12 Renowned Artists Who Experienced Synesthesia

Synesthesia is a unique neurological phenomenon where the brain intertwines senses in extraordinary ways, leading to distinctive sensory reactions. Individuals with this condition might, for instance, perceive specific colors when viewing particular letters. They often “hear colors, feel sounds, and taste shapes” with remarkable consistency. For example, if someone associates the number "1" with burnt orange, this association remains constant—unlike the fleeting color experiences of someone under the influence of hallucinogens like LSD.

The exact cause of synesthesia remains debated among scientists. While some argue it stems from learned behaviors, the majority attribute it to neurological factors. Research indicates that synesthetes have atypical connections between neighboring brain regions, akin to those observed in infants. In fact, it is theorized that all infants are born with synesthesia, which typically fades by four months due to synaptic pruning. Affecting roughly 4% of the population, the condition is more prevalent in women and is thought to have a genetic basis. The most frequent forms include grapheme-color synesthesia, where letters or numbers evoke colors, and chromesthesia, where sounds trigger visual perceptions. Notably, synesthetes are eight times more likely to pursue creative professions, and many celebrated artists throughout history have been known to possess this trait.

1. VLADIMIR NABOKOV

Occupation:

Writer

Type of synesthesia: Grapheme-color

Nabokov, a prolific author of novels, poetry, and short stories, shared his synesthetic experiences with his mother and son, Dmitri, who also had chromesthesia. His eloquent descriptions of the condition, found in his memoir Speak, Memory, are as vivid and compelling as his literary works. He writes: “From my earliest memories … I have experienced mild hallucinations, both auditory and visual, though they have seldom been of much use to me … In the brown spectrum, the soft g has a rich, rubbery texture, j is paler, and h resembles a dull shoelace … Among the reds, b evokes the hue known as burnt sienna, m is like a fold of pink flannel, and I have finally matched v to the shade ‘Rose Quartz’ in Maerz and Paul’s Dictionary of Color.”

Nabokov recounts the moment he and his mother realized they both experienced synesthesia, stating, “We found that certain letters shared the same hues for both of us, and she also perceived colors when hearing musical notes.”

2. TORI AMOS

Occupation:

Singer-Songwriter

Type of synesthesia: Unspecified

Amos has a unique form of synesthesia where sounds manifest as vivid light imagery. In her book Piece by Piece, she describes this phenomenon: “Once I unlock a song, it reveals itself as a filament of light … No two song structures have ever appeared the same to me. Each light entity is distinct, though similar chord progressions may follow comparable light patterns. Imagine the most mesmerizing kaleidoscope you’ve ever seen.”

3. GEOFFREY RUSH

Occupation:

Actor

Type of synesthesia: Grapheme-color, spatio-temporal synesthesia

In an interview, Rush shared that his synesthesia traces back to his early childhood: “During my school years, when we first learned the days of the week, I immediately associated them with specific colors. Monday feels like a pale blue … Tuesday is a vivid acid green, Wednesday a deep, dark purple, Friday maroon, Saturday white, and Sunday a soft, pale yellow.”

Rush experiences multiple forms of synesthesia, including spatio-temporal, which he describes as follows: “I can recall exact dates, like a play opening on Tuesday, May 8th, 1982. In my mind, 1982 has a specific location, and May occupies a particular spot within it. It’s like a landscape of hills and valleys, so when someone mentions King Charlemagne living in 800 A.D., I can visualize exactly where that year sits.”

4. DUKE ELLINGTON

Occupation:

Jazz Musician and Composer

Type of synesthesia: Chromesthesia

In Sweet Man: The Real Duke Ellington, Don George shares Ellington’s reflections on how his synesthesia influenced his music: “When one band member plays a note, I perceive it as a specific color. If another musician plays the same note, it transforms into a different hue. Sustained musical tones evoke colors for me, much like they might for others, but I experience them in textures. For instance, Harry Carney’s D feels like dark blue burlap, while Johnny Hodges’ G resembles light blue satin.”

5. BILLY JOEL

Occupation:

Singer-Songwriter and Pianist

Type of synesthesia: Chromesthesia, grapheme-color

Joel cherishes his synesthetic experiences, where melodies paint vibrant worlds of color. In an interview with Psychology Today writer Maureen Seaberg, he explained, “Slower, softer melodies evoke shades of blues and greens … When a melody is particularly vivid, it’s often paired with a strong rhythm, and I see bold reds, oranges, or golds.”

