Episode 56 of ‘All About Art’: The Experience of Sitting for a Portrait - In the Studio with Beau Gabriel

This episode is a bit different because All About Art is a podcast all about demystifying the professional arts sector by speaking to amazing people in different roles in the arts - But I also love to do episodes that touch on various themes within the industry, and this time it’s more unconventional.

I recently went to visit Beau Gabriel, a London-based artist, in his studio to sit for a painting. This was my first time sitting for a painting and it was really fun to experience this while also taking my mics with me to record it for you listening in.

If you get bothered by background noise, I suggest you skip forward a tad because in the first 10 minutes, you can hear Beau prime his canvas and paint brushes while he me how to pose.

In a casual interview format, listen in to hear us talk about underpainting and pigments, what it feels like being a sitter, and so much more.

To set the scene a little bit while you listen, we were standing in Beau’s studio in East London with the natural light of a very cold Sunday in November. Beau had his easel set up and a monochrome pallet of oil paint to create the underpainting of my portrait. I was standing across from him with a chair in front of me on the back of which I was resting my hand, and I had a little space heater facing me to keep me warm because of what felt like freezing temperatures, quite typical for artist studios in London in the winter. 

This painting will take a few more sessions to complete, so be sure to follow All About Art and Beau on Instagram to see it when it's finished. (linked below!)

You can check out Beau’s works on his Instagram here: www.instagram.com/beaugilfillan/

and his website here: https://www.beaugabriel.net/about

You can support All About Art on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/allaboutart

ABOUT THE HOST:

I am an Austrian-American art historian, curator, and writer. I obtained my BA in History of Art at University College London and my MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. My specializations include contemporary art, specifically feminism and artificial intelligence in artistic practice, as well as museum policies and arts engagement.

Here are links to my social media, feel free to reach out:

COVER ART: Lisa Schrofner a.k.a Liser www.liser-art.com
Assistant Production: Leanne Dennis

Episode 55 of ‘All About Art’: Writing an Artist Biography: Discussing Pauline Boty with Marc Kristal

In this episode, I sat down with Marc Kristal, who recently published the biography of British pop artist Pauline Boty. This episode and the book’s publication is concurrent to an exhibition of Boty’s works at Gazelli Art House in London.

Boty was born in South London, and in 1954, she received a scholarship to Wimbledon School of Art and then continued her studies at the Royal College of Art in the late 50’s. She worked across a variety of mediums that include painting, collage, and stained glass and was known for celebrating her womanhood and sexuality in an unapologetic and open way. She died at the young age of 28, and has been a lesser known member of the British Pop Art Movement in comparison to her male counterparts. Pauline Boty’s artwork is held in a few amazing collections, including The National Portrait Gallery and Tate Britain in London as well as the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington.

Thank you Marc for coming on the podcast! and to Quarto Publishing for the collaboration.

You can find out more about Marc here: www.marckristal.com⁠

You can find Pauline Boty’s biography here: https://pallantbookshop.com/product/pauline-boty-british-pop-arts-sole-sister-2023/

and the exhibition at Gazelli Art House here: https://gazelliarthouse.com/exhibitions/178-a-portrait/

You can support All About Art on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/allaboutart

ABOUT THE HOST:

I am an Austrian-American art historian, curator, and writer. I obtained my BA in History of Art at University College London and my MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. My specializations include contemporary art, specifically feminism and artificial intelligence in artistic practice, as well as museum policies and arts engagement.

Here are links to my social media, feel free to reach out:

COVER ART: Lisa Schrofner a.k.a Liser www.liser-art.com

Assistant Production: Leanne Dennis

This episode is supported and sponsored by Synergy ⁠https://synergy.tech/the-clubhouse/

Episode 52 of ‘All About Art’: Curating Frieze Sculpture with Fatos Üstek

This episode is supported and sponsored by Synergy https://synergy.tech/the-clubhouse/

Episode 54 of ‘All About Art’: 10 Years of Unit London with co-founder Joe Kennedy

In this episode, I sat down with co-founder of Unit London, Joe Kennedy. I got to ask Joe about his push into entrepreneurship and how he got into the arts. We chat about how the gallery landscape has changed in the last 10 years, and how he thinks it will continue to change in the following 10. Listen on to hear me ask Joe about social media and NFTS, how the gallery chooses artists they work with, and more.

Thank you Joe for coming on the podcast and to Unit London for an amazing collaboration!

You can follow Unit London on Instagram here: @unitlondon

You can follow Joe on Instagram here: @joekennedystill

You can support All About Art on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/allaboutart

ABOUT THE HOST:

I am an Austrian-American art historian, curator, and writer. I obtained my BA in History of Art at University College London and my MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. My specializations include contemporary art, specifically feminism and artificial intelligence in artistic practice, as well as museum policies and arts engagement.

