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Article

The Specifics and Forms of Art in Contemporary Healthcare Facilities—European Trends

by
Rafał Strojny
* and
Natalia Przesmycka
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Lublin University of Technology, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Arts 2025, 14(4), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/arts14040093
Submission received: 15 April 2025 / Revised: 3 August 2025 / Accepted: 7 August 2025 / Published: 11 August 2025

Abstract

The development of scientific research related to the impact of the built environment on people in recent decades has changed the way healthcare facilities are designed in the 21st century. The ideal approach is characterized by research-based design and the creation of a therapeutic environment. An integral component of the hospital environment is art, the positive impact of which on hospital users has been proven by many scientific studies. The purpose of this research was to determine the specifics and forms of art in contemporary hospitals. The qualitative study included 91 hospitals in 18 European countries. Based on scientific literature, acquired data on the surveyed facilities, and study visits to 20 hospitals, 12 forms of art were identified. In addition to traditional art forms, art reflecting the achievements of 21st-century science and technology can often be seen in contemporary hospitals. The best example is interactive graphics using digital techniques and tools. This is art whose base is created by the artist, but at the same time, it is a form that responds to the environment and movement, engaging the viewer to interact.

1. Introduction

Healthcare facilities have evolved over the decades in terms of their architectural design, especially inside. Hospitals of the 20th century, which were characterized by an emphasis on hygiene, were distinguished by their sterility and monotonous environment. Monotony in hospitals is not limited to interior design—it is a common problem when patients spend long hours in one place, often with limited activity and social contact. The introduction of art to break this monotony can have a dual dimension: through artistic activities performed by artists commissioned by the hospital, and through various forms of creative and artistic activities in which patients can participate. Research by T. A. Shell has shown a significant improvement in pain perception, mood, and anxiety levels in all patients, regardless of gender, age, or diagnosis, as a result of art therapy activities (Shella 2018). Therefore, it was necessary to introduce art into this environment that, taking into account hygienic and sanitary requirements, would make the space more attractive, provide a less institutional atmosphere, and have a positive impact on the users of the medical facility (Smalley 1977). The positive impact of art in hospital spaces is also visible in other areas. Emergency rooms are places where the stress associated with waiting is very high. An analysis of the impact of visual art depicting nature (static images and video) on the behavior of patients and visitors in emergency rooms has shown that it is positive; a relaxing effect is also noticeable in these places, which is expressed, among other things, by a significant decrease in the mobility of patients and those waiting, a reduction in noise levels and the number of inquiries at the reception desk, as well as an increase in social interaction (Nanda et al. 2012).
In the 21st century, one of the leading research topics is the hospital environment in the context of the impact of its various components on patients, staff, and other users. The impact of this environment through architecture and the elements that make it up is unquestionable. Modern hospitals are characterized by the humanization of the healthcare environment. Just as important as treatment is the provision of a welcoming, home-like, therapeutic, patient-centered space in which architecture, art, greenery, and furniture play a key role (Bates 2018).
Following the definition that “health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”, the World Health Organization has used art as a component of health promotion and communication. As of 2019, the WHO has additionally begun testing arts interventions to lead to specific health goals, mental health, quality of care, and more (WHO 2019).
The importance of art as an integral part of the hospital environment that is part of the treatment and care process continues to grow (Fancourt and Finn 2019). In general, art in the hospital is positively perceived by patients and staff (Lankston et al. 2010). The selection and inclusion of art elements are becoming a prerequisite in healthcare facility designs (Baniyamin and Nazri 2020). Art in healthcare facilities is an increasingly popular research topic for many researchers (Boyce et al. 2018). Many studies are related to locating art in various hospital spaces in terms of the positive impact it can have on users. Although research of this type demonstrates that works of art can have a positive impact on the well-being of patients, as well as create elements of an environment that facilitates mental and physical coping, more research is needed in this area. This includes art in traditional forms, as well as contemporary ones involving, for example, the use of artificial reality (Timonen and Timonen 2021).
At the beginning of the 21st century in the United States, nearly 50% of hospitals had art programs, and in 25%, patients were able to choose their own art (Hathorn and Nanda 2008). In many highly developed European countries, there are programs and regulations that oblige the use of art in healthcare facilities. In some countries, one can find means of implementing art in the hospital environment, but often the potential for its use is not fully developed. An example of this is the Netherlands, where, in 2024, a publication presenting the situation regarding art in Dutch hospitals was produced. Among other things, the authors’ conclusions present a view of the extremely valuable assistance the arts can provide to the challenges the healthcare system will face in the future (Lewis and Krans 2024). Unfortunately, in many countries, especially in Eastern Europe, there is a lack of legal conditions or at least widespread awareness of the need for art in hospitals. This may have something to do with financial constraints, with the budget allocated to medical facilities first being spent on urgent basic needs. The forms of art presented in the article, especially some of them, prove that art in a hospital does not always have to be a major challenge, whether logistically, financially, or practically. It can be introduced in many different ways and in many forms.
The article focuses on the specific nature and forms of art found in contemporary healthcare facilities. The aim of the research was to identify recent European trends in the context of art forms, representing different types of activities classified as art. Omitted is a detailed determination of what functions art of various types performs, the impact it can have on the viewer, and what it should depict depending on its purpose in a specific context. This context depends on the patient group, their conditions, needs, and situation, and is relatively well researched (Dodge-Peters Daiss 2016; Rockwood Lane 2006). In this topic, we can distinguish a number of studies that provide guidelines on the appropriately selected art form and the subject matter it should present to correlate with the specific needs of a particular patient group. J. Rollins’ research includes a set of issues regarding the purpose of using art in a hospital, its function, and how art can be used to positively influence users of medical facilities (Rollins 2021).
An analysis of recent studies on art in hospitals reveals a spectrum of topics, including, in particular, the impact of art on users, the purpose of using art, the involvement of end users in the art creation process, and the therapeutic role of art. Publications of this type usually address one or several art forms. There is a lack of research focusing on art forms themselves, both traditional and completely new. For this reason, the present study emphasizes art forms. Grouping art forms into separate thematic blocks may allow for the identification of their characteristics and differences.
When analyzing the specifics and forms of art in contemporary healthcare facilities, it should be noted that contemporary artistic practices in healthcare are most often participatory in nature, which corresponds to broader trends in contemporary art. This change shifts the role of the artist from a content provider to a context creator. The traditional understanding of aesthetic autonomy is being transformed and redefined. Kestler points to a change that took place in the first decades of the 21st century from perceiving art as a work previously designed by the artist and then presented to the viewer, to viewing art as a process of joint, creative collaboration (Kestler 2020).
It is very important to distinguish the role of art therapy from all other forms of artistic practice. As Sheelagh Broderick emphasizes, evidence-based evaluation of effects is only appropriate for art therapy and is not appropriate for artistic practice, and as a result, it places it in an unjustified position of doubt (Broderick 2011). The context of the work of an art therapist and an artist is completely different. The former is usually an employee of a hospital, involved in the treatment process, has access to medical records, and expects specific therapeutic rather than artistic results. When creating their work, artists strive to break with established patterns, seeking a balance between challenging and supporting. When working with patients, they aim to enable participants to operate at the limits of their creative abilities. From the artist’s perspective, the resulting work of art has value in itself (Broderick 2011).
Among current artistic practices in the context of healthcare, there is a noticeable trend for hospitals to create their own art collections. A study conducted on over 4300 patients at the Cleveland Clinic concerning their perception of the hospital’s collection of contemporary abstract art showed that contact with it has a positive effect on patients’ mood, stress, comfort, and expectations. Most respondents reported an improvement in their well-being and satisfaction with care (Karnik et al. 2014).
A study conducted in 2016 by Danish researchers among patients at Copenhagen University Hospital, based on qualitative and quantitative data from case studies, highlighted the importance of art in hospitals from the perspective of patient satisfaction in two aspects: “art and expectations” and “art and interaction” (Nielsen et al. 2017). The first aspect, “art and expectations,” refers to the general meaning and function of art in the context of the experiences of hospitalized patients. “Art and interaction” analyzes how patients perceived and used art during their hospital stay, taking into account its impact on four levels: physical, social, emotional, and cognitive. The study used 1:1 reproductions of 20 paintings from the Danish art museum KUNSTEN in Jutland (including five originals). The works selected for the study were diverse in nature, ranging from figurative representations to abstractions, in various techniques and conventions. An analysis of patients’ expectations of art showed that hospitalized patients do not attach much importance to it, which reflects the broader socio-cultural context in which the medical paradigm is the measure of patient satisfaction, and their expectations of the physical environment of the hospital are considered secondary to successful treatment outcomes. Interaction with static images (available in the hospital lounge) was more pronounced. The presence of art stimulated conversation and social interaction and had a positive effect on the atmosphere inside. Research has shown that art affects patients’ emotions, helping them to remain calm in various ways—as a symbol of unexpected luxury, a way of defining space, or a trigger for memories. Due to low expectations of artistic elements in hospital design and the perception of art as a form of luxury, patients perceived it as something extra, beyond their basic needs. The research presented in the article is important in that it presents a collective classification of art forms that can be applied to contemporary healthcare facilities. The research presented represents a general look at art, both the obvious and the less obvious.
The classification of art forms also refers to their specific nature in terms of whether they are created with the involvement of patients or solely by artists with the intention of evoking specific emotions and reactions in the audience.

