TED Talks Art

How poetry unlocked my superpowers | Keenan Scott II

04 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Keenan Scott Il's passion for words, stories and superheroes fueled his journey to becoming a celebrated playwright, producer, director and actor. Sho...

How to keep your hometown from becoming a ghost town | John Paget

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

"My very first film was about a town that disappeared," says documentarian John Paget. It was the beginning of a lifelong fascination with cities and ...

Ancient Pompeii's hidden messages, preserved in graffiti | Jacqueline DiBiasie-Sammons

27 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Take a graffiti tour through ancient Pompeii with Roman archaeologist Jacqueline DiBiasie-Sammons and discover what 2,000-year-old scribblings from an...

3 stories of Pakistani resilience, told in film | Jawad Sharif

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

TED Fellow Jawad Sharif was born with a rebellious streak -- and he's used it in his documentary films to amplify the unheard voices of Pakistan. Shar...

The one question every aspiring leader needs to ask | Constance Hockaday

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What does inclusive leadership look like? Artist and TED Fellow Constance Hockaday shares how the captain of a trans-Atlantic community raft taught he...

A creative approach to community climate action | Xavier Cortada

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When he learned of the threat that rising sea levels posed to his coastal hometown of Miami, Florida, eco-artist Xavier Cortada founded a movement aro...

AI-generated creatures that stretch the boundaries of imagination | Sofia Crespo

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Can AI help us see beyond our human capabilities? Through a kaleidoscopic blend of technology, nature and art, neural artist Sofia Crespo brings to li...

How dance can unleash your inner joy | Ryan Heffington

16 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"We all have our own beautiful ways of moving, and this is worth celebrating," says dancer and choreographer Ryan Heffington. Inviting you to reconsid...

What if you could sing in your favorite musician's voice? | Holly Herndon

07 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What if you could create new music using your favorite musician's voice? Sharing her melodic gifts with the world, multidisciplinary artist Holly Hern...

Intelligent floating machines inspired by nature | Anicka Yi

19 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Taking cues from soft robotics and the natural world, conceptual artist Anicka Yi builds lighter-than-air machines that roam and react like autonomous...

Stories of photographing monumental people -- from Michelle Obama to Stephen Hawking | Platon

15 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With his art, photographer Platon seeks to strip away assumptions and leave viewers with a window into his subject's character, filling our eyes with ...

Why art is a tool for hope | JR

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Famed for enormous black-and-white portraits that are pasted on surfaces ranging from the Louvre to the US-Mexico border wall, multimedia artist JR co...

An interdimensional performance of imagination | Particle Ink

24 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In a peek into their sprawling metaverse, Particle Ink dazzles with an interdimensional performance combining augmented reality, dance and video proje...

A creator-led internet, built on blockchain | Adam Mosseri

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As digital assets like cryptocurrency and NFTs become more mainstream, design thinker and head of Instagram Adam Mosseri believes that creators are un...

NFTs, the metaverse and the future of digital art | Elizabeth Strickler

05 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In need of a brief yet illuminating lesson on the obsession with NFTs? Elizabeth Strickler breaks down the acronym and explains the fundamentals of no...

How webtoons are changing movies and TV | Hyeonmi Kim

30 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Pop culture is changing thanks to a different kind of storytelling, says digital strategist Hyeonmi Kim. They're called webtoons: comic-like illustrat...

Powerful photos that honor the lives of overlooked women | Smita Sharma

21 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In some parts of the world, girls are as likely to be married off or trafficked as they are to be educated. Photojournalist and TED Fellow Smita Sharm...

My secret to creating real magic | Christina Tosi

01 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In an infectiously joyous talk, Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi shares the sugary jolt of her first food memory and behind-the-scenes stories of her b...

How film captures the space between hope and despair | Mounia Akl

08 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When Lebanon was rocked by a massive explosion at the port of Beirut, filmmaker Mounia Akl came face-to-face with chaos -- and the power of art to cre...

The mind-bending art of deep time | Katie Paterson

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Short-sightedness may be the greatest threat to humanity, says conceptual artist Katie Paterson, whose work engages with deep time -- an idea that des...

