Exploring Artistic Expression in Student Visual Works Among Different Specialties: A Comparative Study with Educational Insights

Abstract

This study investigates artistic creativity in university students across six academic specialties – Fine Arts, Technical/Analytical, Pedagogy, Humanities, Psychology, and Physical Culture – using a seven-dimensional framework: Stylistic Coherence, Symbolic Saturation, Narrative Integration, Emotional Expressiveness, Authorial Presence, Aesthetic Orientation, and Aesthetic Intentionality. A total of 147 students (ages 17–24, 78% female) completed a creative task, and their works were analyzed via MANOVA and post-hoc comparisons. Results indicate that Fine Arts and Technical/Analytical students exhibit the most pronounced creative profiles, particularly in expressive, symbolic, and intentional dimensions, while other groups display moderate but balanced creativity. The findings demonstrate that specialization systematically shapes creative expression and reflects distinct perceptive – cognitive strategies underlying artistic production. Creativity, therefore, appears not only as an individual disposition but as a context-dependent process influenced by domain-specific training. These results support the use of differentiated pedagogical approaches that combine general cognitive development with orientation-specific artistic practice. The study confirms the multidimensional nature of creativity and its educational malleability. Limitations include unequal group sizes, a single-institution sample, and a cross-sectional design. Future research should incorporate longitudinal approaches and additional psychological and socio-cultural variables to better understand the developmental trajectories and practical outcomes of creative profiles.