Katie O'Neill

Katie O'Neill is a Lecturer in Art Therapy at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a doctoral candidate in Disability Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her work bridges performance art, archiving, and activism, centering Mad experiences and challenging ableist norms. She holds a BFA from Moore College of Art & Design (2017), an MFA from SAIC (2019), and an MS from UIC (2021).

Her research focuses on institutional histories of mental health, symptom notation systems, and spatial metaphors for madness. Notable projects include the Manteno Project (documenting a defunct psychiatric hospital) and Bathtub Resident (exploring hydrotherapy rituals).

Her awards include the AHS Achievement Award (UIC, 2021) and Lightbox Detroit Residency. She teaches Introduction to Mad Studies, critiques compulsory able-bodiedness, and creates immersive environments blending video, text, and performance.

Key exhibitions include Hyde Park Art Center (Chicago), Port Philip Specialist School (Australia), and Brick Lane Gallery (London). Current work expands her Symptom Notation system to translate lived Mad experiences into visual/performance languages.