For the fifth episode of the artist encounters podcast I’m thrilled to share my talk with painter Diego Palacios! We recorded the conversation in the winter of 2023 at his studio in Leipzig, Germany.

Born in Chile in 1983, Diego Palacios began his painting practice in 2012. He has worked within the art scenes of Chile, France, and Germany — where he currently lives.

Fascinated by the styles of old masters like Rembrandt and Rubens, Palacios blends the ancient with the contemporary in his paintings. While his use of light evokes the past, his motifs create a bridge to the present. A flickering, almost digital-like glow envelops the people and objects in his works, further reinforcing their contemporary feel.

Check out Diego's website (https://www.diegoispainting.com) and his Instagram @ livson to see his work and stay updated with current projects.

Follow artist encounters on Substack and Instagram at @ artist_encounters to read more about Diego's work practice and his personal insights and recommendations.

Happy listening!

For the fourth episode of the artist encounters podcast, I'm thrilled to share my conversation with artist Mazen Khaddaj! We met in his Berlin studio in the spring of 2024, just before he moved back to Lebanon.

Born in 1985, Mazen Khaddaj is a Lebanese artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans performance, video installation, and painting. After participating in a residency program in Leipzig, he moved to Germany in 2016 and spent eight years working in the German art scene. In 2024, he decided to return to his hometown of Aley, Lebanon, where he is now based.

Mazen Khaddaj's artistic practice is deeply personal, yet strongly relatable.

He talks about grief and trauma, about being a foreigner and his queer identity. While Khaddaj reflects openly on his personal experiences in his performances, he takes a more subtle approach with his paintings. Abstract and colorful, they leave space for interpretation. Only the poetic titles, which the artist carefully chooses, give insight into his inner thoughts and feelings. As versatile as his practice is, so too are the spaces he inhabits with his art — whether elevators or bathtubs, Khaddaj transforms unexpected settings into vessels for his intimate storytelling.

Make sure to visit Mazen's website (https://www.mazenkhaddaj.com) and his Instagram @ mazenkhaddajart to stay in the loop with his current projects!

Follow artist encounters on Substack and Instagram at @ artist_encounters to read more about Mazen's work practice and his personal insights and recommendations.

Happy listening!

For the third episode of the artist encounters podcast I’m sharing my conversation with painter Penny Monogiou. We recorded it in the summer of 2023 at her studio in Hamburg, Germany.

Originally from Cyprus, where she was born in 1989, Penny Monogiou moved to Athens in 2007 to study painting at the Athens School of Fine Arts with Professor Jannis Psychopedis. Next to her painting studies, she also engaged in traditional icon painting which until today influences her painting practice. After graduating, Monogiou moved to Hamburg in 2013 where she is currently living and working.

With her paintings, Monogiou critically examines beauty ideals and stereotypes by depicting people who do not conform to Western society’s standards of beauty. Disproportionately large ears and noses sit alongside bulging lips and crooked teeth — through her bold expression, Monogiou celebrates individuality and imperfection.

Check out Pennys website (https://pennymonogiou.art/) and her Instagram at @ pennymonogiou to get all the info about her current work and upcoming exhibitions.

Follow artist encounters on Substack and Instagram at @ artist_encounters to read more about Penny’s work, her individual recommendations for residencies and exhibits, and to get a look at her paintings.

Happy listening!

The second episode of the artist encounters podcast features artist Jeremy Dennis.

My conversation with Jeremy took place in March 2024 at Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio, located on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation in Southampton, NY.

Jeremy Dennis, born in 1990, is a fine art photographer whose work explores Indigenous identity, culture, and assimilation. He is the founder and lead artist of Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio, a nonprofit communal art space and artist residency on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation in Southampton, New York, where the artist grew up.

Head over to Jeremy’s website (https://www.jeremynative.com) to take a closer look at his work and follow him on Instagram at @ jeremynative as well as at @ mashousestudio to get updates about his current work.

Follow artist encounters on Substack and Instagram at @ artist_encounters to read more about Jeremy’s practice, get his individual recommendations for residencies and exhibits, and see some of his photos.

Happy listening!

The 1st episode of the artist encounters podcast is out, featuring artist Skye Gilkerson!

For this podcast episode, I’m excited to share with you my conversation with Skye at her house in Kingston, New York, in February of 2024.

Skye Gilkerson, born in 1982 in South Dakota, USA, is an interdisciplinary artist working with topics surrounding the relationship between humans and nature, outer space and its exploration, as well as connections to the more-than-human world. She works with a variety of media, including sculpture, photography, collage, film, and installation. Written words and poetry also find their way into her work.

Find more info about Skye’s work on her website (https://www.skyegilkerson.com), sign up for her mailing list, and make sure to follow her on Instagram at @ skyegilkerson to stay up to date with her current projects!

For in-depth info, photos of Skye and her work, and hand-picked recommendations, follow artist encounters on Substack, and on Instagram at @ artist_encounters.

Happy listening!