Visual artist and actress Teala Stampley has opened Creative Minds Center of the Arts in Oak Park’s Southtown District, a live/work space where mental health and art intersect. The center hosts events such as The Painted Tongue: Open Mic and Art Exhibition and Let’s Talk About It Paint and Conversation, combining art-making with licensed therapy. Stampley, who also acts in the Chicago-based drama The Chi and other productions, began painting a year and a half ago as a form of healing for her own anxiety and depression, inspired by her uncle.
This story matters because it highlights a growing grassroots movement that merges creative expression with mental health support, particularly for the Black and Brown community where representation in therapy is often lacking. Stampley’s dual career as an actress and visual artist underscores the therapeutic potential of art outside traditional clinical settings, offering accessible tools for healing and community building in a local context.