Take a moment to breathe at our weekly Art-making Meet-up event, where we explore and create in the museum space.
Let go of stress and connect with your creative self by making art with us each week. We take our inspiration from artworks in the museum, studying color, light, and figuration before taking our vision and turning it into individual expressions of creativity. Examples of activities you can engage in include paper marbling, outdoor watercolor painting, drawing with Camera Lucidas and more!
University students of all majors and experience-levels can drop-in anytime from 2– 4pm every Friday. Art-making Meet-up is ongoing this semester January 30–May 1 with a break Friday, March 20 for Spring Break.
“They[researchers] found that art positively influences the immune, hormone and nervous systems all at once – something never previously recorded. The findings suggest that seeing original art not only moves people emotionally, but also calms the body and promotes health and wellbeing.”
Andre Gregory, The Guardian
Chelsea Staub, the main workshop facilitator, is currently a master’s student in Art History at UT and the 2025-2026 Williford Fellow at the Blanton Museum of Art.
“…there were no differences in health outcomes between people who identify as experienced artists and people who don’t. So that means that no matter your skill level, you’ll be able to feel all the good things that come with making art.”
Girija Kaimal, NPR LIFE KIT
Research on the Psychological Benefits of Making Art and Museum Visits:
Creating art and visiting a museum improves wellness! According to the National College Health Assessment from a fall 2023 study, 56.6% of UT students feel isolated due to loneliness, while 41.4% of students have trouble staying focused in the present moment, lacking in mindfulness.[1] For mental health, at least 32.7% of UT students have been diagnosed with a mental health condition — 25.6% suffering with anxiety and 20.2% with depression.[2]
Research shows that visiting art museums can help reduce stress levels. In October 2025, The Guardian reported a recent study that viewing original artworks in a museum or gallery calms the body as “art positively influences the immune, hormone and nervous systems all at once.”[3]
According to research incorporated in a 2020 NPR article, making art has the capacity to lower stress and anxiety, while simultaneously allowing for deep focus and fostering a sense of hope.[4]
By visiting the Blanton Museum and making art, students will have the space to momentarily escape academic stressors. Viewing and creating art can lower anxiety, depression, stress, and loneliness on a weekly basis. Join us to breathe, to create, and to see the world in a beautiful light.
[1] healthyhorns.utexas.edu/national-college-health-assessment.html
https://www.healthyhorns.utexas.edu/docs/IssuesBrief_PsychologicalWellbeing_2024.pdf
[2] https://www.healthyhorns.utexas.edu/national-college-health-assessment.html. https://www.healthyhorns.utexas.edu/docs/IssuesBrief_MentalHealth_2024.pdf