Creativity for All: Debunking Three Common Myths That Limit Our Collective Potential
″I’m just not a creative person.″
How many times have you heard (or even said) this yourself? The belief that creativity is reserved for a select few—those with the “right” background, natural talent, or professional training—is one of the most persistent myths in our society. But this couldn’t be further from the truth.
The reality is that everyone has creative potential. It’s not just for artists, designers, or innovators. It’s for everyone—whether you’re brainstorming solutions at work, finding new ways to engage your community, or simply solving day-to-day problems. So why do we feel so disconnected from our creativity?
Because these myths don’t just limit individuals—they uphold unjust power structures and reinforce systems of exclusion.
We need to talk about who benefits from these narratives. They aren’t just random misconceptions; they’re part of a larger strategy to keep creativity—and the power that comes with it—centered around whiteness and a narrow definition of who gets to be seen as a creative force. Let’s dig into these myths and see how they reinforce hierarchies, gatekeeping, and exclusion.
Myth #1:
Creativity is only for the "fine arts".
The first myth is that creativity is reserved for artists, musicians, or writers. This misconception boxes creativity into specific fields and treats it as something that only applies to spaces with high barriers to entry like galleries, concert halls, or literary circles—places that have systematically shut out artists and creators from Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ+ and other excluded communities.
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Whose stories are being told? The reality is that when we see creativity only through the lens of the narrow definition of Western 'fine art', we erase entire traditions of non-Western, BIPOC, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ creative expression. This narrow focus ignores art forms like quilting and textile work, which carry the histories and resilience of marginalized communities; foodways, where cooking traditions become acts of resistance and cultural preservation; and oral storytelling, where narratives passed down through generations hold knowledge, history, and identity that formal education often overlooks.
These are powerful acts of creativity that have shaped culture and history, but because they don’t fit the Western, Eurocentric definition of ‘high art,’ they are frequently dismissed or sidelined as ‘folk art’ or domestic crafts—despite their profound impact and significance.
It’s true that the art world is making strides toward better representation and inclusion of these diverse voices. We’re seeing more BIPOC, queer, and non-Western artists gain visibility, and museums are starting to recognize and correct historical erasures. But this issue is bigger than what’s shown in galleries and museums—it’s about the broader cultural narratives that shape all of our perceptions of what creativity is and who it belongs to. Even as the art world makes progress, these deep-seated biases still inform our collective understanding of value, innovation, and whose work is ‘worth’ celebrating.
Myth #2:
Creativity Requires Big, Original Ideas
The second myth is that true creativity means coming up with completely new, groundbreaking ideas. It suggests that only those who come up with completely new concepts are creative, leaving little room for small, incremental changes, collective work, or adaptations that can have a big impact over time. This myth creates the false belief that unless your idea is revolutionary, it’s not valuable. But framing creativity this way dismisses the everyday acts of creativity that have sustained communities for generations.
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Creativity is just as often about small, meaningful shifts, making unexpected connections, or building on existing concepts in new ways. Some of the most impactful breakthroughs come from everyday people finding new uses for what they have, challenging the myth that only “big” ideas count as creative.
Creativity is about adaptation, resilience, and making something meaningful out of what you have. Communities of color and LGBTQ+ creators have been innovating and creating in the face of systemic oppression for centuries—using creativity not just to survive, but to resist, redefine, and build new possibilities. This work often challenges and expands what is considered ‘big’ or ‘original,’ pushing boundaries and setting new standards of what creativity can look like.
Myth #3:
The “Creative Genius” is Born, Not Made.
The most common misconception is that creativity is something you’re either born with or not. This myth makes creativity seem elusive—something for the “naturally gifted” or “geniuses.” But the truth is, everyone has the capacity to be creative.
This myth is likely
the most harmful of all.
The idea of the “creative genius” centers around the belief that creativity is a rare, mystical gift possessed only by a select few who fit a very specific mold. They’re most often white, male, and wealthy. Think of the figures we’re taught to idolize: Mozart, Picasso, DaVinci, Steve Jobs. To be clear, I’m not arguing that these men’s accomplishments aren’t noteworthy. But they’re portrayed as uniquely gifted—to the exclusion of so many other worthy artists and creators. The mythic status they’re granted by the “creative genius” idea elevates their perceived brilliance above all others.
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Here’s the truth: this idea wasn’t built to celebrate creativity. It was built to uphold white supremacy and keep the spotlight on those in power.