2. Methodology

The study material consisted of 91 hospitals, mainly from Western Europe and Northern Europe, from a total of 18 countries (Figure 1). There were 85 single-specialty hospitals (psychiatric, pediatric, oncology, rehabilitation, ophthalmology, dental, surgical, geriatric, cardiology) and 6 large multi-specialty hospitals. Of the facilities surveyed, 87 were built in the 21st century, and 4 are historic hospitals (in Lisbon, London, Paris, and Vienna).
The article presents an extension of the research conducted as part of the author’s doctoral dissertation, which covered contemporary trends in the design of specialized hospitals in Europe (Strojny 2024). Research data were collected based on materials from the websites of architectural offices, hospitals, and surveys sent to design offices. The research was carried out in four stages (Table 1).
The survey questionnaires were completed online by the designers of the hospitals surveyed. The questionnaire included general information about the hospital, architectural solutions (construction, finishing materials in different areas, lighting, and protection against excessive sunlight), other elements in the building (greenery, art, etc.), ecological solutions, and design methods. The section on art included a closed question on whether elements of art were taken into account in the interior or exterior of the building at the design stage. If the answer was yes, the next open question concerned what elements of art were included in the design. An open-ended question was used because the questionnaire was completed by specialist designers and in order not to suggest any particular forms of art. The last question concerned whether end users were involved in the design process (e.g., through the participation of patients/staff in the planning and creation of art elements).
In situ surveys were conducted for 20 sites (including 5 multi-specialty hospitals) in Austria (3), France (2), Poland (4), Portugal (1), and the UK (10). Sites were also selected based on the availability of study materials and the ability to conduct in situ studies. On the basis of a survey of 91 hospitals and contemporary research related to art in the hospital, a classification of art forms by thematic groups was developed, and their specifics were presented with examples. Data obtained from survey questionnaires, materials obtained from websites and design offices (drawings, designs, photos of interiors and exteriors), and data collected from in situ research on where and what elements of art were present were analyzed. On this basis, the art elements were grouped according to their characteristics. The identified art forms were then compared with the research of other scientists to complete the list of art forms. For example, theater as an art form did not occur in the hospitals studied, but other studies provide information about its occurrence in hospitals and its positive impact on users. Although the study covered a limited number of hospitals in Europe and may not fully reflect the frequency of art forms in hospitals, it provides an outline of important information on the diversity of art forms (list of art forms and their characteristics) in medical facilities and their specific features.

3. What Is Art and What Is It Not?

Specifying what is art and what is not is difficult due to the fact that art is diverse (it can be static, changing over time, involving other senses, etc.), it is creative (new forms of expression that do not fit the definition), and it has a connotation of quality (whether a painting is art is a matter of taste and judgment) (Vickhoff 2023). Plato’s definition of art as the imitation of reality (mimesis) quickly became exhausted. Kant defined it as disinterested aesthetic pleasure, while in the 20th century, Duchamp’s groundbreaking approach proved that anything can be art if it is recognized as such (e.g., “fountain”—a urinal as a work of art). Currently, there is no single definition of art; the phenomenon is analyzed in terms of the humanities, cognitive sciences, and social sciences. Contemporary times allow for the study of creative phenomena through the prism of other sciences, such as neurology. Research has shown that contact with works of art activates specific areas of the brain, including those related to emotions and reward (Zeki 1999). Arthur P. Shimamura, within the framework of his theory of “aesthetic dynamics”, points out that the reception of art involves three mental systems: sensory (perception), semantic (meaning), and reflective (interpretation) (Shimamura 2013). The creation and reception of art can induce a deep state of concentration and satisfaction (Csikszentmihalyi 1996). Art is a creative phenomenon, constantly changing (Isrow 2017). Determining whether something is art can be a contentious issue, depending on aesthetic beliefs, cultural beliefs, experiences, level of knowledge of art, and individual preferences. For some, a designer armchair designed by a well-known designer may be art, and others may consider it just a nice armchair.
There are a number of factors and relationships that affect the perception of art. A study by M. Pelowski and others on the audience’s definition of what art is and what it is not showed differences in the classification of art depending on its form. Their results showed the highest proportion of elements classified as art among bad/kid paintings and drawings and abstract paintings. Hyperrealist paintings were considered art by less than half of the respondents. In contrast, Renaissance and Baroque paintings were considered art by 95% of respondents. On the other hand, less than 15% of respondents considered everyday objects as art. The correlation in the high classification of Renaissance and Baroque paintings as art was also associated with the highest rating of liking of these works by the respondents (Pelowski et al. 2017).
The issue under analysis concerns art in a specific type of public utility architecture, namely, hospitals. These buildings often feature interesting architectural solutions, which raises the question of whether architecture itself can be considered art. Compared to art, where the most important limit is the artist’s imagination, architecture is constrained by numerous regulations and rules (Davies 1994). Artwork in hospitals should, of course, be subject to the same rules as any other interior design elements, depending on the space in which they are located. The least restrictive areas in this respect are general areas (entrance halls, waiting rooms) and the hospital’s external surroundings. The more medical the area, the greater the restrictions on washability, sterility, and disinfection, which in turn limit the possibility of certain forms of art in the hospital (e.g., artistic textiles). At the same time, with the development of construction technologies and increasing industrialization, architecture has become more repetitive and anonymous. The second half of the 20th century revised modernist assumptions, and the experience of large cities showed that, both on an urban scale and in individual buildings, scale, detail, and individual solutions are important for human well-being. Sarah Williams Goldhagen, drawing on current research in cognitive neuroscience and psychology, shows that the way people experience the spaces around them plays a fundamental role in their health, well-being, social relationships, and even identity formation. The author argues that contemporary societies should consciously use this knowledge to change their approach to design and construction—it is necessary to create spaces that are better adapted to the diverse individual and collective needs of human beings (Goldhagen 2017).
In recent decades, architecture has been criticized for its need to create more emotionally engaging, human, and diverse spaces. Such demands have been made, among others, by British designer and architect Thomas Heatherwick, who criticizes contemporary, soulless architecture and calls for the creation of unique buildings (Heatherwick 2023).
A philosophical reflection on the role of the senses in architecture, pointing out that architecture should engage all the senses, not just sight, is contained in Juhani Pallasmaa’s book, first published in 1996—The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses (Pallasmaa 2005). In the case of healthcare facilities in the last two decades, we can observe that one of the evolving design guidelines is solutions based on scientific evidence, which is to be achieved through appropriate methodology (Center for Health Design 2008). The scientific research on which contemporary architectural designs in the field of hospital and healthcare are based is an interdisciplinary approach used in design methodology known as EBD (Evidence-Based Design) (Bil 2014). This is an approach in which the choice of solutions is based on scientifically proven solutions (e.g., concerning patient safety, acoustics, the impact of colors, or workplace ergonomics). As noted by J. Bil et al., “The scientific evidence intended to be incorporated into the pre-design process is based primarily on psychiatry and psychology, and is enriched by the experience of the facility’s staff (Post Occupancy Evaluation—practice)” (Bil et al. 2017). At the same time, the importance of research- and evidence-based design is growing (Sauvé et al. 2022). One of the key areas of “scientific evidence” is biophilic design and the value of introducing elements of nature into buildings. The origins of scientific research on biophilic architecture are closely linked to the concept of biophilia, which was popularised by Edward O. Wilson, a biologist and sociobiologist. In his book Biophilia (Wilson 1984), Wilson presented the idea that humans have an innate tendency to seek contact with nature and other forms of life. Roger Ulrich, an environmental psychologist, whose 1984 study on the effect of views of nature from hospital windows on patient recovery is often considered one of the first empirical proofs of the health benefits of contact with nature in architecture (Ulrich 1984). The publication The Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life (Kellert et al. 2008) is considered a landmark publication on biophilic architecture as a field of research and design method. The introduction of greenery into hospital buildings and the design of their gardens and other outdoor spaces is a widely researched topic, the scope of which goes beyond the scope of this study.
A separate research topic, discussed in more detail in the publication by A. Fudickar et al., is evidence-based art (EBA), which is part of the broader trend of evidence-based design (Fudickar et al. 2022). The aim of EBA is to develop scientifically proven guidelines for the use of art in hospital environments so that it brings real benefits to patients. The results of previous studies analyzed by the authors suggest that art can have a positive impact on, among other things, patients’ well-being, shortening hospital stays, reducing stress levels, alleviating pain, reducing the need for painkillers, limiting minor complications, improving mood, and reducing anxiety and symptoms of depression. Evidence-based scientific research has led to a re-evaluation of the traditional hierarchy of subjects in art: images of nature have shown the greatest positive impact on patients. Landscapes have been recognized as the most valuable type of representation in a therapeutic context (Rollins 2021). Interestingly, current research does not provide clear evidence that original art affects patients differently (better or worse) than high-quality reproductions in terms of health outcomes (Domke 2009).
Although art still remains in a general sense an artistic field open to any creative expression, art in a hospital requires consideration of research and scientific data, since in this environment it does not merely serve as an aesthetic element that evokes reactions in the viewer. What matters in this case is the form and content of art, and above all, its role in a given hospital space.

