In this paper, I examine how stigma against mental illness informs my artistic process, the current state of this stigma and how it manifests in society, and methods for combating and overturning the resulting ableism. This paper begins with a survey of my practice. I approach my work from an overall perspective, and investigate processes, themes, techniques, and mediums. The second half is dedicated to the pursuit of a single theme: anti-stigma intervention. I focus on a concrete examination of the current stigma against mental illness in the United States, and propose ideas for avoiding tropes, stereotypes, and depictions that reinforce it. Following this, I provide examples of current work from other artists and myself, as we strive to undo the ableism present in today's media. Throughout the paper, I reference thought and literature by two disability advocates/activists: Johanna Hedva and Mia Mingus. The accompanying thesis artwork, an installation titled "Purgatory" that constructs a typical psychiatric waiting room with supplemented, unusual props, explores the idea of existing in a physical place that is both familiar and unfamiliar, leaving viewers with an uneasiness similar to that which is commonly associated with seeking psychiatric treatment.