How visual storytelling creates better health care | Sam Hester

12 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Comics creator Sam Hester is part of a growing movement within health care: graphic medicine. In short, literally drawing attention to a patient's nee...

"Being Human" | Naima Penniman

10 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this stunning spoken-word performance, poet and "freedom-forging futurist" Naima Penniman celebrates the wonders of the natural world and humanity'...

The many reasons to eat a plant-based diet | Derek Sarno

10 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Vegan chef (and head chef of TED Countdown Summit) Derek Sarno is on a mission to unleash the mighty power of plants, creating nutritious food from mu...

How your nature photos can help protect wild animals | Tanya Berger-Wolf

21 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We're losing animal and plant species at such a swift, unprecedented rate that it's nearly impossible to keep up. Computational biologist Tanya Berger...

The art of paying attention | Wendy MacNaughton

23 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In an invitation to slow down and look at the world around you, graphic journalist Wendy MacNaughton illustrates how drawing can spark deeply human, a...

Why are stolen African artifacts still in Western museums? | Jim Chuchu

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

African artifacts shown in museums worldwide are often not borrowed, but stolen -- and TED Fellow Jim Chuchu is on a mission to get them back. Learn t...

Documentary films that explore trauma -- and make space for healing | Almudena Toral

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Through documentary films following survivors of trauma, TED Fellow Almudena Toral makes invisible psychological scars seen. She shares the heartbreak...

What should humans take to space (and leave behind)? | Jorge Mañes Rubio

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One day, humans will explore space en masse and live scattered across the solar system on planets like Mars and beyond. Inspired by his time as artist...

Playful, wondrous public spaces built for community and possibility | Matthew Mazzotta

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Introducing a new type of public space, custom-fit for communities in need of a shot of hope and wonder. Artist and TED Fellow Matthew Mazzotta takes ...

To accomplish great things, you need to "let the paint dry" | Daniel J. Watts

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As theaters closed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the creatives who populated their stages were plunged into a state of seemingly endless un...

How theater weathers wars, outlasts empires and survives pandemics | Cara Greene Epstein

17 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When catastrophe strikes, art prevails -- and has done so for centuries. In this fascinating talk, writer and director Cara Greene Epstein places the ...

When the world is burning, is art a waste of time? | R. Alan Brooks

01 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Is art worth it? "Hell yeah," says graphic novelist R. Alan Brooks -- art has the power to scare dictators, inspire multitudes and change hearts and m...

How a strong creative industry helps economies thrive | Mehret Mandefro

19 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When global leaders think about which industries can fuel economic growth, the arts are often overlooked. But filmmaker Mehret Mandefro says the creat...

How creative writing can help you through life's hardest moments | Sakinah Hofler

09 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever seen or experienced something and wished you spoke up? Writer Sakinah Hofler makes the case for writing as a tool to help you process di...

An illustrated kingdom of real, fantastical plants | Nirupa Rao

05 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Botanical artist Nirupa Rao captures the spirit and beauty of nature in watercolor. With a portfolio of enchanting, scientifically accurate illustrati...

Art in the age of machine intelligence | Refik Anadol

18 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What does it look like inside the mind of a machine? Inspired by the architectural vision of a futuristic Los Angeles in "Blade Runner," media artist ...

Give yourself permission to be creative | Ethan Hawke

23 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Reflecting on moments that shaped his life, actor Ethan Hawke examines how courageous expression promotes healing and connection with one another -- a...

The transformative role of art during the pandemic | Anne Pasternak

08 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Museums are vessels of memory, knowledge, inspiration and dreams. Anne Pasternak, director of the Brooklyn Museum, makes the case for cultural institu...

How Dolly Parton led me to an epiphany | Jad Abumrad

25 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How do you end a story? Host of "Radiolab" Jad Abumrad tells how his search for an answer led him home to the mountains of Tennessee, where he met an ...

How to support and celebrate living artists | Swizz Beatz

24 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Legendary hip-hop producer Swizz Beatz is on a mission to revolutionize the way artists do business. In this glorious talk, he shares some of the ways...

