I doubt there's a strong correlation between an artistic propensity and an adeptness for critical thinking. But if the artist is commercially successful, the correlation may exist, on the ground that commercial success implies effective reality-testing.
Also, it's important to say that what constitutes an artist is very, very subjective. Virtually anyone can say they're an artist, because there aren't any objective criteria that would pass muster with someone skilled in ... critical thinking.
Not everyone can say they understand everyday reality and can function within it, because that claim can be easily proven or falsified. But anyone can say they're an artist who hasn't found their audience yet. Such a claim appeals more to the charity of the listener than to a meaningful comparison with reality.
Try to paint a portrait without being able to critically deconstruct how light, shadow, and perspective interplay and you probably won't get too far. Seems to me it takes a lot of critical thinking about the world to be able to do that.
Or maybe it's contemporary conceptual based art you're thinking about? A lot of it requires the artist to think critically about human social structures in order to create commentary on it.
Sure, anyone can claim they're an artist and produce work that is not well thought out or executed, but that's not a reason to conclude that artists lack critical thinking skills. Every professional working artist I know here in NYC is exceptionally good with critical thought.
Just because you don't use a logic based language to reason doesn't mean you're not thinking critically.
Also, it's important to say that what constitutes an artist is very, very subjective. Virtually anyone can say they're an artist, because there aren't any objective criteria that would pass muster with someone skilled in ... critical thinking.
Not everyone can say they understand everyday reality and can function within it, because that claim can be easily proven or falsified. But anyone can say they're an artist who hasn't found their audience yet. Such a claim appeals more to the charity of the listener than to a meaningful comparison with reality.