Art Isn’t Always Beautiful—But It’s Always Powerful!

James Nicholls Presenting The Art Review at the National Portrait gallery, London

Just this week, while filming at the National Portrait Gallery, I witnessed something quietly extraordinary. A young boy, Hector, stood in the Tudor Gallery, speaking with passion and authority about Elizabeth I and other Tudor monarchs. He drew a crowd, his mother, friends, strangers, and me.

I had to speak to him and his mum afterward. He’s a natural. A reminder that art speaks to all ages, and when introduced early, it can spark a lifelong fire.

Art is a living chronicle. A mirror of humanity. And it is for everyone. Especially children. Creativity, empathy, and emotional literacy begin with early exposure. Art is one of the greatest gifts we can pass on.

I was also struck this week by a piece from Artsy by Aimee Dawson -“4 Reasons Why Looking at Art Is Good For You.” It’s a powerful reminder that art isn’t just visual. It’s emotional, mental, even spiritual nourishment.

Art doesn’t sit quietly. It does something to us.

Whether in a gallery, a studio, or our own home, it can provoke or soothe, excite or calm. It invites us to reconnect with ourselves. And sometimes, that moment of presence is exactly what we need.

There are pieces in our family collection we would never part with. They aren’t just objects- they’re containers of memory and meaning. Emotional history made tangible.

Each work of art holds two stories: the one within the piece, and the life of the artist who made it. That duality brings depth. Think of Van Gogh’s turbulence or Monet’s meditative light. Different paths, same power.

Filming for The Art Review at both the National Portrait Gallery and National Gallery this week, I left inspired - as always.

But not all art comforts. Some of the most vital work disrupts. Today, artists like Banksy challenge and provoke, calling out injustice through wit, satire, and sharp cultural commentary. Art can be protest. It can be truth-telling. It doesn’t have to be “beautiful”- but it must mean something.

We live in a fast, fragmented world. Art invites us to pause. And in that stillness, we often find clarity, connection, and transformation.

Hector reminded me of that.How has art moved you?

Let me know what work has stayed with you—or changed you.

Warmest regards

james

James Nicholls

#ArtMatters #ArtPerspective #MentalHealth #ArtForAllAges #Banksy #NationalPortraitGallery #VanGogh #Monet #NationalGallery #ArtAndActivism #ArtCollectors #Inspiration #JamesNicholls