4. Art Forms in Contemporary Healthcare Facilities

Based on a survey of 91 European hospitals, the presence of 12 art forms in these facilities was identified (Table 2). Most of these forms can intermingle, and this was noticeable in the hospitals surveyed. In some countries, there are top-down guidelines for the use of art in healthcare facilities.
The United Kingdom is a country with one of the most developed traditions in the field of art in hospitals, thanks in part to NHS Art and Health1 programs, which promote the integration of art into medical spaces. Part of this approach includes guidelines for artists working in healthcare facilities.2 Organizations, such as Arts Council England, also support such initiatives.3 Ireland has official guidelines and programs supporting art in healthcare facilities, such as the Arts Council of Ireland, which promotes artistic practices in healthcare.4
In the Netherlands, the Arts in Health NL initiative promotes the integration of art into the healthcare system, emphasizing its role in improving patient well-being.5 As part of this initiative, artists support medical staff, caregivers, patients, and community members in actively participating in creative processes. Some arts in health programs focus on stimulating creativity, while others pursue medical or therapeutic goals. Arts in health activities can include passive experiences such as listening to music or viewing art, as well as active engagement in creation (writing poetry, painting, expressive movement).
In the most recent projects included in the study, the coherence of architecture with other disciplines is noticeable, especially when patients, staff, and future users are involved in the design process. Art as an element that complements the hospital environment is most often selected in a very conscious manner, based on scientific research and the involvement of future users and local artists (this approach appeared in the psychiatric and pediatric hospitals surveyed, among others).
S.L. Nielsen’s research has shown that art contributes to creating an environment and atmosphere where patients have the opportunity to feel safe, socialize, support their identity, and maintain contact with the outside world of the hospital (Nielsen et al. 2017). Research in recent years on the visual arts, including both art that is created with patient involvement and art that is an integral part of the hospital, has proven the many benefits it provides. In addition to reducing stress, providing a means of non-verbal communication, enabling monitoring of emotional state, etc., art can also be one diagnostic tool—particularly for children and understanding their condition (Goodman and Sims 2009). Visual arts are used in patient care by focusing on their ability to reduce anxiety, create a sense of normalcy, and promote emotional communication (Bizimana 2024). The arts, including, but not limited to, literature, performance, visual, and other arts, have been studied in the context of their use by those working in healthcare facilities and patients. They have described the use of various art forms as part of healthcare research (Hinsliff-Smith et al. 2022).
An exemplary example of the use of art in a hospital setting is the United Kingdom, where the largest hospital construction program has been underway for many years. Hospital designs are based on scientific evidence, part of which is the important role of art (Macnaughton 2007). For this reason, the largest number of hospitals surveyed were located in the UK (21 facilities).

4.1. Architecture

Architecture is a combination of pure art with aspects of craftsmanship and technology. It can be called “the art of understanding” due to the fact that the architect’s work requires a synergy of factors such as place, culture, aesthetics, technology, and material (Mizia 2014). Numerous studies indicate that even the architecture of a medical facility itself can be the cause of both positive and negative patient outcomes. Therefore, it is crucial to design a facility based on scientific evidence and proven solutions to create a healing environment that provides quality care (Goodman and Sims 2009).
The architecture of hospitals itself can be considered a basic form of art, which can often be non-standard individual solutions to which not only architects, but also artists contribute. It can be manifested both in the form of the building (e.g., sculpted, unusual forms) and in architectural details (e.g., the form of the canopy over the entrance, the form of the facade, etc.).
Art is an element that can grab a patient’s attention, allowing them to lose themselves in the work for a while, distracting them from the hospital environment, which for many is a stressful and bleak place (Reddy 2019). The popular term “hospital-like” in reference to architecture carries a rather negative connotation and is largely associated with the type of modernist functionalist architecture prevalent in the 20th century, according to which hospitals were designed as “medical machines”. The origins of this approach to hospital design can be traced back to Le Corbusier’s Venice Hospital project, which included the description “the regulation of airflows and temperatures will be provided by a mechanical system especially designed by engineers to respond to the particular needs of a contemporary hospital’s services”. This sentence is the essence of the late modernist approach to architecture: “abandonment of core architectural responsibilities to the medical machine” (Murphy et al. 2021). Large buildings with standardized architectural solutions, long corridors, and repetitive functional layouts, in which the number of beds was the measure of an institution’s importance, were built throughout Europe in the second half of the 20th century. The block hospital model, which was popular at the time in various forms, was a “sterile instrument, an institution devoid of humanity. As a machine tuned and constructed for one overriding purpose (the fight against death), the block abandoned the other task of medicine: giving life. And in order to give life, a hospital must be designed with people in mind” (Murphy et al. 2021). The architecture responded primarily to the need for efficient delivery of medical services, prioritizing optimization of the treatment process. The finishing materials used were intended to ensure sterility or ease of cleanliness, and only a few facilities at the time of design had spaces equipped with art elements. The stress that accompanies medical procedures, the need for silence, the inherent element of waiting for information—these are feelings that, when experienced in a harsh and bleak interior, will be amplified. Thomas Heatherwick, in his manifesto on the re-humanization of buildings, points to a number of principles that can improve the quality of the surrounding space. The basis should be that a building should be able, with its architecture, to attract attention when passing by it. This needs the right detailing and the approach to architecture itself (Heatherwick 2023). This is the opposite of “boring” architecture and buildings completely devoid of detail, with repetitive floors and window composition. In the case of a hospital building, solutions can be introduced to attract attention and even create an inviting aura at the entrance.
The sculpted forms of the canopies in front of the entrance to the Klinik Floridsdorf building in Vienna (Figure 2a) are an excellent example of how, through architectural means in an artistic form, attention can be attracted or distracted and the impression of hospitality created. At first glance, the building does not resemble a hospital building. The involvement of an artist or group of artists can be helpful in creatively shaping the building. The best example of this is the facade form at the Richard Desmond Children’s Eye Center in London (Figure 2b). The vision was created through a collaboration between Penoyre & Prasad and artist Alison Turnbull. The result is a façade in the form of a dynamic composition of randomly placed elements that are at once a form of protection from excessive sunlight, a facade, and an art installation. During the day, the composition allows for the play of light and shadow, while at night it comes to life through the use of colored lights.
Individual architectural solutions were found in all the hospitals surveyed. There is a noticeable tendency among designers to give buildings distinctive features that can become the basis for building the hospital’s identity as an institution. In the projects of the first decades of the 21st century, architectural detail is reinterpreted through the use of materials, colors, and forms. On the scale of the entire building, it is important to make use of natural light, taking advantage of both its functional and decorative aspects. In addition to their functional features, the facades of contemporary hospitals carry an emotional charge: modern building materials subconsciously convey the technological advancement of the institution, while colors and greenery warm up its image. Common architectural solutions that are consistent with the theoretical principles of friendly architecture include: emphasizing the entrance area, spacious general and common areas, atriums open to several floors, and introducing non-medical functions to the ground floor (e.g., service premises).

