6 Art-Focused Podcasts to Listen To Right Now
As podcasts have gained popularity - anyone remember the "Serial" moment we all had? - diverse voices in the art world have begun taking center stage. The gatekeeping of years past seems to be disappearing as strong, new voices enter the art and podcasting world.
BIPOC artists have gravitated towards sharing their experiences, perspectives, and thoughts on the art world. With the rise of digital media and the ease of podcasting, BIPOC artists have an easy way to share their stories, on their terms. Here are a few of our favorite visual arts-focused podcasts for you to add to your playlist right now!
Get hip to Hoodgrown Aesthetic - this monthly podcast tells the story of 21st-century artists of color living in Boston and abroad. Daughter of Contrast puts her uncensored spin on art news and history. Through artist and non-profit shoutouts, interviews with artists, activists, educators, and more, HoodGrown Aesthetic confronts the eurocentricity of the art world while embracing the art, work, and history of black and brown people. Our favorite episodes: Episode 111: We Always Prideful & Episode 108: Exhibitions are Not Acquisitions
The Native Artist podcast takes a deep dive into the stories of Indigenous artists, spanning a wide range of artistic disciplines. This podcast is hosted by Alexis Sallee, an Anchorage native and identifies as Iñupiaq and Mexican. The new project spotlights the efforts of indigenous artists working in a broad spectrum of fields. Sallee said in a recent Zoom interview that she hopes the series emboldens people to try their hands at art — even in the absence of formal training or fully realized skills. Our favorite episodes: Episode 2: Tristan Agnauraq Morgan & Episode 6: Christopher AuchterWebsite | Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play Music and Stitcher
Lewd Asian Artists podcast interviews Asian Artists from the American South. Hosted by Norman Tran and Heidi Wong, this podcast has conversations about creating art around America’s Third Coast. Norman and Heidi cover topics such as "How should artists build their online personas" and "is there a right way to read a poem"? Each week, Lewd Asian Artists, invites a new artist to be a part of the conversation! Our favorite episode: Episode: Tiffany Shih - Cute/Naughty Art, Hustle Culture, and Sex Positivity
Miracles in Stone: The Curious Celebrity of God's Sculptor - William Edmondson is a middle-aged laborer in Nashville, Tennessee, at the height of the Great Depression, when God tells him to carve a tombstone. Soon, he's the first African-American artist to have a solo show at the Museum of Modern Art. But his short-lived celebrity reveals the art world's problematic relationship with race.
Young, Gifted, and Gone: The Woman Who Never Came Back - Elizabeth Catlett, the granddaughter of enslaved African-Americans, is a struggling artist at the height of Jim Crow. But when she moves to Mexico City in 1946, she finds love, inspiration, and eventually fame. There's just one catch: she can't come home.
A Ripe Moment to Make a Change w/ Nico Wheadon: Nico Wheadon (she/her/hers) is an accomplished independent art advisor, curator, educator, and writer. As the founder and principal of bldg fund LLC, she created an innovation platform for BIPOC artists, entrepreneurs, and neighbors.