storytellingartists

Storytelling artists are practitioners who place narrative at the core of their artistic work. The term covers a wide range of disciplines and media in which telling a story is the central aim, including visual art, comics and graphic novels, illustration, film and video, theatre and performance, dance, installation art, and interactive media. Works are often designed to convey meaning, evoke empathy, and engage audiences through a constructed narrative.

Practitioners may work solo or collaboratively with writers, performers, musicians, or other artists, and present work in galleries, theatres, cinemas, museums, festivals, public spaces, or online platforms. The storytelling approach can be linear or non-linear, sequential or episodic, and may rely on character development, worldbuilding, symbolism, setting, or memory to guide audience interpretation. Visual storytelling techniques, such as composition, color, and montage, are commonly used alongside spoken, written, or sung elements.

Storytelling artists often blend disciplines to create immersive experiences, including multimedia installations, graphic storytelling, or hybrid performances that fuse dance, theatre, and projection. The practice emphasizes narrative intent as a driver of form and meaning, rather than focusing solely on aesthetics. It frequently engages with social, historical, or personal themes and can invite audience participation or co-creation.

Historically, storytelling across media has deep roots in oral tradition, theatre, and illustration. In contemporary contexts, the term highlights artists who foreground story as a way to explore identity, memory, ethics, and community. Education and research in this field examine how narrative strategies influence perception, engagement, and empathy, as well as how stories circulate across cultures and platforms.

See also: graphic storytelling, performance art, visual storytelling.