Why You Love Abstract Art (Your Brain on Abstract Art)

Did you ever wonder why you’re drawn to a work of abstract art? What is it about your wiring and the feeling you get that makes you stop in your tracks in front of an abstract piece and say, “Wow!”

It wasn’t until I heard the author of Your Brain on Art, Susan Magsamen, speak at a local art museum that I began to understand the real science behind why some people fall in love with abstract art. The answer might surprise you.

Magsamen and her co-author Ross describe what’s called the “aesthetic triad,” the three parts of your brain that work together when you see art: the sensory system, which processes color, shape and composition; the emotional system, that decides whether we like what we’re seeing, and the meaning-making system that connects our memories and life story to that art.

When you see a representational piece of art (think of a portrait or a landscape), your brain registers “person” or “place,” and you can move on. But abstract art gives you another person’s vision and asks you to search the depths of your own memory, emotion, and life story for its meaning.

Your brain has to work a little harder to find meaning and make those connections.

Some might say that abstract art is simple, but there’s a complexity to every piece of abstract art that isn’t always understood. What you’re seeing is an abstract artist’s release of emotion, memory, intuition, or their unique story (among other creative instincts). Your brain must suddenly kick into action to create your own interpretation of what you see. Abstract art is, in a sense, a form of mental and emotional gymnastics for your brain. 

I love abstract art because there’s really no single, “right” way to interpret it. What I might view as “busy” could be serene to someone else. What might make me feel uneasy could make the person standing next to me feel joy. Physically, we’re viewing the same art, but neurologically, we’re having different experiences. How cool is that??

So, the next time you fall in love with a piece of abstract art, know that your brain just got a great "aesthetic triad” workout. Sounds like a new fitness routine, and honestly, it might be the most enjoyable one out there. No sweat required. Just an open mind.