Healing Through Art

Are you someone who loves getting creative? These drop-in sessions are for you. Creative expression has been cited as a powerful way to connect with yourself, alleviate stress, and find inspiration.

In this collaboration with New York University Steinhardt Graduate School of Art Therapy, graduate art therapy students guide visitors in creative art-making exercises designed to encourage self-reflection and discovery. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Healing Practices: Stories from Himalayan Americans, audiences have the opportunity to reflect on themes of healing and well-being explored within the show.

Advanced registration is not required. This offering is included as part of your general admission ticket for the galleries. Visit the 6th floor between 1 and 3 PM on Saturdays through May 28 to participate.

Healing Through Art sessions are under the direction of Healing Practices: Stories from Himalayan Americans community advisory group member Ikuko Acosta and inspired by the themes in the show.

About the teacher

Ikuko Acosta, PhD, ATR-BC, LCAT

Director of the Graduate Art Therapy Program, New York University

Ikuko has been involved in the field of art therapy for the past 37 years as an art therapist and art theory educator. Her clinical expertise is with the adult psychiatric population; she worked with a diagnostic team in the admissions unit in a county psychiatric hospital in New Jersey. Her main research interest is developing an aesthetically based pictorial analysis within a framework of psychodynamic approach.

Ikuko has been active in promoting cross-cultural application of art therapy worldwide, and has been presenting and teaching in more than 20 countries over the past 25 years.

Ikuko’s most recent funded research, a collaboration with the Parkinson’s unit at NYU Langone Medical Center, focused on the impact of creative experience on people with Parkinson’s disease.

Lead support for the Rubin Museum is provided by The Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Bob and Lois Baylis, Barbara Bowman, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, Noah P. Dorsky, Fred Eychaner, Christopher J. Fussner, Agnes Gund, The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global, Henry Luce Foundation, The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, The Mellon Foundation, Matt and Ann Nimetz, Rasika and Girish Reddy, Shelley and Donald Rubin, Tiger Baron Foundation, and Ellen Bayard Weedon Foundation. Public funds are provided by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

General operating support of the Rubin Museum of Art is provided by John and Daphne Cunningham, Anne E. Delaney, Dalio Philanthropies, the Estate of Lisina M. Hoch, Andres Mata, Dan Gimbel of NEPC, Inc., The Prospect Hill Foundation, Basha Rubin and Scott Grinsell, Linda Schejola, Eileen Caulfield Schwab, Tong-Tong Zhu and Jianing Liu, with generous donations from the Museum’s Board of Trustees, individual donors and members, and corporate and foundation supporters. Public funds are provided by New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Support for Healing Practices: Stories from Himalayan Americans is provided by The Prospect Hill Foundation as well as by generous donations from the Museum’s Board of Trustees, individual donors, and members.