Exploring the Mental Health Journey of Migrants through Art
Migration, Mental Health and Art
Migration is a transformative yet challenging experience that significantly impacts mental health (Jaseema & Shabeer, 2024). Art serves as a powerful medium for expressing emotions, fostering dialogue, and bridging cultural gaps. Research highlights the growing role of the arts in raising awareness of mental health issues and counteracting stigma, distinguishing this field from formal art therapy (Tischler, 2017). This project explores how art exhibitions can illuminate the psychological aspects of migration and identity formation.
Raising awareness through exhebitions
To enhance public awareness of the intersection between migration and mental health through thoughtfully curated art exhibitions that critically engage with migrants' experiences of displacement, adaptation, and belonging. These exhibitions strategically intervene in public spaces and institutions, fostering dialogue on the complexities of migration.
Curatorial Process and collaborations
The project began through a partnership with curator Vera Gailis, who connected Nefashot with KAKDELART, a platform for immigrant artists in Israel. Together, we launched an open call and initiated a research project exploring the intersection of art, migration, and mental health. As the curatorial process evolved, Anna Smolyarova joined, bringing an academic perspective and expanding the project’s reach.
In August 2023, we issued a joint open call, receiving over 100 submissions from artists across Argentina, France, Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, and beyond. These works reflect diverse perspectives on migration, identity, and belonging.
KAKDELART – A platform dedicated to integrating immigrant artists into Israel’s art scene, providing opportunities for visibility, collaboration, and cultural exchange.
Vera Gailis – A curator specializing in community-driven and site-specific exhibitions, fostering dialogue on social issues and expanding contemporary art beyond traditional spaces.
Anna Smolyarova – A scholar and art enthusiast who bridges artistic projects with academic discourse, ensuring broader recognition and impact.
Nomadic souls - Exhibitions Overview
Investigates the paradox of individuality within a collective experience. Migrants navigate between personal identity and their evolving role within a new social fabric. Through various media, artists explore alienation, memory, and the struggle for recognition.
Examines how language acquisition and cultural adaptation shape migrants' sense of self and belonging. This exhibition took place at Harmony Cultural Center, a municipal institution in Jerusalem dedicated to cultural integration and immigrant support.
In addition to the exhibition, we hosted an academic Zoom meeting and released a catalog to further engage with the themes presented.
Ulpan Monsters (February 26 - May 2025)
This exhibition brings the research of complexities of language acquisition to Ulpan Gordon, a Hebrew language school where curator Vera Gailis studied Hebrew. The location holds deep significance, as some of the exhibited works are inspired by and created within the learning process, such as language study notebooks.
Upcoming exhibitions:
Indie Photography Gallery, Tel Aviv (July 2025): A well-known and respected gallery, Indie - Cooperative Gallery for Photography. The exhibition at Indie was accepted through a competitive open call and will explore themes of migration and emotional eating. More details will be published closer to the event.
Project Impact & Results
Community Engagement – Interactive discussions and events sparked dynamic conversations and received extensive media coverage.
Raising Awareness – Increased visibility of mental health challenges in migration contexts.
Support for Immigrants – Provided a reflective and supportive space for recent immigrants from Ukraine and Russia to process trauma and navigate the complexities of war and relocation.
Strengthened Collaborations – Expanded partnerships between institutions, grassroots organizations, and municipal professionals.
Cross-Sector Cooperation
🔹 Each exhibition includes literary events, creative activities, and discussions on mental health services.
🔹Engagement and presence of Municipal professionals and Ministry of Health
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