4.2. Interior Architecture

Like the architecture of the building itself, or parts of it, the interiors need not reflect the typical institutional aura of a medical facility. Nor do they have to represent standard design solutions that are repetitive and deprive the facility of individuality and a certain distinctiveness. While maintaining hygienic and sanitary requirements depending on the profile of the institution and its character, it is possible to arrange the interiors in an individual way that fits maximally into the context and identity of the place, with attention to detail, but also in close connection with typical art elements (such as paintings, sculptures, etc.). The interiors include not only the layout of the room, but above all, a skillfully selected color scheme, materials, and accessories (individually designed furniture, details).
Hospital interior spaces can have a positive impact on patient well-being and staff satisfaction through daylight and art (Iyendo and Alibaba 2014). Art can appear in the form of a collection of works or be a seamless extension of the interior design concept (Bishop 2012). The interiors at Maggie’s Centre at the Royal Marsden in London (Figure 3a) reflect the correlation between the elements of art and their arrangement, colors, and materials. Many solutions are individual, such as the composition of furniture with accessories (Figure 3b). The entirety of the interior spaces, the common connections of which create a coherent artistic whole, can be classified as art. However, not necessarily as art that is meant to affect patients in some special way, but more as an ingredient that creates a friendly aura and a non-institutional space.
Interior design in hospital facilities is usually limited to functional solutions based on ready-made elements. Interior design involving artists from other professions or patients, apart from architects or interior designers, is rare. This is due to costs and deadlines, which are crucial in the case of large investments.

4.3. Applied Arts

The integral element of interior design is applied art, which can also play a significant role in healthcare facilities. In some of the surveyed facilities, depending on the sanitary regime, less standard furnishings (often designer furnishings) have been used instead of typical hospital equipment, and there have also been facilities with individually designed everyday details. The use of wearable art can also occur in the form of therapy, for example, for children, the elderly, where they create wearable art during classes, which can then be displayed, for example, at occasional events at the facility (e.g., as a fundraiser for a cause). It is also an element of integration for patients, interaction with the environment, and a therapeutic activity.
An example of individually designed wearable art is the aforementioned Maggie’s Center at the Royal Marsden in London. Due to the profile of the patients (oncology), an important aspect of the design was the use of natural and non-toxic materials (Strojny 2022). Among other things, ergonomic wooden door handles with irregular shapes (Figure 4a) and wooden chairs with natural leather seats (Figure 4b) were designed.
Individually designed and manufactured furniture or other interior furnishings for hospitals are still rare due to their cost. Ready-made furniture available on the market can be of very good quality and offer a high level of aesthetic solutions, guaranteed by renowned designers. As part of occupational therapy, we observe a participatory model of creating applied art, but this is the domain of long-term care centers rather than hospitals themselves.

4.4. Drawing, Painting, and Graphics

Another group of types of art in hospitals is drawing, painting, and printmaking, which are most often manifested in the form of framed paintings presenting specific motifs, thematic groups (e.g., images of nature, cities, people, etc.). This group can also include the less common mosaics. Art in the above-mentioned forms can form a group of works presented in different areas of the hospital, an example of which is the collection of art located along the passageways at the General Hospital in Vienna (Figure 5a). This is an interesting example because of the way it is presented, as in a museum, the large size of the works, with different themes, forms, and each signed on a plaque with information about the author, the title of the work, the year of creation, and a synthetic description.
The motifs in the art used in hospitals vary, and in older hospitals with a rich history, references to it are popular. At St. Thomas Hospital, the corridor space uses painted ceramic tiles that survived the bombing of the hospital during the war (remnants of a defunct 19th-century pavilion). This is an interesting example of art, its form and modes of presentation, which closely relate to the history and identity of the facility (Figure 5b).
Placing art in hospitals can have many purposes beyond aesthetics. One purpose may be to arouse curiosity through appropriately shaped abstract art designed to reduce stress and achieve positive outcomes for patients and other users of the facility (Rollins 2011). The art may depict other elements from outside a particular cultural background and include a compilation of motifs from different geographic locations. One facility for people with dementia in London, for example, introduced paintings inspired by exotic plants from around the world, which can evoke scenes of travel. On another wall, an abstract motif of blues, pinks, and shades of green was located (Ball 2018). In addition, art collections displayed in the hospital testify to the prestige of the unit, its affluence, which can translate into a positive perception of the institution and increased patient confidence.
The art forms classified for the purposes of this study as drawing, painting, and graphic art, together with mosaics and other ceramic forms, can be considered among the most common in contemporary hospitals. Paintings and graphic art often decorate general areas, corridors, patient rooms, and staff offices. In addition to the planned acquisition and display of works, it is common practice to decorate hospitals with works donated by patients, institutions, or artists as a token of gratitude or a gift. The variety of forms in this group is very large, from original works by recognized artists, through amateur art, to reproductions.

4.5. Sculpture

A less common art element in a hospital is sculpture, which can appear in traditional form on a pedestal or as a bust (e.g., of the hospital’s founder), but can also take contemporary, abstract forms (Figure 6b). Sometimes it is an architectural detail that can be considered a sculptural form (e.g., a form of small architecture, an unusual form of roofing).
Being in a hospital, a foreign environment, away from home, we need to some extent a sense of belonging, which can be provided by familiar motifs such as cultural, historical, or natural elements with which we identify. At St. Thomas Hospital, one element of identity is the marble sculpture of Queen Victoria (Tembeck and Hunter 2018) (Figure 6a). At the new CUF hospital in Lisbon, which was built in 2021, a monumental white marble bas-relief (about 8 m long) by Leopold de Almeida was installed in the main entrance area (Figure 6c). The bas-relief, which depicts scenes of medics, nurses, and paramedics at work, was relocated from a former hospital building constructed in 1945 to emphasize the historic nature of the facility. Interestingly, the display of the bas-relief behind protective glass triggers the additional effect of reflecting the modern, picturesque city skyline in it, which brings to mind the merging of history and the present. A common sculptural element in front of Portuguese hospitals is votive figures, which over time become decorated with inscriptions, plaques, and less permanent forms of thanks from cured patients (Figure 6d). This now-historic custom is seen as worthy of cultivation because of its unprecedented demonstration of the real-world effectiveness of the facility.
Although sculpture is not one of the leading art forms in terms of quantity in the analyzed facilities, a great variety of forms and messages can be observed. Figurative representations of the hospital patron/founder or a person associated with the institution are most often placed in the entrance area or in public communication areas. The forms include figurative sculpture, busts, and bas-reliefs. Sculptures are also used as elements integrated into the architecture of the building, serving as decorative details and enriching the architecture. A separate type is sculptural forms (e.g., bas-reliefs/reliefs) with narrative content.

