Johan Wagemans

Papers

Total Citations

206

H-Index

About

Johan Wagemans is a leading figure in the psychology of visual perception, with a particular emphasis on how we experience art and aesthetics. His research bridges Gestalt principles, perceptual organization, and the cognitive science of beauty, exploring how the brain constructs meaning from visual input. Among his most influential contributions is the study "Putting the art in artificial: Aesthetic responses to computer-generated art" (2017, 206 citations), which investigates how observers value artworks created by artificial intelligence. This work challenges assumptions about human uniqueness in creativity, showing that aesthetic appreciation depends not only on the visual product but also on the perceived agency behind it. Wagemans’ broader impact is reflected in his extensive citation record, with foundational papers on perceptual grouping and symmetry cited thousands of times. He is also known for his leadership in the field, including his role as editor of the journal *i-Perception* and his influential book *The Oxford Handbook of Perceptual Organization*. Through his research, Wagemans illuminates how we see, interpret, and find meaning in the visual world—from everyday scenes to artistic masterpieces.