Miami airport showcase works by mentally ill artists
- Written by George Sensalis
Miami International airport is currently showcasing Outsider Art, an art collection, featuring works by artists from National Art Exhibitions of the Mentally Ill.
NAEMI is a Miami-based organization dedicated to discovering, studying, promoting, exhibiting and preserving the art of those struggling with mental illness throughout the world.
Artworks are produced by individuals who are usually self-taught and reflect a unique personal expression of the world around us.
Despite working outside art world trends and conventions, Outsider Art is now an important component of contemporary art. Museums like The American Visionary Museum in Baltimore are specifically dedicated to this genre.
NAEMI seeks to educate the public about this art and to aid in overcoming any negative bias associated with the circumstances of its production, affirming the positive power and importance of the creativity of individuals experiencing mental illnesses.
“We are proud to partner with NAEMI to showcase this unique artwork and heighten awareness about those suffering with mental illness,” said Dr. Yolanda Sanchez, Miami International Airport Fine Arts & Cultural Affairs Division Director. “Outsider artists typically make art because they have no choice; it is how they sustain themselves, the only way they can live. The work is important as it is validates the human drive for creativity, regardless of intelligence, psychological or developmental condition, and attests to the ability to transcend limitations and to heal.”
