church. Nevertheless, the actual meaning of “perishing” shows in many elements of the image: even the ice cream, which used to be sweet and brightly colored, has turned to a putrefying gray… You can get more insights into my creative process and the meaning behind this work in the Making of the ‘Holy Sinners’ series.
Are narcissism and creativity related?
Now, with the above being said, does that mean that all artists are narcissists? Is there an inevitable relation between narcissism and creativity?
Well, there’s a widely known study led by psychologist Adrian Furnham from University College London that is often cited to establish that narcissism and creativity are related.
That study involved 207 participants, including both undergraduates and college graduates. These participants completed a number of tests to assess the “big five” personality factors, which are: neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.
The results revealed that people with narcissistic traits are more likely to view themselves as creative and to engage in creative pursuits than those without such traits.
Apart from that, it turned out that narcissists tend to be more willing to take risks and push boundaries in their work, leading to innovative ideas.
Related: Risk-Taking And Creativity: Why It Is Important To Take Risks In Art
Why are so many artists narcissists?
Do the above study results explain why so many artists are narcissists—or maybe even the entire art world?
Well, before drawing hasty conclusions, it’s important to take a closer look and understand what the results actually say.
In fact, the study doesn’t deliver any proof that narcissists are more creative than others. It only provides evidence that narcissists tend to consider themselves creative, and this belief encourages them to pursue creative activities.
In other words, people with narcissistic traits are only more likely to see themselves as creative. This creative confidence motivates them to actively engage in artistic activities.
This actually makes sense.
When people believe they have talent, they are naturally more inclined to take on creative endeavors. Moreover, their confidence often keeps them going despite setbacks, and we know that resilience is crucial in creative fields.
Related: How To Build Creative Confidence [8 Tips From An Artist]
This also explains why narcissism is so prominent in the art world. Another reason is that the art world often rewards self-promotion and bold expressions. It’s not surprising that narcissistic traits are more visible in such an environment.
Additionally, the intense personal nature of art-making can amplify self-centered tendencies, because artists expose their identity and experiences in their work.
My identity is definitely part of my art, in fact a very crucial part, because every piece I create starts with a photograph of myself. The image above shows you the creative process of “Porcelain.”
In conclusion, are all artists narcissists?
In the end, it is important to understand that while artists may have tendencies that align with narcissism, it does not mean that all artists are inherently narcissists.
Admittedly, there is a complex interplay between narcissism and creativity, but it is overly simplistic to label all artists as narcissists.
Many artists may be self-focused, but they do not necessarily all have narcissistic personalities.
As opposed to narcissists who rely on others believing a grandiose illusion of them, many artists genuinely desire to be understood for their authentic selves, and they use art as a means of expressing that truth.
As I already mentioned at the beginning, narcissism exists on a spectrum. That means that artists may exhibit traits associated with narcissism. However, they may approach their craft with humility and an authentic desire to connect with others.
Ultimately, artists are as multi-faceted and intricate as the art they create. Instead of stereotyping all artists as narcissists, we should strive to understand their diverse motivations and personalities.
This will not only enrich our appreciation of their artwork, but also allow us to see the human behind the art.
Further reading: Are ALL Artists Neurodivergent? Which Are & Which Not?
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What’s your opinion about art and narcissism? Do you think that artists necessarily need to be a bit of narcissists to create art? I surely see some narcissist characteristics in my artistic self. On the other hand, I think I sometimes could do with a bit more of healthy narcissism to help me stand up for myself and assert my interests.
What about you, have you noticed some narcissistic traits in yourself? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!
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