Here are links to my social media, feel free to reach out:

COVER ART: Lisa Schrofner a.k.a Liser www.liser-art.com

Assistant Production: Leanne Dennis

This episode is supported and sponsored by Synergy ⁠https://synergy.tech/the-clubhouse/⁠

Episode 53: A Critical Take on the National Gallery’s ‘200 Creators’ Call Out

Recently, someone left a comment on one of my Instagram posts. They asked ‘could you share your feelings on the National Gallery calling all content creators to celebrate the bicentenary? Many are calling the criteria unfair and as a professional in the art industry and as a creator, I’m curious how you feel about it’, which has now sparked the inspiration for this podcast episode.

In this episode, I take a critical stance on the recently announced call out from the National Gallery to create a network of UK-based digital creative influencers as part of its Bicentenary celebration called NG200. Applications have opened for digital creators to make ‘digital content’ which responds to the museum’s  collection, exhibitions, building, and day-to-day activities. Those selected will be named a Creative Collaborator, or will join the Gallery’s newly created 200 Creators Network.

The issue is… Applicants are asked to have a strong existing social media presence, with either a minimum of 50k subscribers on YouTube; 50k followers on TikTok and 1m likes on their account; or 100K followers on Instagram. The gallery said it wants to “collaborate with creators whose communities are interested in any number of topics, niches, and themes, and these don’t need to be based around art.”

Listen in to hear what I think is very cool about this, what the bad elements of it could be, where the National gallery may have taken a misstep, and my personal conclusion I have drawn from all of this.

Links to things mentioned in the episode:

You can support All About Art on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/allaboutart

ABOUT THE HOST:

I am an Austrian-American art historian, curator, and writer. I obtained my BA in History of Art at University College London and my MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. My specializations include contemporary art, specifically feminism and artificial intelligence in artistic practice, as well as museum policies and arts engagement.

Here are links to my social media, feel free to reach out:

COVER ART: Lisa Schrofner a.k.a Liser www.liser-art.com

Assistant Production: Leanne Dennis

Episode 51 of ‘All About Art’: Being Your Authentic Self in the Arts with Comedian and Art Critic Verity Babbs

In this episode, I sat down with art critic, comedian and presenter Verity Babbs. We speak about the topic of being your authentic self in the arts and why we often struggle with it in our sector. I ask her about Art Laughs, an initiative she founded that brings art-themed comedy events to museums, galleries, fairs, and cultural spaces.

Listen on to hear me ask Verity how she comes up with her jokes, why she thinks being authentic in the arts can be so tough, and in what ways neurodiverse contributors and audiences are instrumental in our sector. We also both open up on struggles surrounding mental health, with the arts providing an ever-growing workload and an ever-diminishing pay.

Thank you Verity for coming on the podcast and having such a fun, open and honest chat with me!

Find out more about Verity here: www.veritybabbs.com/

You can follow Verity on Instagram here: www.instagram.com/veritybabbsart

and explore what Art Laughs has to offer here: https://www.artlaughs.com/

For the price of one coffee a month, you can support All About Art on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/allaboutart

ABOUT THE HOST:

I am an Austrian-American art historian, curator, and writer. I obtained my BA in History of Art at University College London and my MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. My specializations include contemporary art, specifically feminism and artificial intelligence in artistic practice, as well as museum policies and arts engagement.

Here are links to my social media, feel free to reach out:

COVER ART: Lisa Schrofner a.k.a Liser www.liser-art.com
Assistant Production: ⁠Leanne Dennis⁠

BONUS EPISODE of ‘All About Art’: LIVE Panel Talk at Kravitz Contemporary for ‘Window Shopper’ with Suwon Lee, Małgorzata Widomska, and Elaine Tam

This is a special bonus episode in collaboration with Kravitz Contemporary.

Kravitz Contemporary x Death of Man is proud to present 'Window Shopper', a two-person exhibition featuring works by artists Suwon Lee and Małgorzata Widomska and curated by Elaine Tam taking place from 7 July – 19 August 2023.

Art Historian and All About Art Host Alexandra Steinacker sat down with Suwon Lee, Małgorzata Widomska and Elaine Tam to speak about the exhibition, their respective practices, being a woman in the arts and the struggles (and benefits) of coming from an international background. 

You can follow the speakers on social media below:

You can support All About Art on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/allaboutart

ABOUT THE HOST:

I am an Austrian-American art historian, curator, and writer. I obtained my BA in History of Art at University College London and my MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. My specializations include contemporary art, specifically feminism and artificial intelligence in artistic practice, as well as museum policies and arts engagement.