Creativity is a skill that can be developed, just like any other. It’s not a rare gift, but a practice you can nurture over time. But labeling some people as “naturally talented” and others as “not creative” isn’t harmless—it’s a way of sorting people by worth. Historically, those seen as “naturally creative” have been predominantly from privileged, white backgrounds, while the creative potential of others has often been overlooked or denied. These narratives shape who is given opportunities, who is seen as a ‘genius,’ and who is even allowed to pursue creative fields. From early education systems to professional networks, access to creativity is tightly controlled, making it easier for those with privilege to be seen as exceptional.
The concept of the “creative genius” has been used to reinforce social hierarchies and maintain whiteness at the center of innovation and culture. It systematically erases the contributions of BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+ creators, and anyone who doesn’t fit the narrow mold of a “genius.” Historically, Black and Indigenous artists and creators were often labeled “primitive” or “outsider artists,” their work classified as naïve or “folk art” rather than innovative and groundbreaking. Meanwhile, white artists doing similar work were hailed as “visionaries” and celebrated for their originality.
This myth doesn’t just harm individuals; it shapes our entire cultural understanding of what creativity is and who gets to be celebrated. It’s time to deconstruct this harmful narrative and recognize creativity as a collective, community-driven practice that has always been central to the human experience.
We need to have a conversation about
Racism, Creativity, & Power.
If creativity is something we all have, why do so many of us feel disconnected from it? These myths don’t just float around harmlessly—they’re part of a broader pattern that supports racism, colonialism, and social hierarchies. Myths like the “creative genius” serve to uphold a cultural system that benefits from narrowing our understanding of creativity to a few select people, keeping the power to define and recognize creativity in the hands of those who already hold privilege.
This devaluation of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ creativity and thought leadership doesn’t just mean that someone’s visionary art or innovation doesn’t get the spotlight it deserves.
It means that entire frameworks for reimagining our world — whether that’s radical new ways of understanding community, economy, or healing — are met with greater skepticism or dismissed outright by those who hold power.
When the creativity and intellectual contributions of marginalized people are systematically undercut, the ripple effects are huge: it prevents paradigm-shifting ideas from gaining traction and stifles the radical systems change needed to create more equitable futures.
Dismantling these myths isn’t just about expanding our definition of creativity; it’s about redistributing the power to shape culture and opening up space for voices that have been shut out. True creativity challenges us to imagine new possibilities, and it has always been most powerful when it emerges from communities working to disrupt the status quo and demand change.
True Creativity is Everywhere.
Creativity is in the ways communities have survived and thrived against oppression, in the art and traditions that continue to evolve, and in the voices that have been kept on the margins. Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, disabled, and other groups that have been systemically excluded have not only preserved their creativity in the face of attempts to erase or devalue it—they’ve used it to envision new worlds, push boundaries, and transform culture.
Whether it’s the creation of music genres like jazz and hip hop, the radical queer act of redefining kinship and the concept of families as support networks outside of biological or legal structures, the development of new art movements, or the reimagining of social justice frameworks, these communities have consistently set the bar for innovation and resilience.
This creativity is not just about surviving—it’s about redefining what is possible.
Reclaiming creativity means uplifting these stories, celebrating the contributions of Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, disabled, and other systemically excluded groups, and pushing back against the narrow narratives that have controlled the creative conversation for too long. True creativity is expansive, inclusive, and deeply rooted in the ways people imagine, build, and sustain change together.
So, What’s our Part in Overcoming the Myths?
Next time you catch yourself thinking, “I’m not a creative person,” or “I don’t have time to be creative,” remember: these myths aren’t just personal—they’re shaped by larger systems that try to define who gets to be seen as creative and whose contributions are valued.
Challenge yourself to question those narratives. Whose creativity is being celebrated? Whose is being ignored or erased? Start by uplifting and learning from creators who challenge these myths head-on.
Follow artists, writers, and makers from communities that have been excluded from the dominant narrative.
