How Art Can Stimulate Curiosity

Curiosity is one of life’s greatest human resources. And yet, everyday distractions (see: the news, social media, and busy jobs) can prompt days, weeks, or even months without fully tapping into your sense of wonder. Art may be the perfect antidote for an increasingly frantic lifestyle and, fortunately, you don’t need to seek out a museum or a gallery to find it. Art (and curiosity) is all around you. 

“Curiosity is a basic human attribute,” says Michael Gervais, the senior director of group fitness programming & content at Equinox as well as the creator of HeadStrong Meditation. “It's that impulse to seek new information, cultivate new experiences, and explore new possibilities.” There are many reasons to prioritize curiosity. “Research has shown curiosity to be associated with increased positive emotions, lower anxiety, and more satisfaction with life. It makes you feel more connected to the world and more empathetic to experiences outside of your own,” says Gervais. 

According to painter and gallerist Clayton Calvert, it’s the artist’s job to stimulate your curiosity. “Without curiosity, I don't believe good art exists,” he says. “If you went around the world and just saw everything for what it was, and you weren't able to kind of see beyond that, it might get a little boring. The role of the artist is to come in and create ideas or objects and just really show you possibilities of what's around you — and how you can draw inspiration.” In other words, there would be no art without curiosity and no curiosity without art.