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Art Therapy at UAL

Translucent lines and circular inky marks in green and blue over a faintly textured surface of pink and mustard yellow.
  • Written byStudent Communications
  • Published date 31 May 2022
Translucent lines and circular inky marks in green and blue over a faintly textured surface of pink and mustard yellow.
Image: Grace, UAL student | UAL Art Therapy

We offer Art Therapy sessions to all UAL students. Art Therapy uses creative tools such as drawing, painting, sculpting and collage to create response art by reacting to how you think or feel.

The sessions use prompts to explore themes such as identity, isolation and connection, anxiety, depression, confidence and self-esteem, loss, cultural identity, and navigating change. Art Therapy sessions at UAL are facilitated by registered Art Psychotherapists Louise Higgs and Lisa Gibson and are run in either open or closed groups. View our upcoming art therapy sessions.

This collection of artworks has been curated from work created during Art Therapy sessions at UAL.

When you lose a loved one, you’re trying to find a path alongside the grief. There are so many people out there that have been through so much. Yet we walk past each other and avoid eye contact, we avoid talking about it, we avoid acknowledging it. That’s why art can help - in its own way, with its unique solutions.

— Grace, UAL student.
Image: Szonja, UAL student | UAL Art Therapy

“What I enjoy the most about going to Art Therapy is the freedom. No pressure to perform, no need for beautiful lines, photorealistic images or consistency in my style. Only what my mind wants to say. It is mainly me communicating with myself through art, and group therapy helps and inspires a lot, sharing my thoughts or listening to others helps me heal

- Szonja, UAL student.

A blue clay figure with a large head and large eyes. It has a happy expression.
Image: Lisa, UAL student | UAL Art Therapy

“While I was creating the first figure, I felt anxious and frustrated. I was expressing my inner critic. While creating this second figure, I felt calmer and relaxed as I didn’t mind about the aesthetics. I thought about this character as a helper of my inner self. I used blue coloured clay to make the distinction that this character is more colourful and happier. By participating in this the art therapy session, I realised that not everything about myself is negative which has boosted my confidence and motivation.

- Lisa, UAL student.

Image Gallery

  • Thick dark brushstrokes over a dark blue background. The brushstrokes are in blues, purples and greens, with fine red and yellow lines on top.
    Image: Chamiah, UAL student | UAL Art Therapy
  • Image: Divya, UAL student | UAL Art Therapy
  • A folded piece of patterned origami paper, overlaid with a strip of grey jersey fabric tied with two ribbons in purple and green.
    Image: UAL student | UAL Art Therapy
  • Image: Haiqi, UAL student | UAL Art Therapy
  • Image: Himarni, UAL student | UAL Art Therapy
  • Image: Holly, UAL student | UAL Art Therapy