How drawing can set you free | Shantell Martin

12 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Who are you? To answer this question, artist Shantell Martin followed her pen. In this brilliantly visual talk featuring her signature freestyle line ...

An ode to living on Earth | Oliver Jeffers

22 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If you had to explain to a newborn what it means to be a human being living on Earth in the 21st century, what would you say? Visual artist Oliver Jef...

Go ahead, dream about the future | Charlie Jane Anders

20 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"You don't predict the future -- you imagine the future," says sci-fi writer Charlie Jane Anders. In a talk that's part dream, part research-based ext...

Art that reveals how technology frames reality | Jiabao Li

04 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In a talk that could change how you see things, designer and artist Jiabao Li introduces her conceptual projects that expose the inherent bias of digi...

How bumble bees inspired a network of tiny museums | Amanda Schochet

27 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes, small things make a huge impact. After studying how bees in urban environments can survive by navigating small land patches, ecologist Aman...

How volumetric video brings a new dimension to filmmaking | Diego Prilusky

21 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this talk and tech demo, filmmaker Diego Prilusky introduces the next chapter in moviemaking: volumetric video, a 360-degree experience powered by ...

How symbols and brands shape our humanity | Debbie Millman

14 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"Branding is the profound manifestation of the human spirit," says designer and podcaster Debbie Millman. In a historical odyssey that she illustrated...

Imaginative sculptures that explore how we perceive reality | Alicia Eggert

10 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

TED Fellow Alicia Eggert takes us on a visual tour of her work -- from a giant sculpture on an uninhabited island in Maine to an installation that inf...

Dictators hate political cartoons -- so I keep drawing them | Rayma Suprani

31 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"A political cartoon is a barometer of freedom," says Rayma Suprani, who was exiled from her native Venezuela for publishing work critical of the gove...

Does photographing a moment steal the experience from you? | Erin Sullivan

23 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When we witness something amazing, many of us instinctively pull out our phones and snap pictures. Is this obsession with photographing everything imp...

A swarm of mini drones makes ... magic! | Marco Tempest

10 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Leading a swarm of small, buzzing flying machines, techno-magician Marco Tempest orchestrates a "cyber illusion" that will have you asking yourself: W...

A video game that helps us understand loneliness | Cornelia Geppert

05 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Step into artist Cornelia Geppert's visually stunning video game "Sea of Solitude," which explores how battling the "monsters" of loneliness and self-...

How I use art to tackle plastic pollution in our oceans | Alejandro Durán

02 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Alejandro Durán uses art to spotlight the ongoing destruction of our oceans' ecosystems. In this breathtaking talk, he shows how he meticulously orga...

Why I draw with robots | Sougwen Chung

25 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when humans and robots make art together? In this awe-inspiring talk, artist Sougwen Chung shows how she "taught" her artistic style to a...

A historical musical that examines Black identity in the 1901 World's Fair | Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin

08 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this lively talk and performance, artist and TED Fellow Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin offers a sneak peek of her forthcoming musical "At Buffalo." D...

Urban architecture inspired by mountains, clouds and volcanoes | Ma Yansong

07 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Taking inspiration from nature, architect Ma Yansong designs breathtaking buildings that break free from the boxy symmetry of so many modern cities. H...

Why we need more (real) science in fiction | Alexis Gambis

25 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Filmmaker, biologist and TED Fellow Alexis Gambis makes films grounded in fact, straddling the genres of experimental, documentary and fiction. Showin...

How we experience awe -- and why it matters | Beau Lotto and Cirque du Soleil

25 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Neuroscientist Beau Lotto conducted an ambitious study with Cirque du Soleil on the emotion of awe and its psychological and behavioral benefits. In t...

The pride and power of representation in film | Jon M. Chu

23 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On the heels of the breakout success of his film "Crazy Rich Asians," director Jon M. Chu reflects on what drives him to create -- and makes a resound...