4.6. Art Installations

Another manifestation of art is art installations in modern hospitals. Often these are artistic works on the borderline of sculpture, applied art, and even stage design (such as unusual forms of lighting). Most often, these elements are a dominant feature in the interior, creating an arrangement that is integrated into the architecture of the building. Art installations act as foreground elements in entrance areas, attracting attention, but can also be located in other areas of the building.
Art in the form of installations occurs in hospitals with different medical profiles and is relevant to the target group. At the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in London, the five-story high entrance hall is accented by colorful vertical cylindrical forms hanging from the ceiling (Figure 7a). At the Wielkopolska Pediatrics Center in Poznan, the installation is tailored to the profile of the patients—children. In the two-story high entrance hall, sculptures of dolphins and a scuba diver are suspended from the blue-lit ceiling. On the first floor, wave motifs were placed in the glazing, between the lobby and other rooms, which dynamize the composition of the installation, and under the influence of blue lighting, we have the impression that the lobby is a water-filled aquarium (Figure 7b).
Among the analyzed facilities, the most common art installations were three-dimensional spatial forms enriching the interiors of public areas (lobbies, corridors). In particular, installations were found in atriums and patios, taking advantage of the height of the space, which allowed the structure to be viewed from many angles. Figurative forms are less common than abstract ones and are usually associated with pediatric specialization. A specific form of installation includes kinetic installations, in which movement is triggered passively or actively, which, in combination with changing lighting, produces spectacular effects.6

4.7. Interactive Art and Digital Graphics

The development of the Internet, computerization, and digital art has given the opportunity for modern art forms to appear in hospitals, as well. Multimedia installations often draw on solutions used, for example, in computer games, and the multiplicity of solutions that can be achieved predisposes this type of art to ever-wider applications.
The latest children’s hospitals also feature interactive color graphics, which differ from standard graphics in that they further capture the patient’s attention through moving images, lights, and colors on various surfaces (walls, ceiling, floors) (Children’s Hospital Association 2024). These elements can be used in key hospital spaces that can cause stress for young patients. Interactive graphics easily capture their attention by distracting them from illness and the hospital. Tinker Imagineers designed a group of five fictional characters at Juliana Children’s Hospital in The Hague to comfort, amuse, and distract children. The characters appear in the form of a unique graphic wallpaper, interactive in many places (Figure 8). The project also featured other elements, such as animations in elevators, where looking through a porthole lets you know if you are underwater, on a beach, or in the air (fictional) (Tinker Imagineers 2015).
Digital art can appear in various forms, using digital technologies and tools. It can be used both in private patient spaces and in general areas, common areas, waiting rooms, etc. Works created in this way create interactive and immersive worlds, which are displayed on screens, and surfaces that transform their form in response to the presence of the viewer and their movement. Installations of this type can be linked to several hospitals simultaneously. These are completely innovative works that open up new areas of the relationship between art and patient quality of life (Art Dans la Cité 2010).
Another type of introduction of an interactive art form into hospitals was the “Open Window” project conducted in the bone marrow transplant unit at St. James’s Hospital in Dublin (Hegarty et al. 2009; McCabe 2008). This was one of the first attempts to use modern media and the Internet to create art in the hospital. The project ran from 2001 to 2010 and was curated by Denis Roche (Roche 2010). The art intervention consists of a multimedia system that uses a combination of video projectors, speakers, and specially created software to display images (videos with accompanying music and photographs), created by national and international artists, as a “virtual window” on the wall of a patient’s room. Among other things, the creators use cell phone cameras to capture the images, which are then sent to the department via the Internet. At the patient’s request, photos can also be taken by a family member—he or she can capture familiar places or loved ones and transmit the materials via the same route. Patients can use the system on their own, operating it with a remote control.
Interactive art can also be helpful in enhancing patients’ mobility by encouraging movements whose sequence helps create attractive and dynamic images. In 2013, artist–engineer Fred Périé, acting on behalf of the Art dans la Cité organization, created an interactive digital art installation, “La démesure du possible”, for elderly patients staying at Centre Rainier III—hôpital Princesse Grâce Monaco. Patients are encouraged to move; the camera tracks their gestures and movements in real time, which are transformed into a painterly image that is projected on a large scale (Perie 2014). An installation called “Boréal”, by artist Hugo Verlinde, created in 2011, was created on a similar basis, but with a completely different target group. In this case, the target group was intensive care unit patients in a coma and their families. The screen savers showed an image inspired by outer space, which subtly changes when there is movement in the space. In addition, the installation has specific diagnostic aspects—by analyzing the type of recorded movement (whether it is random and chaotic or “intelligent”), different images are created, which allows one to quickly see when a patient begins to wake up (Verlinde 2011).
There is a wide variety of interactive and digitally-based art forms, and their growing use makes it difficult to classify them unequivocally. The simplest forms include images (views, representations) presented on various types of displays, where the number of images is fixed and the switching schedule is planned. Another group consists of interactive screens that allow patients or other users to co-create art. An interesting trend that seems promising for the future is the combination of diagnostics with multimedia art. However, a 2008 study (Kahn et al. 2008) raises some concerns, as it clearly shows that a natural view of greenery from a window significantly reduces the heart rate of stressed subjects, while watching nature scenes on a plasma screen was no more regenerating than looking at a blank wall.

4.8. Photography

Art can also manifest itself as photography, i.e., photos with specific themes placed in various spaces of the hospital. They can present, for example, the history of the hospital or other representations related to the context (for example, cultural references, environmental references—places, elements specific to the hospital’s location).
Florence-based photographer Elaine Poggi created a humanistic campaign in memory of her mother after her experiences during her mother’s hospitalization and subsequent death. Aware of the healing role of art, she founded The Foundation for Photo/Art in Hospitals, a non-profit organization dedicated to locating soothing color photographs of nature in healthcare facilities. The Foundation’s message is, “Humanizing Hospitals Through Healing Photo Art”. The Foundation’s mission includes placing framed large-scale nature photographs of beautiful places from around the world in hospitals (Phillips 2015).
Due to the current easy availability of photography as a medium and its display, we can see a huge variety of forms and uses in hospitals. It is also difficult to draw a clear line between what is and what is not art photography. Photo wallpapers and large-format prints on glass are commonly used in diagnostic areas (e.g., MRI, CT, etc.), decorating walls and ceilings. The most common motifs in these areas are open landscapes with calm water, trees, gardens with flowers, or sea views.
Documentary photography depicting important events in the history of the hospital is most often found in general or office areas. A collection of the oldest views of the facility, portraits of people important to the institution, or photos of visits by famous personalities or groundbreaking procedures performed at the hospital builds its prestige and serves an informative purpose.
Photography can also be a tool for building good relationships between staff and patients, creating a specific “sense of place”. An interesting initiative is the exhibition at Penn State Hershey Hospital, where artistic black-and-white photographs of people associated with the hospital are displayed in general areas, posing outside the hospital in a place of their choice: at home, during leisure activities, or pursuing a hobby (Gascho 2022). Both patients and medical staff were photographed. In two intensive cardiac care units (ICUs), portraits of ten people who were discharged home after long-term hospitalization due to life-threatening illnesses are on permanent display. The presentation of photographs in an intensive care setting differs from that in a gallery—the photos are placed in accessible locations on the walls, in close proximity to medical equipment and materials. Photographic representations of staff and patients in a non-medical environment, in settings with which they can positively identify, have a wide-ranging effect; they reduce stress, give hope, build relationships, and humanize the healthcare system.
Photography focusing on health, illness, or the human body can also be used as a therapeutic and educational tool by supporting patients in the treatment process, which promotes introspection and dialogue about health experiences (Wald et al. 2010).
As early as the 1980s, British photographer Jo Spence, after being diagnosed with breast cancer, began documenting her illness through photography, which became the basis for the development of a specific form of “phototherapy” (Bell 2002). This method allows patients to explore and express their feelings and experiences related to their illness through the creation and analysis of their own photographs. Photography in therapy (phototherapy) supports patients with mental illness, cancer, or disabilities on an emotional and communicative level, thanks to its versatility and ability to go beyond simple representation of reality. Phototherapy, which is part of art therapy, is an alternative psychotherapeutic approach alongside the most commonly used techniques, such as painting and drawing. In the age of ubiquitous smartphones, the use of this tool, supported by appropriate applications, is relatively simple, and taking photos, viewing them, and the content of the images correlate with improvements in specific aspects of participants’ emotional well-being, including mood, affect, and life satisfaction. The results of a 2021 study indicated that factors such as the number of photos, the variety of categories, the effort put into describing them, the number of times they were viewed, and photos depicting people had a positive effect on the mood of participants (Lee et al. 2021).
Since its inception, photography has been used in medical documentation. Interestingly, the documentary function can often be combined with an artistic approach, which was already evident at the very beginning of the development of this art form in the photographs of Albert Londe (Ruiz-Gómez 2025). The artistic use of medical imaging is developing alongside the emergence of new diagnostic imaging methods (Marinković et al. 2012), and many artists use elements of medical imaging in their work (e.g., Linda Alterwitz, Agnieszka Chęć-Małyszek) (Chęć-Małyszek 2024).
Public spaces in hospitals can also be venues for exhibiting artistic photography, including a special type of photography inspired by or using medical motifs.

