As a busy artiste and mother, one of the ways I stay connected to the wider arts community is by listening to podcasts. I first got into podcasts in graduate school, addicted to the National Gallery of Art speaker series like the A.W. Mellon Lectures by my favourite art historians. Later, during the pandemic, home with my newborn and jonesing for a connection to the cultural world, I turned to podcasts again to ignite my thinking and stay connected.
Now, I’ve gotten into the regular practice of listening to podcasts as I work in the studio. It’s a way for my busy mom-self to multi-task and stay connected to the international world beyond my local art scene. It’s also a great way to indulge my inner art-history nerd. I minored in art history back in art school and with the range of free podcasts available to me, it feels like I’m continuing my education and broadening the scope of my knowledge base.
Whatever your age, stage, or motivations, podcasts for artists are a great way to get outside of yourself, challenge your thinking, and/or to feel a sense of connection to the wider art world. Here are my top 4 recommendations to get you started!
Talk Art: Conversations with Contemporary Artists
https://www.instagram.com/talkart
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Co-Hosted by actor and art collector, Russel Tovey, as well as curator and gallerist Robert Diament, Talk Art is one of my favourite podcasts. They interview international artists showing at major galleries and museums around the globe. Though largely focused on visual artists, they make forays into the worlds of acting, music, art history and more. In recent years the dynamic duo have also done collective curatorial projects and have turned their interviews and ideas into several books.
Now in its 26 season, there is a wealth of knowledge in their back catalogue. Beyond the incredible selection of artists they speak to, I love the enthusiasm and genuine interest that Tovey and Diament bring to these interviews. You can tell that they are true art lovers. As a result, the platform they’ve built really feels more like a love letter to artists.
Favourite episodes:
- Katherine Bradford, season 6, episode 4
- Rachel Whiteread, season 9, episode 8
- Jammie Holmes, season 15, episode 6
Death of an Artist: Helen Molesworth on Art, Crime, and History
https://www.instagram.com/hmolesworth
Listen on Pushkin
I’m a Helen Molesworth fan girl and this podcast did nothing to assuage my crush. I was originally drawn to Molesworth through her work with some of my favourite painters, Kerry James Marshall and Amy Sillman. Molesworth curated major exhibitions by both of these artists and was responsible for the corresponding exhibition texts, which were some of the most moving essays on painting I’ve ever read.
As an arts writer, Molesworth is known for challenging the status quo and speaking truth to the power of institutions and the socio-economic imbalances that move the art world. It is no surprise then that the subject of this podcast is not only an examination of the untimely death of the artist Ana Mandeita, but the art world “cover up” of her accused killer, and Mandeta’s husband, the renowned artist Carl Andre.
As both a lover of art history and true crime, this limited series satisfied all of my vices. Season two takes an in-depth look at the relationship of Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock but make sure to listen to season one first to hear about Molesworth’s thesis on the ways women are written out of history and what she calls the “genius problem” that allows us look at the art and see beyond the short falls (or criminality) of the artist.
Favourite episodes:
A Brush With: Deep-Dive Interviews with Contemporary Artists from the Art Newspaper
Listen on Apple Podcasts
In this podcast host Ben Luke has in depth conversations with artists to learn about their desires, motivations, and influences. I love the meandering pathways these conversations take, especially since he always asks the questions I’ve always wanted to know!
We learn about the artists that these artists look to for inspiration (both historical and contemporary), the museums they keep returning to, and what books, music, or other media inspire them. It’s fascinating to get a real insight into their daily studio life and hear them ponder the bigger question: what is art for, anyway?
Favourite episodes:
- Season 2, episode 6: A brush with… Tal R
- Season 21, episode 4: A brush with… Kapwani Kiwanga
- Season 30, episode 4: A brush with… Peter Doig
The Great Women Artists: Women in Art History and Today
https://www.thegreatwomenartists.com/katy-hessel-podcast
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Katy Hessel is a writer and art historian who has committed herself to the mission of creating visibility for women artists who were left out of the canon. I was introduced to Hessel via her guest appearances on other podcasts (like Talk Art), and was delighted to find her channel.
Hessel’s take on art is informative, yet approachable, and I’ve been exposed to so many artists, or gotten deeper insights into the ones I knew. The podcast’s range is huge- diving both in the contemporary and art historical, serving both interviews with living artists, as well as highlighting the work of art historians looking at historical artists you should know.
Bonus—check out Hessel’s new children’s book on the same subject, “The Story of Art Without Men: An illustrated guide to amazing women artists,” on preorder now.
Favourite episodes:
- Episode 43: Toyin Ojih Odutola
- Episode 59: Jennifer Higgie on Suzanne Valadon
- Episode 73: Jordan Casteel
Bonus: Museum Podcast Channels for Artists
In this digital age, your favourite museums are also investing in media to support the scholarship that is going on behind the scenes, as well as to create more visibility for their programming with exhibiting artists. Below are a few of the museum channels I love, but check out your favourite institutions and see what kind of free media they are offering.
National Gallery of Art- Washington, United States
The National Gallery- London, UK
Art Gallery of Ontario – Toronto, Canada
Hamburger Bahnhof – Berlin, Germany
Smithsonian Institute- Washington, United States
Explore More Resources for Artists:
Stratégies de sites web pour les portfolios d'œuvres d'art
Apprendre de l'expert : compétences essentielles pour documenter votre travail artistique avec Ibrahim Abusitta
8 portfolios d'artistes étonnants
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