Fashion that celebrates all body types -- boldly and unapologetically | Becca McCharen-Tran

22 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Fashion designers have the power to change culture -- and Becca McCharen-Tran is using her platform to expand the industry's narrow definition of beau...

How we experience time and memory through art | Sarah Sze

30 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Artist Sarah Sze takes us on a kaleidoscopic journey through her work: immersive installations as tall as buildings, splashed across walls, orbiting t...

What streaming means for the future of entertainment | Emmett Shear

16 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In a talk and demo, Twitch cofounder Emmett Shear shares his vision for the future of interactive entertainment -- and explains how video game streami...

"Stumbling towards intimacy": An improvised TED Talk | Anthony Veneziale

04 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In a hilarious, completely improvised talk, improv master Anthony Veneziale takes to the TED stage for a truly one-of-a-kind performance. Armed with a...

Can we choose to fall out of love? | Dessa

29 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What's the best way to get over heartbreak? Rapper and writer Dessa came up with an unconventional approach after a chance viewing of Helen Fisher's T...

How craving attention makes you less creative | Joseph Gordon-Levitt

20 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has gotten more than his fair share of attention from his acting career. But as social media exploded over the past decade, he go...

The architectural wonder of impermanent cities | Rahul Mehrotra

22 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Every 12 years, a megacity springs up in India for the Kumbh Mela religious festival -- what's built in ten weeks is completely disassembled in one. W...

How a typeface helped launch Apollo | Douglas Thomas

19 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When humanity first landed on the moon in 1969, the typeface Futura was right there with them. In this fascinating history of typography, designer Dou...

Mentalism, mind reading and the art of getting inside your head | Derren Brown

16 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

"Magic is a great analogy for how we edit reality and form a story -- and then mistake that story for the truth," says psychological illusionist Derre...

How film transforms the way we see the world | Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

12 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Film has the power to change the way we think about ourselves and our culture. Documentarian and TED Fellow Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy uses it to fight vio...

Architectural secrets of the world's ancient wonders | Brandon Clifford

21 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How did ancient civilizations move massive stones to build Stonehenge, the Pyramids and the Easter Island statues? In this quick, delightful talk, TED...

"A Bird Made of Birds" | Sarah Kay

21 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

"The universe has already written the poem you were planning on writing," says Sarah Kay, quoting her friend, poet Kaveh Akbar. Performing "A Bird Mad...

Floating cities, the LEGO House and other architectural forms of the future | Bjarke Ingels

03 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Design gives form to the future, says architect Bjarke Ingels. In this worldwide tour of his team's projects, journey to a waste-to-energy power plant...

Mind-blowing stage sculptures that fuse music and technology | Es Devlin

03 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It starts with a sketch. Then it evolves into a larger-than-life visual masterpiece, a celebration of human connection. Follow along as legendary arti...

Three ideas. Three contradictions. Or not. | Hannah Gadsby

29 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hannah Gadsby's groundbreaking special "Nanette" broke comedy. In a talk about truth and purpose, she shares three ideas and three contradictions. Or ...

Public art that turns cities into playgrounds of the imagination | Helen Marriage

03 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Visual artist Helen Marriage stages astonishing, large-scale public art events that expand the boundaries of what's possible. In this visual tour of h...

Why I turned Chicago's abandoned homes into art | Amanda Williams

19 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Amanda Williams shares her lifelong fascination with the complexity of color: from her experiences with race and redlining to her discovery of color t...

Stunning buildings made from raw, imperfect materials | Débora Mesa Molina

24 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What would it take to reimagine the limits of architecture? Débora Mesa Molina offers some answers in this breathtaking, visual tour of her work, sho...

Museums should honor the everyday, not just the extraordinary | Ariana Curtis

21 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Who deserves to be in a museum? For too long, the answer has been "the extraordinary" -- those aspirational historymakers who inspire us with their su...

A lesson on looking | Amy Herman

06 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Are you looking closely? Visual educator Amy Herman explains how to use art to enhance your powers of perception and find connections where they may n...

