I wanted to find some new art podcasts! I think I’ve listened to all the interviews with visual artists on the BBC’s Desert Island Discs and This Cultural Life. I do still have a few Moving Pictures left to listen to, preferably whilst sitting in a gallery in front of the work being described. I did a bit of Googling and made a list of eleven podcasts that sounded like the sort of thing that I was looking for, then listened to one episode of each to see which I might want to explore further. Not very scientific I know, but one episode was enough to get a flavour. Some of the podcasts involved famous artists and people in top roles in the art world, others involved early career artists, small gallery owners and art business advisors.
Some of the series are light hearted and others serious, some were academic, and others accessible to all. All of the podcasts were professionally produced and informative. The first five in the list below are the ones I’ll be exploring further; four of which involve conversations with, about, or between, known artists, and one that offers a weekly art round up.
The Lonely Palette
I listened to Episode 68: Felix Gonzalez
A half hour episode talking about a single, conceptual, installation piece. It’s very poetically produced. I found it very engaging, informative and thought provoking, and I’m looking forward to hearing more episodes. It has a sort of This American Life feel to it.
Talk Art
I listened to Season 2 Episode 3: Vanessa Raw
An honest and engaging conversation with momentum, between the two presenters and the featured artist, Vanessa Raw. They ask her about her art practice, past and present, her work, studio routines, habits, materials, and how her career has got to where it’s currently at. A sort of cross between Alan Yentob’s Imagine and a Soho House live talk.
Only Artists (BBC)
I listened to Chantal Joffe meets Olivia Laing
An energetic conversation between two artists (in this episode, a writer and a painter), questioning each other about all aspects of their work, with lots of fascinating nuggets about what it is to be an artist.
The week in art
A sort of radio 4 style of art digest by The Art Newspaper with high energy interviews covering current art affairs. The episode I listened to looked into gallery attendance numbers (UK not doing too well and interesting thoughts about why this might be) and a discussion about Morris Mania, with the Director of the William Morris Gallery (down the toad from the studio).
A brush with….
I listened to Series 25, Episode 2: Jeff Wall
Another podcast by The Art Newsletter. Michael Parkinson for artists. One to one interviews with A-List artists, not only asking questions about their work, but also their influences and favourite cultural things. Some of the most recent episodes include Ed Atkins (currently showing at Tate Britain), Celia Paul and Marlene Dumas.
Meet you at the Museum
I listened to Season 9 episode 2: The Ashmolean
A brief but pleasant meander through museums with JP Devlin, who talks to staff and members of the public about why they are there. It’s pretty much a BBC Radio 4, Saturday Live vibe, which JP Devlin also appears on. It leaned more towards a sociological podcast than about art, which of course is fine.
Dialogues: The David Zwirner Podcast
I listened to The Sound of Noah Davis
To coincide with the major Noah Davis exhibition at London’s Barbican Art Gallery, a 40 minute stream of sound bites tied together. Predominantly people talking about Davis, his life and his work. If you liked the South Bank Show, you’ll probably like this too.
Recording Artists
I listened to Series 1: Radical Women: Lee Krasner
A nice concept for an art history podcast. A background to an artists life story is given through snippets of recorded dialogues and letters.
The Art World: What If?
I listened to Season 2, Episode 2
In this episode, host Charlotte Burns talks to Jessica Morgan about her work as Director of the Dia Art Foundation.
An Art To It
I listened to Series 2, Episode 8
In this episode, two passionate commercial gallery owners based in Cornwall, UK, have an informative conversation about the businesses of selling art. Good for artists to listen to, whether they are looking for commercial gallery representation or already showing in galleries.
Ask an Artist: Listeners Questions
I listened to XXV
An engaging podcast, possibly of most interest to new and emerging visual artists. Presented by two artists who share good advice on the theme of having an art practice. This episode looked at planning your artist income, writing for magazines, and art workshops. In other episodes, they interview artists on a theme, for example, taking on a commission, teaching and insurance.