Museum of Images of the Unconscious

The Museum of Images of the Unconscious originated initially in the workshops of painting and modeling of the Department of Occupational Therapy of psychiatric clinics, and then was officially registered on May 20, 1952.

The museum was created by psychiatrist Nise da Silveira. The museum’s collection includes works that were used by doctors in the psychiatric treatment of patients, mostly schizophrenics. The mission of the museum is to preserve unique works and use them in the future for a deeper understanding of patients.

The museum’s collection is constantly growing and currently includes about 300,000 documents and paintings. Our own research team conducts meetings where clinical experience and theoretical knowledge of psychology and psychiatry are exchanged. The museum also organizes exhibitions.

The museum of images of the unconscious is more than just a museum, it is a laboratory in which mentally ill people, whose inner world remains invisible to others, are created. Only in paintings can such people express the richness of their own consciousness, and “normal” people can truly get acquainted with the whole palette of feelings and experiences of the “patient”.