The story of Marvel's first queer Latina superhero | Gabby Rivera

29 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

With Marvel's "America Chavez," Gabby Rivera wrote a new kind of superhero -- one who can punch portals into other dimensions while also embracing her...

How I accidentally changed the way movies get made | Franklin Leonard

07 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How does Hollywood choose what stories get told on-screen? Too often, it's groupthink informed by a narrow set of ideas about what sells at the box of...

My quest to defy gravity and fly | Elizabeth Streb

25 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Over the course of her fearless career, extreme action specialist Elizabeth Streb has pushed the limits of the human body. She's jumped through broken...

3 ways to create a space that moves you, from a Broadway set designer | David Korins

09 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

You don't have to work on Broadway to design a set, says creative director David Korins -- you can be the set designer of any space in your life. Shar...

Intimate photos of a senior love triangle | Isadora Kosofsky

28 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Photographer and TED Fellow Isadora Kosofsky is a chronicler of love, loss and loneliness. In this searching talk, she shares photos from her four yea...

"Chasms" | Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes

28 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Writer and activist Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes lights up the stage with a powerful poem about hope, truth and the space between who we are and who we wa...

How to build a thriving music scene in your city | Elizabeth Cawein

27 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How does a city become known as a "music city"? Publicist Elizabeth Cawein explains how thriving music scenes make cities healthier and happier and sh...

"Wild Women" | Sunni Patterson

31 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

With lightning on her tongue, Sunni Patterson performs her powerful poem, "Wild Women," accompanied by the entrancing moves of dancer Chanice Holmes.

Why art thrives at Burning Man | Nora Atkinson

28 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Craft curator Nora Atkinson takes us on a trip to Nevada's Black Rock Desert to see the beautifully designed and participatory art of Burning Man, rev...

How art can shape America's conversation about freedom | Dread Scott

27 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this quick talk, visual artist Dread Scott tells the story of one of his most transgressive art installations, which drew national attention for it...

"Interpassion" / "Ba$$in" | Yelle

20 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Yelle and GrandMarnier bring their danceable electropop hits to the TED stage in an energizing performance of two songs, "Interpassion" and "Ba$$in."

You are fluent in this language (and don't even know it) | Christoph Niemann

27 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Without realizing it, we're fluent in the language of pictures, says illustrator Christoph Niemann. In a charming talk packed with witty, whimsical dr...

The genius behind some of the world's most famous buildings | Renzo Piano

13 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Legendary architect Renzo Piano -- the mind behind such indelible buildings as The Shard in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the new Whitney M...

The symbols of systemic racism -- and how to take away their power | Paul Rucker

26 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Multidisciplinary artist and TED Fellow Paul Rucker is unstitching the legacy of systemic racism in the United States. A collector of artifacts connec...

Why theater is essential to democracy | Oskar Eustis

04 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Truth comes from the collision of different ideas, and theater plays an essential role in showing us that truth, says legendary artistic director Oska...

Visions of Africa's future, from African filmmakers | Dayo Ogunyemi

24 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

By expanding boundaries, exploring possibilities and conveying truth, films have helped change Africa's reality (even before "Black Panther"). Dayo Og...

How the arts help homeless youth heal and build | Malika Whitley

11 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Malika Whitley is the founder of ChopArt, an organization for homeless teens focused on mentorship, dignity and opportunity through the arts. In this ...

How I use art to bridge misunderstanding | Adong Judith

19 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Director and playwright Adong Judith creates provocative art that sparks dialogue on issues from LGBTQ rights to war crimes. In this quick but powerfu...

Why must artists be poor? | Hadi Eldebek

15 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The arts bring meaning to our lives and spirit to our culture -- so why do we expect artists to struggle to make a living? Hadi Eldebek is working to...

The radical beauty of Africa, in portraits | Iké Udé

12 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Throughout his colorful career and bodies of work, Iké Udé has found creative ways to reject the negative portrayal of Africans rampant in Western m...

How fashion helps us express who we are -- and what we stand for | Kaustav Dey

06 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

No one thinks twice about a woman wearing blue jeans in New York City -- but when Nobel laureate Malala wears them, it's a political act. Around the g...