Live Science Talk with Researcher Matthew MacKisack

How Aphantasia and Hyperphantasia Shape Artistic Practice

We've long assumed that vivid mental imagery—the ability to "see" with the mind's eye—is essential for creating art. But research reveals a more complex reality: artists work in remarkably diverse ways, and some of the most successful creators have little to no mental imagery at all.

Join researcher Matthew MacKisack as he discusses his study examining how aphantasia (absence of mental imagery) and hyperphantasia (extremely vivid mental imagery) influence artistic creation—and why our traditional assumptions about art-making need to change.

What We'll Explore

During this talk, we'll discuss:

Aphantasic artists' creative processes – How artists without mental imagery rely on external references, physical materials, and emergent discovery rather than pre-visualized concepts

Hyperphantasic visualization – How artists with vivid imagery often compose entire works mentally before ever touching a canvas or material

The diversity paradox – Why both aphantasic and hyperphantasic artists produce equally compelling work across all styles, from abstract to photorealistic

Challenging artistic norms – How traditional art education and criticism assume a "standard" creative process that doesn't reflect neurocognitive diversity

Practical implications – What these findings mean for art students, educators, and anyone who's been told they're "not visual enough" to create art

Beyond visual arts – How these insights might extend to other creative fields and what questions remain unanswered

What to Expect

Short Presentation: Matthew will present key findings from interviews with 18 artists (12 with aphantasia, 6 with hyperphantasia) working across painting, sculpture, photography, and digital media. Discover how these artists describe their working processes in their own words and what this reveals about creativity itself.

Live Q&A: This is your chance to ask Matthew directly about his research methods, what surprised him most, and how recognizing neurocognitive diversity can foster more inclusive approaches to art and creativity.

Duration: Approximately 1 hour (including Q&A)

Perfect For:

Artists with aphantasia who've felt discouraged or misunderstood in traditional art education

Individuals with hyperphantasia curious about how their vivid imagery influences their creative approach

Art educators and students interested in neurodiversity and inclusive teaching practices

Anyone who's been told they "can't be creative" because they don't visualize in expected ways

Researchers studying creativity, mental imagery, or the intersection of neuroscience and art

Community members interested in challenging universalizing assumptions about how people think and create

About Matthew MacKisack

Matthew MacKisack is a researcher investigating the relationship between mental imagery and creative practice. His work, conducted in collaboration with artist Susan Aldworth, philosopher Fiona Macpherson, art historian John Onians, neuroimaging specialist Crawford Winlove, and cognitive neurologist Adam Zeman, explores how neurocognitive diversity shapes artistic processes and challenges traditional assumptions about creativity.

Ready to rethink what it means to be creative?

Live Session: Members can join the live talk and participate in the Q&A in real-time

Recording: A recording of the talk will be posted to YouTube and available free to everyone after the event