Creativity as a Way to Hold Complexity

In a world that often demands certainty and quick conclusions, I’ve always been drawn to something different—creativity as a way to hold complexity, sit with contradiction, and explore meaning without needing a single, definitive answer. This perspective has shaped my work, especially in supported studios, therapeutic settings, and neurodiverse communities, where meaning-making does not always follow a linear path. Instead of simplifying or resolving ambiguity, creative engagement allows us to embrace it.

The Power of Nonlinear Meaning-Making

Traditional education and therapeutic models tend to emphasize clear-cut goals, structured steps, and measurable outcomes. While structure has its place, it can sometimes limit the depth of personal exploration—especially for individuals whose cognitive, sensory, or emotional experiences don’t fit neatly into prescribed frameworks.

In supported studios, where I’ve spent years facilitating creative practices with artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), meaning is often built intuitively. A mark on a canvas may carry multiple meanings over time. A sculpture might start as one thing and evolve into something else entirely through ongoing interaction with materials. These processes don’t require immediate interpretation or verbal articulation; they unfold organically, allowing for discovery along the way.

I’ve found that when we resist the urge to impose external definitions, we make space for meaning to shift, grow, and remain open-ended. This isn’t just about art—it’s about fostering a way of thinking and being that allows for different modes of understanding.

Embracing Contradiction and Uncertainty

Creativity also provides a framework for holding contradictions without needing to resolve them. For neurodivergent individuals, this is especially important. Many experience the world in ways that can seem paradoxical or difficult to translate into conventional language. An artwork, a movement, or a sensory experience can express these complexities more effectively than words alone.

I’ve seen artists in supported studios create bodies of work that, at first glance, appear disconnected—each piece reflecting a different emotional state, interest, or personal experience. But over time, patterns emerge, connections form, and a narrative takes shape that couldn’t have been forced into a singular interpretation from the start.

Similarly, in therapeutic or learning environments, creative processes allow individuals to explore multiple possibilities without the pressure to arrive at a “correct” answer. This fosters self-trust, flexibility, and deeper engagement with the world—qualities that are essential for personal growth.

A Different Kind of Learning

By valuing complexity rather than avoiding it, I’ve come to see creativity as a model for learning that respects the ways people naturally interact with their environments. This is particularly significant for those whose cognitive or communicative styles don’t align with conventional expectations.

Rather than seeing ambiguity as a problem to be solved, I see it as an invitation—to explore, to play, and to remain open to the unexpected. Creativity isn’t just about making things—it’s a way of thinking that fosters connection, curiosity, and confidence in navigating an ever-changing world.