Questioning whether the hierarchy of evidence is a good fit for the art therapy profession furthers the scholarly climate of art therapy research practices. Contemporary art therapy research practices are reviewed in 8 notable areas: effectiveness, salience, functionality, appropriateness, safeness, cost-effectiveness, program satisfaction, and acceptance. Substantiating the knowledge base in these areas will expand the evidence base for art therapy and provide practical strategies for future studies. Recommendations for integrating arts-informed and arts-based research are considered. Alternatives to the hierarchical model ensure that heterogenous data are understood as interlocking and complementary.