A growing body of research suggests that viewing art improves your mental, social and physical wellbeing.
By Taylor Westerlund, Syracuse University Art Museum
What if looking at art was as good for your well-being as a trip to the gym? A visit to the art museum won’t replace your morning jog, but there is growing evidence that viewing art contributes positively to your overall health reducing stress, deepening engagement, and building a community with others who enjoy it.
Last fall, researchers at King’s College London found that people who viewed original artworks saw inflammatory markers and stress hormones dropped significantly. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) are linked to stress and several chronic diseases—dropped by 30% and 28% respectively. Cortisol, the key stress hormone, saw levels drop up to 22%. (The findings are early and not yet peer-reviewed, but they add to this deepening body of research).
In another recent study, scientists at University College London even found that people who frequently engaged in a diversity of arts activities appeared to have a slower place of ageing and a younger biological age, as suggested by changes to DNA.
The Syracuse University Art Museum is creating opportunities on campus for exactly this type of health-boosting arts engagement, right at the heart of campus. The museum’s work centers on community exploration, experimentation, and engagement. It brings people together and examines the forces that keep us apart.
When we look at art together, we slow down and listen to ourselves and each other. Stepping away from our screens and to-do lists has real, positive impact on our minds and bodies. As educator Shari Tishman says, “the more you look [together], the more you see; the more you use, the more engaged you become”.
This summer, add art to your wellness routine. Explore nearly 40 works of public art across campus, from historic sculptures to monumental mosaics, with the Art Museum’s Self-Guided Public Art @ SU walking tour. The full loop takes about an hour and fifteen minutes; start wherever you are and see what slows you down. Find the full tour map here.
The Syracuse University Art Museum located on the first floor of the Shaffer Art Building is free and open to all. The galleries are currently closed for the summer, and reopen on August 25, 2026, for an exciting fall season. More information about upcoming exhibitions, programs and more is available at museum.syr.edu.