Here are links to my social media, feel free to reach out:

COVER ART: Lisa Schrofner a.k.a Liser www.liser-art.com

Episode 50 of ‘All About Art’: Ripping Up the Art Market Rulebook with Millie Jason Foster, Director of Gillian Jason Gallery

In this episode, I sat down with Millie Jason Foster, director of Gillian Jason Gallery in London. The gallery works with female-identifying artists, taking an intergenerational approach while presenting exhibitions about themes relevant in today’s society. The gallery has a long history, with 40 years of experience in exhibiting work by artists from beyond the white male canon.

Listen on to hear me ask Millie about running a gallery with her mother, Elli, as well as continuing her grandmother’s legacy. We talk about her approach to supporting artists. (TIP FROM THE HOST: Have a notepad to hand for Millie’s nuggets of art world gold!) Millie shares so much of her expertise, giving structured advice to artists and explaining the ways in which her strategic thinking benefits her business. She also talks about her background in investment banking, her approach to collecting, as well as more personal topics such as maintaining a work-life balance and making time for herself. 

Thank you Millie for coming on the podcast.

You can follow Millie on Instagram here: www.instagram.com/milliejasonfoster/

The gallery’s instagram: www.instagram.com/gillianjasongallery/

And the gallery website: www.gillianjason.com/

This episode is supported and sponsored by Synergy https://synergy.tech/the-clubhouse/

You can support All About Art on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/allaboutart

ABOUT THE HOST:

I am an Austrian-American art historian, curator, and writer. I obtained my BA in History of Art at University College London and my MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. My specializations include contemporary art, specifically feminism and artificial intelligence in artistic practice, as well as museum policies and arts engagement.

Here are links to my social media, feel free to reach out:

COVER ART: Lisa Schrofner a.k.a Liser www.liser-art.com

Assistant Production: ⁠Leanne Dennis⁠

This episode is supported and sponsored by Synergy https://synergy.tech/the-clubhouse/

Episode 49 of ‘All About Art’: Professionally Bullshitting Art with Sophie Nowakowska

In this episode, I sat down with Sophie Nowakowska, the artist manager and curator whose Instagram handle makes a huge statement as The Professional Art Bullshitter. 

Listen on to hear me ask Sophie about her Instagram and how she stays true to her opinions, meaning she voices her honest critique surrounding various exhibitions and artworks, while also being aware that her audience is vast. We also talk about the plethora of professional projects Sophie undertakes, spinning plates involving artist management, curation, and mentoring. I chat to her about Meat Market, a recent curatorial project of hers which took place in a butcher shop in South London, as well as, of course, censorship, be it from others or from yourself. 

Thank you Sophie for coming on the podcast and having such a great, open and fun chat with me!

You can follow Sophie on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/professional_art_bullshitter/

You can support All About Art on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/allaboutart

ABOUT THE HOST:

I am an Austrian-American art historian, curator, and writer. I obtained my BA in History of Art at University College London and my MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. My specializations include contemporary art, specifically feminism and artificial intelligence in artistic practice, as well as museum policies and arts engagement.

Here are links to my social media, feel free to reach out:

COVER ART: Lisa Schrofner a.k.a Liser www.liser-art.com
Assistant Production: ⁠Leanne Dennis⁠

This episode is supported and sponsored by Synergy https://synergy.tech/the-clubhouse/

Episode 48 of ‘All About Art’: From Auction House to Gallery Director: Discussing Artistellar with Adele Smejkal

In this episode, I interview Adele Smejkal, Founder and Director of Artistellar Gallery. It started off as a nomadic gallery and online platform in 2020, dedicated to scouting UK emerging and early-career talents. The gallery now has a permanent space in London, where I will be hosting an event through All About Art in collaboration with Adele and Artistellar. You can book free tickets via Eventbrite here. Artistellar also started to represent artists and attend international art fairs in 2023. The gallery has a strong curatorial approach that heavily focuses on women artists, and has become known for scouting and identifying talented artists early on.

Listen on to hear me ask Adele what it was like starting her own business, and her approach on choosing artists to exhibit. We talk about the balancing act when curating shows and thinking about commercial viability. We also touch on her experience running her blog and garnering a large online following on social media, and how that has impacted her other professional endeavors.

Thank you to Adele for coming on and to Artistellar for the collaboration and for hosting the art-world networking event for the occasion! 

You can find out more about Artistellar here: https://www.artistellar.com/

You can follow the gallery on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/artistellar_gallery/

You can follow Adele on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/adele.sme/

You can support All About Art on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/allaboutart

ABOUT THE HOST:

I am an Austrian-American art historian, curator, and writer. I obtained my BA in History of Art at University College London and my MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London. My specializations include contemporary art, specifically feminism and artificial intelligence in artistic practice, as well as museum policies and arts engagement.

Here are links to my social media, feel free to reach out:

COVER ART: Lisa Schrofner a.k.a Liser www.liser-art.com
Assistant Production: ⁠Leanne Dennis⁠

This episode is supported and sponsored by Synergy https://synergy.tech/the-clubhouse/