Regarding his grapheme-color synesthesia, Joel noted, “In some of my songs, I follow the color of vowels. Strong vowel endings like -a, -e, or -i feel like vivid blues or greens, while consonants like t, p, or s bring to mind sharper, red tones.”

6. DEV HYNES

Occupation:

Musician and Composer

Type of synesthesia: Chromesthesia

While synesthesia can be intense or unsettling for some, Hynes, also known as Blood Orange, embraces his condition. In an interview with NPR, he shared, “In my younger years, I wanted to splash the entire paint can onto the canvas and see what emerged … Now, I’m exploring the fascinating scientific aspects of it, celebrating it, and inviting others to appreciate it as well.”

7. ARTHUR RIMBAUD

Occupation:

Poet

Type of synesthesia: Grapheme-color

While it’s not confirmed whether Rimbaud had synesthesia, his poem Vowels strongly hints at it, associating specific colors with different vowels:

A Black, E white, I red, U green, O blue: vowels, I shall tell, one day, of your mysterious origins: A, black velvety jacket of brilliant flies Which buzz around cruel smells, Gulfs of shadow; E, whiteness of vapours and of tents, Lances of proud glaciers, white kings, shivers of cow-parsley; I, purples, spat blood, smile of beautiful lips In anger or in the raptures of penitence; U, waves, divine shudderings of viridian seas, The peace of pastures dotted with animals, the peace of the furrows Which alchemy prints on broad studious foreheads; O, sublime Trumpet full of strange piercing sounds, Silences crossed by Worlds and by Angels: O the Omega, the violet ray of Her Eyes!

8. PATRICK STUMP

Occupation:

Singer-Songwriter and Musician

Type of synesthesia: Grapheme-color, chromesthesia

In a blog post from 2011, Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump openly discussed his synesthesia. He explained, “Most letters and numbers evoke specific colors for me. Music can also trigger color associations, though these are less vivid compared to my grapheme-color connections. As I’ve spoken with other musicians, I’ve realized this phenomenon is more common than I thought.” Stump’s observation is accurate—musicians with synesthesia are indeed widespread.

9. PHARRELL WILLIAMS

Occupation:

Singer-Songwriter and Producer

Type of synesthesia: Chromesthesia

One of the most famous modern synesthetes, Pharrell Williams views synesthesia as a gift rather than a disorder. In an NPR interview, he urged listeners to “rethink the idea of it being a ‘medical condition.’” He elaborated, “If I ask everyone to imagine a red truck, you’ll see one in your mind. But is there actually a red truck in front of you? No. That’s the mind’s power. For synesthetes, we often don’t realize our experience is unique until someone points out that they don’t see colors when they hear music.”

Williams uses his chromesthesia as a tool in music production, stating, “It’s how I identify sounds. I can tell if something is in key because the colors either align or clash. If it feels off, I know it’s not right.”

10. FRANZ LISZT

Occupation: Pianist, Composer

Type of synesthesia: Chromesthesia

Being a musician in Liszt’s orchestra must have been a fascinating experience. He would reportedly use his synesthesia to guide his orchestrations, often instructing the musicians with phrases like, “Gentlemen, a touch bluer, if you will! This tone demands it!” or “That should be a deep violet, trust me, not so rosy!” Initially, the orchestra thought Liszt was joking, but they eventually realized he genuinely perceived colors in the music.

11. CHARLI XCX

Occupation: Singer-Songwriter

Type of synesthesia: Chromesthesia

Like many musicians, Charli embraces her synesthesia and incorporates it into her creative process: “I visualize music in colors. I’m drawn to music that feels black, pink, purple, or red—but I avoid music that feels green, yellow, or brown.” She describes the Cure’s music as “deep midnight blue or black, with shimmering pink stars and soft pink clouds drifting through it.”

12. VINCENT VAN GOGH

Occupation: Painter

Type of synesthesia: Chromesthesia

Van Gogh’s experience with synesthesia was more challenging than empowering. One paper highlighted how his chromesthesia negatively impacted him. During piano lessons in 1885, his teacher noticed he associated notes with specific colors. Unfortunately, the teacher interpreted this as a sign of mental instability and dismissed him from the lessons.