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Art Activates Intellectual Curiosity
Erik Wahl, artist and expert on change and innovation, shares insights on the connection between art and business and how art activates authenticity and human connectivity.
I love performing. I love dynamic custom keynote presentations. I create custom live art choreographed with music and video as a conduit to create epic audience experiences. I love customization. I love art as a vessel to inspire. I love watching audiences come alive when I make the personal connection between creativity and productivity.
But it does beg the question…What is the connection between business and art? More fundamentally, what is the purpose of art? The purpose of art is NOT to produce a finished product. The purpose of art is to produce thinking. Dynamic thinking. Game changing thinking. The kind of thinking that wakes up our mind and shakes up our brain cells to ignite intellectual curiosity. And intellectual curiosity is the port hole to higher dimensions of critical thinking and complex problem solving.
In the realm of business, art isn’t just decoration — it’s a catalyst for transformation, a force that inspires innovation, and a tool for building emotional resonance. The true value of art in business lies in its power to connect us, inspire us, and transform us. It reminds us that behind every transaction is a human story. By embracing art, businesses don’t just survive — they soar. They create brands that matter, experiences that move people, and growth that lasts.
Art isn’t just about what you see; it’s about what you feel. It has the extraordinary ability to stir emotion and move people to action. Whether it’s a bold visual identity, a breathtaking design, or a story-driven marketing campaign, art connects on a level words alone cannot reach. These emotional connections turn customers into loyal advocates, elevate a brand’s meaning, and create experiences that are unforgettable.
Enter artificial intelligence.
Anything that can be automated will eventually become automated. Generative artificial intelligence will continue to disrupt, distort, and permanently dehumanize our perception of reality.
However, AI alone is neither good nor bad. AI simply is. Yet how we use it can be both good, and it has the potential to be very harmful. The internet alone is neither good nor bad, yet how we use it can be both good, and it can be bad. A credit card is neither good nor bad. It simply is. Yet how we use a credit card can be very good. And it can also be very bad. Credit cards, the worldwide web, and artificial intelligence will continue shape the future of our lives both in business and home.
Here’s the truth: art is what makes businesses human. It’s why live events can create electricity in a room, why storytelling in marketing resonates so deeply, and why a thoughtfully crafted customer experience lingers in the heart. It’s about shared moments — the kind that forge bonds no algorithm can replicate. It’s these moments that create trust, loyalty, and relationships that endure.
The ultimate meta-skill every business leader and team member must embrace is mental agility — the ability to pivot, adapt, and innovate in real-time. Art teaches us to see beyond what’s obvious, challenge convention, and imagine the unimaginable.
When businesses weave art into their culture, they create environments where creativity thrives, where boundaries are pushed, and where the impossible becomes possible. Artistic thinking allows teams to collaborate boldly, see solutions others overlook, and bring ideas to life in ways that captivate and inspire.
Art activates human connectivity, competitive differentiation, and personal growth.
Art isn’t a luxury to hang on walls in business — it’s the spark that makes your business come alive. And in a world where creativity is the most powerful currency, it’s also the key to financial success.
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