4.9. Cinema

As early as the 1960s, cinema rooms appeared in some large hospitals (e.g., University Clinical Hospital No. 4 in Lublin, Poland). They offered screenings for both patients and staff, as well as open screenings. The development of multiplexes in the early 21st century caused the traditional form of cinema to lose popularity.
In areas where patients are present, there may be a TV set or projector, on which movies can be shown (e.g., to make waiting time for an appointment more pleasant). In large hospitals, an additional service area can be a small cinema, where patients staying longer in the facility can watch various films at their leisure (thus taking a moment’s break from the hospital context). Teaching and university hospitals have particular potential, as they naturally feature classrooms and lecture halls, making it possible to combine them with a cinema.
A study by F. Omelchuk and others raised the question of the pedagogical potential of watching and filming in pediatric wards at university hospitals. The premise was to use film as a creative gesture—art—rather than as an instrument or pedagogical support to impart knowledge. The result of introducing the idea of cinema in the hospital was a positive reception from the patients. It is also a different kind of experience when watching the same movie with a group of people in a dark room, than when the patient uses the TV in the room, having more choices of the content presented. Cinema is a space of collective experience and art that creates destabilizing representations of the world, broadens the horizons of understanding reality, articulates and questions truth and fiction, and develops the flow of our experiences into new meanings and symbols (Omelczuk et al. 2015).

4.10. Music and Dance

The acoustics of healthcare facilities is an issue that has been little studied to date, as this aspect is considered primarily as a need to provide isolation between treatment rooms, patient rooms, and general areas of the hospital. The latter are most often subject to muffled noise caused by the movement of users, conversations, or sound signaling. Among the forms of music currently used in hospitals, we can distinguish music as functional background noise that reduces reverberation and has a relaxing effect (most often in corridors and waiting rooms, which is now becoming standard), music as an element that triggers social interaction (an instrument or installation that encourages playing, found in the largest hospitals and long-term care facilities), and occasionally organized concerts.
Music can be played in various areas of the hospital (e.g., the waiting room) and affect patient tranquility to some extent. It can also manifest itself in other forms, such as a piano or other instrument in the hospital’s entrance area (Figure 9b) as a design element, but also used occasionally during important events.
Art in a hospital does not have to be permanent and material; it can be an event. You can find hospitals where one of the elements of art is the organization of concerts of classical music, popular music, instrumental music, and even opera. These are cyclical events dedicated to patients, their relatives, and staff, so that the hospital environment completely changes its character for a moment. Such activities provide a number of benefits, such as, among others, building a sense of community, a feeling of sympathy, acceptance of the disease, but also a moment to forget about the illness. It is also a field for relationship building and artistic improvisation among participants. Such initiatives are appreciated by patients and ensure their well-being (Belfiore et al. 2015).
A number of studies in recent decades have proven the positive effects of music on, among other things, reducing stress-induced agitation, anxiety, and many other conditions (Goodman and Sims 2009). Experimental studies on the use of dance and movement in therapy have shown benefits, including improvements related to, among other things, self-esteem, quality of life, and improved social interactions, etc. (Goodman and Sims 2009). The effectiveness of music therapy for symptomatic reduction of pain, anxiety, and stress has been proven in one study conducted in a county hospital, but further, more detailed research is needed in this area (Rodgers-Melnick et al. 2023). Music therapy is particularly useful for certain behavioral and psychological symptoms resulting from neurological, psychiatric, pediatric, neuropsychiatric, or oncological diseases (Raglio 2019).

4.11. Theater

Another art form may be theater, which is unusual and more appropriate for longer-stay facilities and those associated with certain medical specialties. These may be facilities where building bonds between staff and patients is key, as in pediatric, geriatric, or some types of psychiatric hospitals. Theater can be in the form of an occasional performance or can involve patients, their loved ones, and staff helping to build stronger interpersonal bonds (Gray et al. 2024). A specific form of theater is mini-performances given by groups of artists for specific patients, such as children. Research has shown that performances by “clown doctors” have a positive effect on children, reducing stress, bringing back smiles, and diverting attention from problems (Sextou and Monk 2013). Further research shows that in the case of children, positive effects are achieved through a combination of interactive performances at the patient’s bedside and art classes led by professional actors, storytellers, puppeteers, and craftspeople (Sextou 2021). A variety of techniques are used for the theatrical performance, including acting, storytelling, puppet theater, improvisation, as well as breathing exercises, singing, and art installations.
Performances are an effective tool in creating understanding. They can aim to provide an element of entertainment for patients and a moment’s break from hospital reality, but they can also convey a specific message. Their content can provide an educational component about the effects of illness, coping with difficulties, and also convey preventive health messages (Goodman and Sims 2009).
The primary form of theater in hospitals is its use as a therapeutic and integrative tool. In the United Kingdom, there is a charity called Inter Act Stroke Support, which employs professional actors to read literature to stroke patients in hospitals. The aim is to stimulate patients emotionally and cognitively, which contributes to improving their well-being and rehabilitation process. Theater can also be helpful in achieving other goals, such as educating medical students (Ünalan et al. 2009; Ivory et al. 2016). The use of theatrical techniques such as role-playing and improvisation plays a noticeable role in teaching medical students (Hobson et al. 2019).

4.12. Literature

In addition to visual art in modern healthcare facilities, other less noticeable elements can be specified, which can also have an impact on user comfort. This is fiction literature, which can be in the form of books available for reading in various areas of the hospital (e.g., waiting rooms, rest areas, patient rooms, etc.) (Figure 9a). Most large hospitals have their own book collections and libraries from which patients can borrow books for the duration of their hospital stay. Literature can also appear in graphic form as a quote printed on a selected surface or in artistic graphic form (Bassett et al. 2010; Rhue 2022).
Literature can also be part of therapy (bibliotherapy) or a means of communication between patient and doctor. The use of literature as an art in the hospital can include creative writing by patients (e.g., while waiting for a medical appointment), which can improve patients’ quality of life. It is a tool that allows patients to express themselves emotionally and cope with the harsh realities of illness. Another example is the reading of fiction, poetry, or literature by patients, which can reduce levels of depression (InterAct Stroke Support 2000). This aspect of art should also include storytelling, which can be a way to discuss problems and fears, a temporary escape from reality. They can provide a higher level of well-being in people with dementia (reminiscence bibliotherapy) or even help children cope with mental or physical pain (Goodman and Sims 2009).
The beneficial effects of literature on health (especially mental health) have been known for a long time. Even in ancient times, the value of literature as a form of treatment was recognized—the Library of Alexandria had an inscription stating that it was ‘medicine for the soul’. In the 13th century, patients in a Cairo hospital were recommended to read the Koran for therapeutic purposes. In Europe, on the other hand, reading religious texts was practiced as part of therapy in psychiatric hospitals from the 18th century onwards. The Russian librarian and bibliographer Nikolai Rubakin is considered the pioneer of bibliotherapy. In 1919, at the Institute of Bibliopsychology in Lausanne, he began researching the influence of literature on mental health. During World War I, special war libraries were established to serve convalescent and wounded soldiers. As a scientific field, bibliotherapy did not develop until the 1980s (Janus and Nowak 2015). Currently, depending on the problem, bibliotherapy uses therapeutic fairy tales (fairy tale therapy), novels and short stories, poetry, essays and memoirs, and non-fiction.

