Left-hand preference in visual artists: A pre-registered observational study on Instagram

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Artistic Studies

Background:

• A popular notion suggests a higher prevalence of left-handedness among architects and visual artists.
• Existing scientific evidence supporting this claim is modest and requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To re-examine the association between left-handedness and visual artistry.
• To investigate potential differences in artistic quality between left- and right-handed artists.

Main Methods:

• An observational study analyzed hand preference in 468 visual artists on Instagram.
• Hand preference was determined by observing five video clips ('reels') for each artist.
• Artistic quality was assessed through public engagement metrics like likes and follower counts.

Main Results:

• The incidence of left-handedness among visual artists was 8.97%, statistically comparable to the general population (10.6%).
• No significant difference was found in public endorsement or interest (likes, followers) between art created by left- and right-handed artists.
• The study found no support for the hypothesis of increased left-handedness or superior art quality among visual artists.

Conclusions:

• The findings do not support the hypothesis of a higher incidence of left-handedness in visual artists.
• There is no evidence of a difference in artistic engagement or perceived quality between left- and right-handed artists.
• This study contributes to understanding handedness and artistic talent.