To art is human: the power of creativity in late life
Julie Byles

Date and Time

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Theme / Track

Arts, design, innovation and technology

Presentation Format

Late life is a time of change and adaptation, loss and learning, decline and growth. Thriving through these transitions requires internal and external resources, problem solving, imagination, creativity, and an ability to make sense of your own story. This exhibition presents creativity as a ubiquitous human norm, and a late life superpower. Creativity has life course value, especially in later life, as the cumulation of a lifetime of experience, practice and evolution. In this exhibition participants will explore the very origins of human creativity, how creativity evolves with ageing and changes in senses, cognition and other intrinsic capacities; how it drives innovation, adaptation and growth, and enables expression and sense of identity. The exhibition will include visual displays to illustrate the history of human art from prehistory to modern expressionism, creative adaptations to changes in functional abilities, and the narrative between art and ageing. Hands on experiences will allow participants to “find their lines” through tactile engagement, modelling, collage and mark making. Conversations between participants will consider opportunities to expand and enable creativity through later life as a tool for self-expression and for opening up to new ideas and perspectives. Participants will receive a booklet “Finding your lines in later life” written by Julie and based on both her scientific studies of ageing and her creative learnings.

Keywords

Adaptation, Painting / Sculpture / Fine Arts

Authors