5. Discussion

Art has been present in hospitals throughout the history of the design of such buildings, but today the range of purposes it can serve has expanded considerably. In addition to the decorative, religious, and votive functions that were present from virtually the beginning, informational motifs (representations of various medical practices) have been added over time. The spread of abstract art facilitated its integration into architecture through its decorative character.
The presence of art as an element supporting therapy and art co-created by patients was also noticeable in the analyzed facilities. An analysis of the occurrence and use of the various types in modern hospitals showed, it can take the form of both designed for its passive reception and the possibility of actively creating it. Art therapy as a separate form of therapy began to be recognized in the 1940s, mainly in Great Britain and the United States, although the importance of artistic expression as a possibility for psychoanalysis, as a way of revealing unconscious content, had already been recognized earlier, so-called “expressive arts therapy”. Art helps patients express and regain control over painful feelings and events; it is the process of creating art, rather than the work itself, that has a therapeutic effect (Malchiodi 1998). Contemporary art therapy combines elements of art, psychotherapy, psychology, and social work (Malchiodi 2013). Visual art is particularly useful for overcoming the limitations of verbal expression, as it helps to deepen the relationship between the patient and the medical staff, enabling a comprehensive recovery process for people struggling with emotional and physical difficulties (Bizimana 2024). Among the analyzed and identified art forms, literature and theater have particular therapeutic applications. The richness of these two fields makes therapy possible even in limited space and financial resources.
In a study conducted in newly built hospitals in Finland, the results showed four leading themes in the context of art: desirable atmosphere, nature and sensory experiences, social support, and a sense of belonging (Heikkilä et al. 2024). Research by D. Palityka et al. raised the important issue of accessibility of art for all users, especially for the visually impaired. Unfortunately, most programs using art do not address this type of accessibility, but it is feasible and an aspect that needs to be addressed in the near future (Palityka et al. 2023).
Evidence-based art provides information on patient preferences and the effects it delivers. One review study found a dominant preference for nature scenes and figurative art. Other studies found no preference, and more than a dozen others proved positive effects on mood and behavior (Fudickar et al. 2022). However, it is important to avoid generalizing, because even in the case of a seemingly trivial art motif, such as nature depictions, the manner and nature of nature depiction must be appropriately selected for the patient group. As an example, a view of nature will be a pleasant and peaceful sight for most audiences, while for people with PTSD with specific experiences, it may be perceived as threatening (Rollins 2021).
Displaying works of art in hospitals improves the well-being of patients, staff, and visitors (Rainbow et al. 2015). Engagement in creative arts is also associated with health outcomes, particularly in the case of music, visual arts therapy, creative expression through movement, and expressive writing (Stuckey and Nobel 2011). Active visual art therapy (AVAT) has benefits for the treatment of children and adult patients, particularly in terms of pain control, anxiety, and depression. In the context of equality and justice, AVAT is a safe and cost-effective complement to hospital treatment (Martinelli et al. 2025).
Although art helps to shape an environment conducive to recovery, responses to artworks can vary. It can be perceived as reducing the control of staff and users over their environment. An important challenge is to strike a balance between prestige and authenticity (Daykin et al. 2010). Art and culture can play an important role in promoting the well-being of individuals and communities, but current evidence has not shown them to be crucial in the context of the challenges of promoting health and reducing health and social inequalities (Clift et al. 2021). Although art is used as a research method in various disciplines, it is a relatively new phenomenon in the field of health. Visual, performing, and literary arts are used. Their main purpose in health research is to create knowledge and transfer it (Kimberly and Al Sayah 2011). An interdisciplinary theoretical framework can best serve to accommodate the complex practical methodology in the context of art and health. In the context of art and health, it is necessary to pay more attention to the description, analysis, and theoretical understanding of the practice itself as a basis for understanding and accepting the results of impact research (Raw et al. 2011).
Art-based research is gaining popularity in the context of qualitative research. The classification of art-based research includes research about art, art as research, and art in research. The main forms of research include visual arts, performing arts, music, literature, and new media (Wang et al. 2017).

6. Conclusions

The forms of art in modern hospitals include a range of types (Figure 10), followed by the various functions that art can perform. The functions that art can perform in a hospital have been described in detail by J. Rollins (Rollins 2021).
The examples studied showed that the largest group consists of various forms of functional and decorative art, which are incorporated into the architecture of the building at the stage of designing the facility or retrofitting it. Interior design projects use art elements primarily in public areas (lobbies, communications, multi-functional spaces). Although architecture forms the backdrop for art, selected elements of it can be classified as art, as proven by the examples shown in the surveyed hospitals. Another group of forms is Visual Arts, which includes drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and art installations. Music, dance, and theater make up the Performing Arts group and occur least frequently in the surveyed centers. Interactive digital graphics and the use of multimedia are art forms derived from advances in technology and digital tools of the 21st century, and are a reflection of our times. Although it can be expensive and difficult to implement, it is undoubtedly an innovative form of interactive art, evolving and providing many opportunities in its creation. Other art groups include photography, literature, and cinema.
Although the listed art forms are primarily created by specialists in their field (architects, designers, artists, writers, musicians, etc.) and used as enrichment elements in hospitals, most of them can also be used in the form of active therapy involving patients, e.g., in the form of workshops for creating functional art, photography, filming, drawing, painting, etc. These types of activities have many advantages and can serve a variety of functions; for example, building bonds between patients and staff, stress reduction, distraction, etc.
Developing digital technologies seem to represent a new trend in 21st-century art. Dynamic images, variable lighting, integration of visual and acoustic experiences, and, above all, the possibility of including users in the process of shaping the artwork, is a trend that will certainly find its application in the realization of healthcare facilities in the near future.
The frequency of occurrence of different art forms in the 91 hospitals surveyed is shown in Figure 11. This presents general trends, but it is important to take into account the hospitals not included in the survey, where art forms occur in different proportions. Although theater did not occur in the surveyed hospitals, based on other researchers’ studies and observations of large hospitals, this art form does occur, but relatively rarely.
While artistic practices are not a solution to health problems, they can contribute to improving patients’ quality of life by building social relationships, increasing self-confidence, and promoting positive feelings associated with contact with art or its creation.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, R.S. and N.P.; methodology, R.S.; software, R.S.; validation, R.S. and N.P.; formal analysis, N.P.; investigation, R.S.; resources, R.S.; data curation, R.S.; writing-original draft preparation, R.S.; writing-review and editing, N.P.; visualization, R.S.; supervision, N.P. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

No new data were created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article.

Acknowledgments

All images used in the article are public domain.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Notes

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2
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4
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https://www.artsinhealth.nl/understand (accessed on 28 July 2025).
6
Selected examples of art installations. Available online (accessed on 3 June 2025):