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Mer Young (@youngmer)
Mer Young is an Indigenous multidisciplinary artist based in Southern California. Her artwork includes collages, paintings, drawings, and public murals. Her work often explores themes of land sovereignty, environmental justice, and the complexities of identity, especially in the context of colonial histories and the current struggles of Brown and Black communities.Adrian Armstrong (@adrianarmstrongart)
A multidisciplinary artist based in Austin, Texas, Adrian Armstrong combines ballpoint pen, painting, and collage to explore Black identity, masculinity, and culture. His work often interrogates the intersections of photography and portraiture to reflect on contemporary Black experiences.Bisa Butler (@bisabutler)
A textile artist famous for her life-sized quilt portraits, Butler uses African fabrics to create richly detailed, vibrant portraits of Black subjects, celebrating the resilience and beauty of Black life. Her work often draws on historical photos to recontextualize Black narratives and center untold stories.Cicely Carew (@CicelyCarew)
Cicely Carew is a Boston-based artist whose practice spans painting, installation, and digital collage. Her exuberant, colorful works are meditative explorations of joy, resilience, and the interconnectedness of spirit and body. With a focus on expressing Black joy and spiritual liberation, her work challenges narratives that constrain Black art within frameworks of struggle alone.Martín Wannam (@martinwannamremix)
Martín Wannam is a queer Guatemalan visual artist and educator whose work critically examines Guatemala’s social and political climate, with a focus on the intersections of brownness, queer identity, and colonial histories. His art spans photography, sculpture, and performance, using bold visual language to challenge structures like religion, folklore, and white supremacy. Wannam is also a core member of the Fronteristxs Collective, a group of artists and activists in New Mexico committed to fighting for migrant justice and the abolition of the prison industrial complex.
Seek out stories and perspectives that challenge the mainstream narratives of genius and innovation.
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“Our Missing Hearts” by Celeste Ng
This novel explores the tension between art, activism, and authoritarianism, examining how censorship and societal norms shape whose voices are heard and whose are silenced. The story follows a young boy on a quest to find his missing mother, a Chinese American poet whose work has been banned, making a strong statement about the power of storytelling in resistance.“The Queer Art of Failure” by Jack Halberstam
This book challenges conventional ideas of success and failure through a queer lens, advocating for “low theory” as a subversive approach to critique capitalist and heteronormative values. Halberstam draws on pop culture, animation, and avant-garde art to explore how failure can be a powerful form of resistance and alternative world-building. Rather than aspiring to success as defined by dominant norms, The Queer Art of Failure invites readers to embrace losing, forgetting, and not fitting in as valuable ways of disrupting societal expectations and imagining new possibilities.“The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story” by Nikole Hannah-Jones & The NYT Magazine
This collection builds on the groundbreaking 1619 Project, which was initially published in The New York Times Magazine in 2019. Featuring essays, poems, and fiction from a diverse range of authors, the book explores how the legacy of slavery shapes every aspect of contemporary American life, from politics, music, and traffic patterns to healthcare, capitalism, and democracy itself. It reframes U.S. history by placing the contributions and experiences of Black Americans at the center of the national narrative, challenging the myth that the United States was built solely as a bastion of freedom and equality.
Support organizations and movements that are working to expand the definition of creativity and make space for voices that have been left out.
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The Laundromat Project
An organization focused on bringing art to everyday spaces in New York City, The Laundromat Project collaborates with local communities—particularly Black, Latinx, and low-income neighborhoods—to use art and storytelling as tools for building connections and addressing social justice issues.The Queer 26
A media arts non-profit based in California that supports QTBIPOC (Queer and Trans Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) creatives. The Queer 26 offers workshops, services, and projects to help build networks and provide resources that allow QTBIPOC creators to thrive in their fields.The Watering Hole
An organization dedicated to nurturing and amplifying the voices of poets from the African Diaspora in the Southern United States. Through retreats, workshops, and community-building events, The Watering Hole provides a unique space for Black poets to grow creatively and professionally, while building networks of support and solidarity.OUTsider Artists in Residence Program
OUTsider is a queer transmedia arts organization that hosts an Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program to support LGBTQ+ and BIPOC artists facing under-resourced conditions. The program nurtures experimental and interdisciplinary art, offering a platform for bold creative expressions that challenge norms and foster radical thinking.
Ready to Reclaim Your Creativity?
Remember: creativity is not a gift or a rare talent. It’s a practice, a process, and a skill that we all have. So start small, challenge these myths, and see where your creativity can take you.
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Ready to begin your creative journey? Sign up for my email list, where I’ll be sending out info on workshops, resources, and community events designed to support your creative growth and help you reconnect with the joy of creating. Together, let’s celebrate the power of creativity to heal, inspire, and transform.
