Art As Medicine is an exhibition supported by the Columbia University Mental Health Initiative "Capturing Perspectives on Mental Health", which seeks to capture diverse perspectives on mental health across our community. This call for submissions invites students, faculty, staff, and researchers at the Mailman School of Public Health and the Columbia University Irving Medical Center to share creative works that reflect personal experiences with mental health challenges, resilience, and well-being.
Academic life often brings unique challenges. Whether it’s students managing uncertainty and pressure, faculty balancing research and teaching demands, or staff carrying out institutional responsibilities, these strains can take a quiet but significant toll on mental health. Yet creative expression offers a powerful way to process, connect, and restore.
Through this exhibition, we aim to create a compassionate and safe space where art serves as a source of healing and dialogue. By sharing your work, whether visual, digital, sculptural, written, or otherwise, you join a collective effort to spark connection and remind us all of the strength that emerges when creativity and community come together.