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Figure 1. Map of Europe showing the territorial area of the study and the number of hospitals surveyed in each country. Study Authors.
Figure 1. Map of Europe showing the territorial area of the study and the number of hospitals surveyed in each country. Study Authors.
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Figure 2. (a) Sculptural forms of the canopy in the entrance area of Klinik Floridsdorf (Vienna/Albert Wimmer ZT GmbH); photo by Rafał Strojny (b) Artistic form on the facade of Richard Desmond Children’s Eye Centre (London/Penoyre & Prasad); photo by Rafał Strojny.
Figure 2. (a) Sculptural forms of the canopy in the entrance area of Klinik Floridsdorf (Vienna/Albert Wimmer ZT GmbH); photo by Rafał Strojny (b) Artistic form on the facade of Richard Desmond Children’s Eye Centre (London/Penoyre & Prasad); photo by Rafał Strojny.
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Figure 3. Interiors of Maggie’s Centre at the Royal Marsden (London/Ab Rogers Design): (a) The central zone of the building; photo by Rafał Strojny; (b) Individually designed furniture with a composition of seating, bookshelves, functional art, and trinkets; photo by Rafał Strojny.
Figure 3. Interiors of Maggie’s Centre at the Royal Marsden (London/Ab Rogers Design): (a) The central zone of the building; photo by Rafał Strojny; (b) Individually designed furniture with a composition of seating, bookshelves, functional art, and trinkets; photo by Rafał Strojny.
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Figure 4. Interiors of Maggie’s Centre at the Royal Marsden (London/Ab Rogers Design): (a) Custom-designed wooden doorknobs; photo by Rafał Strojny; (b) Designed wooden chairs with natural leather seat; photo by Rafał Strojny.
Figure 4. Interiors of Maggie’s Centre at the Royal Marsden (London/Ab Rogers Design): (a) Custom-designed wooden doorknobs; photo by Rafał Strojny; (b) Designed wooden chairs with natural leather seat; photo by Rafał Strojny.
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Figure 5. (a) A collection of art in the communication areas of Vienna General Hospital (Vienna); photo by Rafał Strojny; (b) Art using remnants of painted tiles from a defunct hospital pavilion at St. Thomas Hospital (London); photo by Rafał Strojny.
Figure 5. (a) A collection of art in the communication areas of Vienna General Hospital (Vienna); photo by Rafał Strojny; (b) Art using remnants of painted tiles from a defunct hospital pavilion at St. Thomas Hospital (London); photo by Rafał Strojny.
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Figure 6. (a) Sculpture of Queen Victoria at St. Thomas Hospital (London); photo by Rafał Strojny; (b) Sculpture “To The Future” in front of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Birmingham); photo by Rafał Strojny, (c) Bas-relief in the main lobby area at CUF Hospital (Lisbon); photo by Natalia Przesmycka, (d) Votive figure in front of Hospital Dona Estefânia (Lisbon); photo by Natalia Przesmycka.
Figure 6. (a) Sculpture of Queen Victoria at St. Thomas Hospital (London); photo by Rafał Strojny; (b) Sculpture “To The Future” in front of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Birmingham); photo by Rafał Strojny, (c) Bas-relief in the main lobby area at CUF Hospital (Lisbon); photo by Natalia Przesmycka, (d) Votive figure in front of Hospital Dona Estefânia (Lisbon); photo by Natalia Przesmycka.
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Figure 7. (a) Art installation in the entrance hall of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (London), a bookcase with available literature is visible in the background; photo by Rafał Strojny; (b) Art installation with the motif of dolphins and a diver suspended from the ceiling of the entrance hall at the Wielkopolska Pediatrics Center (Poznań); photo by Rafał Strojny.
Figure 7. (a) Art installation in the entrance hall of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (London), a bookcase with available literature is visible in the background; photo by Rafał Strojny; (b) Art installation with the motif of dolphins and a diver suspended from the ceiling of the entrance hall at the Wielkopolska Pediatrics Center (Poznań); photo by Rafał Strojny.
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Figure 8. Colorful interactive graphics inside Juliana Children’s Hospital (The Hague). Photo by Wim Verbeek. Available online: https://archello.com/story/35877/attachments/photos-videos/6 (accessed on 20 February 2025).
Figure 8. Colorful interactive graphics inside Juliana Children’s Hospital (The Hague). Photo by Wim Verbeek. Available online: https://archello.com/story/35877/attachments/photos-videos/6 (accessed on 20 February 2025).
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Figure 9. Interior of the Geriatric Centre Donaustadt (Vienna): (a) Entrance area with bookshelves and seating areas; photo by Rafał Strojny; (b) Piano in the entrance area of the building; photo by Rafał Strojny.
Figure 9. Interior of the Geriatric Centre Donaustadt (Vienna): (a) Entrance area with bookshelves and seating areas; photo by Rafał Strojny; (b) Piano in the entrance area of the building; photo by Rafał Strojny.
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Figure 10. Forms of art in modern hospitals. Blue font indicates art that can directly engage patients to create it in various forms. Compiled by Authors.
Figure 10. Forms of art in modern hospitals. Blue font indicates art that can directly engage patients to create it in various forms. Compiled by Authors.
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Figure 11. Frequency of occurrence of different art forms in the hospitals surveyed. Compiled by Authors.
Figure 11. Frequency of occurrence of different art forms in the hospitals surveyed. Compiled by Authors.
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Table 1. Methods and stages of research on art forms found in contemporary healthcare facilities. Compiled by Authors.
Table 1. Methods and stages of research on art forms found in contemporary healthcare facilities. Compiled by Authors.
StageMethodAim/Effect
1- Analysis of websites (architectural, design offices, hospitals)
- Literature review (on contemporary hospital design)
- Identification of contemporary examples of specialist hospitals in Europe (key features: established after 2000, specialist hospital, located in Europe, innovative hospital, high-quality architecture)
2- Case study
- Survey questionnaires
- Analysis of websites (architectural)
- In situ research
- Selection of contemporary reference specialist hospitals in Europe
- Compilation of a list of 85 specialist hospitals
3- Literature research
- In situ research
- Multi-specialty hospitals in selected countries (from the 20th and 21st centuries)
4- Quantitative and qualitative research
- Literature research
- In situ research
- Defining forms of art in hospitals
- Determining the specific nature of art forms in hospitals
Table 2. Art forms found in contemporary healthcare facilities. Study Authors.
Table 2. Art forms found in contemporary healthcare facilities. Study Authors.
Art FormExplanationExamples
ArchitectureBuilding form/individually solved architectural detailUnusual sculpted form of the building/building fragment, artistically solved form of protection from excessive sunlight, unusual form of roofing of the entrance area to the building
Interior ArchitectureIndividually designed interior design closely related to the elements of art in the buildingNon-standard way of interior design, unusual solutions for the layout of the interior, colors, materials, details, and equipment, wallpaper with a motif of artistic character
Applied ArtIndividually designed everyday items with a unique characterDesigner furniture, custom furnishings/everyday use items individually designed for the building
Drawing, Painting, and GraphicsRepresentations of various subjects in the form of drawings, paintings, mosaics, and graphicsDrawings, framed paintings, mosaics, and prints depicting specific themes (landscapes, buildings, environment, people, animals, etc.)
SculptureRepresentations of various subjects in the form of sculptureSculptures and bas-reliefs in general areas of the hospital in traditional (e.g., pedestal, bust, etc.) or abstract forms
Art InstallationsIndividually designed art forms permanently or non-permanently attached to the building, encouraging direct interaction with patientsUnusual form of lighting (on the borderline of sculpture/performing art), installation of a form with a play function for children (e.g., a ship in the entrance area of the hospital), other art forms not necessarily related to a specific function
Interactive Art and Digital GraphicsDigital interactive graphics displayed on various surfaces; digital art that responds to the environment and movementInstallations, for example, in pediatric hospitals with leitmotifs with different characters displayed in communication areas, waiting rooms, treatment areas, etc.
PhotographyRepresentations of various subjects in the form of photographsHistorical photos of the building, related to the context/location (cultural references, environmental references, etc.), private photos in patients’ rooms (personalization of the space), art photography
CinemaScreening of films on various topics in an organized hospital space similar to a movie theater A cinema room organized close to the ward, where patients can watch movies on various topics
Music and DanceNeutral music played in various spaces of the building, organized occasional or regular concerts, performances, music/dance eventsMusic played, e.g., in waiting rooms, common areas, separate space containing a musical instrument (e.g., piano) that can be used by patients or used during occasional concerts
TheaterOrganize occasional or periodic performances in the common areas of the buildingAn area in the general common area of the building providing a place to organize performances for patients, relatives, and staff
LiteratureLiterature, fiction, poetry in the form of books available for reading in different areas of the building; elements of literature—quotes or other interpretations woven into the interior designReading books available, e.g., in waiting rooms, common areas, etc., quotes appearing in various forms in interiors (in an artistic way), and hospital libraries
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Strojny, R.; Przesmycka, N. The Specifics and Forms of Art in Contemporary Healthcare Facilities—European Trends. Arts 2025, 14, 93. https://doi.org/10.3390/arts14040093

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Strojny R, Przesmycka N. The Specifics and Forms of Art in Contemporary Healthcare Facilities—European Trends. Arts. 2025; 14(4):93. https://doi.org/10.3390/arts14040093

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Strojny, Rafał, and Natalia Przesmycka. 2025. "The Specifics and Forms of Art in Contemporary Healthcare Facilities—European Trends" Arts 14, no. 4: 93. https://doi.org/10.3390/arts14040093

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Strojny, R., & Przesmycka, N. (2025). The Specifics and Forms of Art in Contemporary Healthcare Facilities—European Trends. Arts, 14(4), 93. https://doi.org/10.3390/arts14040093

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