Extraordinary Creatives

What happens when an artist, educator, curator, returns to the wilds that raised her and dares to reimagine what a museum could be? Francesca de Brock is the extraordinary chief curator at the Anchorage Museum in Alaska. Her work braids together social practice, environmental justice, a fierce commitment to care, and a deep understanding of what artists need to thrive.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Growing up in Alaska, the wildness of the place and problem-solving in a challenging environment shaped Francesca´s creativity and approach to art.

Francesca is committed to climate-conscious exhibitions, artist access, onboarding, and amplifying community voices.

Leadership is about asking better questions and inviting others into the process, rather than having all the answers.

BEST MOMENTS

“Our mission is to be a museum of people, place, planet and potential in service of a sustainable and equitable north, with creativity and imagination for what is possible.”

“Exhibitions are ephemeral, but the ripple effects on institutions, audiences and relationships can be lasting and transformative.”

Francesca Du Brock

www.anchoragemuseum.org

https://www.instagram.com/fdubrock

Francesca Du Brock is Chief Curator at the Anchorage Museum. Her work is informed by her background as an artist and educator and is grounded in social engagement, place-based storytelling, environmental justice, and experimental museum practice. Recent projects including Dog Show (2025), How to Survive (2023), Black Lives in Alaska: Journey, Justice, Joy (2021), and Extra Tough: Women of the North (2020), which focus on topics of care, climate, interdependence, representation, Northern feminisms, and immigration. In 2020, she established the Museum’s Virtual Artist Residency program, which continues to provide unrestricted support to artists, sharing process and behind-the-scenes insights into their lives and practices. She is currently a fellow at the Center for Curatorial Leadership and is the recipient of the 2025 Marica Vilcek Prize in Art History from the Vilcek Foundation. Born and raised on Dena'ina Ełnena in Anchorage, Alaska, she holds an MFA and M.Ed and brings experience living and working across the US and Latin America to her current role.

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

****

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today!

https://cerihand.com/membership

****

Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course

Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network

****

Book a Discovery Call Today

To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

****

Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity

Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media https://disruptivemedia.co.uk

Today, Ceri talks about rejection. Something that is a part of every artist’s life - Applications declined. Emails ignored. Opportunities missed. And let’s be honest—it stings. For many artists, especially those who are neurodivergent, it doesn’t just sting. It burns.

There’s even a name for this: Rejection Sensitivity. It’s more than hurt feelings—it can feel like an existential threat, a collapse, a shame spiral. Maybe you’ve avoided applying. Withdrawn from people. Overreacted to feedback. If so, you’re not alone.

But here’s the good news: you’re not broken. This is a common pattern, and you can learn ways to soften its impact. In this episode, Ceri walks you through some steps and reflections to help you notice rejection, reframe it, and keep creating.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Unchecked rejection sensitivity quietly shapes careers. It can hold you back from applying, make you quit too soon and keep you isolated. Or you may overcompensate, work twice as hard, say yes to everything and people-please your way into exhaustion.

• Ceri shares 10 steps for dealing with rejection in a healthy way, so you can recognise, reflect on, reframe and learn from rejection and carry on creating.

• If you have a rejection that you are still hanging onto, reframe it today. Release yourself from the negativity that surrounds rejection. You don´t have to let it continue to hold you back. You can choose to release yourself.

BEST MOMENTS

“Rejection is not proof you don’t belong. It’s proof you’re showing up.”

“Rejection isn’t the enemy. Silence isn’t the enemy. Avoidance is. Not showing up is. And you—you’re already showing up. That’s where the magic begins.”

“Step one is to recognise the pattern. First you have to notice it. Rejection shows up in emotions, the stories we tell ourselves and in the body - a tight chest, a racing heart, a stomach drop.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

If you prefer reading over listening? Ceri shares a short version of every episode in her Beat the Block newsletter—delivered to your inbox every Friday. Sign up at www.cerihand.com/subscribe

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

****

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today!

https://cerihand.com/membership

****

Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course

Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/

****

Book a Discovery Call Today

To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

****

Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity

Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Today, Ceri is joined by a man who doesn’t just witness the future of art, he builds the infrastructure for it. Georg Bak is a pioneering digital art advisor and curator who’s spent over two decades bridging the traditional and the digital. He has advised major collectors and museums, helped shape curatorial boards, and placed historically significant works into collections that matter.

Georg is the co-founder of NFT Art Day and The Digital Art Mile, a boutique digital art fair that champions new ideas and new communities. He has curated landmark exhibitions, including the first-ever CryptoPunks show, and collaborated with Sotheby’s, Phillips, and The Vancouver Biennale.

Whether you’re AI-averse or blockchain-curious, this episode’s for the thinkers and deeply curious.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Digital art does not replace traditional art; it is a powerful expansion of it that builds on the existing foundations. When collectors recognise that true innovation comes from artists who challenge perceptions and provoke thought instead of simply following trends, the art world thrives.

Success in digital art is deeply connected to building and engaging with communities and network effects. Building lasting trust and relationships, educating and going deeper on fewer pieces of work is leading to success.

AI is opening up possibilities that are comparable in impact to the Renaissance. AI-driven tools are not only expanding artistic expression but also challenging traditional boundaries, making this a pivotal era for both artists and collectors.

BEST MOMENTS

“I think what makes maybe the difference is that the success of an artist is based on this community… The bigger the network behind an artist the more successful they are going to be.”

“I would inspire everyone to open their eyes and be curious, instead of being against everything that's new.”

“The most interesting artworks, they're not easy to understand in the beginning.”

“Art isn’t static, it’s a system, a signal, a story still unfolding.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgbak

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

****

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today!

https://cerihand.com/membership

****

Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course

Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/

****

Book a Discovery Call Today

To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

****

Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity

Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Last week Ceri shared something different in her episode - Grief, the Technicolour Rattlesnake - and many of her listeners wrote in to say that they recognised it instantly. That rattlesnake is still with many of us. So today, Ceri shares how you can keep making, and functioning creatively, whilst grief moves through you.

Ceri provides an alternative to trying to outrun grief by overworking, deadlines and filling every waking hour so there's no space for feeling. Or swinging the other way by hiding from the world and becoming convinced you've lost it.

If you’re moving through grief right now, you might want to come back to this episode when you don’t feel so raw.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

We mourn, not just for the loved one, but for the person we were, in relation to them and to ourselves. It can feel like the ground has fallen away completely. Grief rewires us.

Grief is a non-linear process that involves oscillating between loss and restoration, and it’s normal for emotions and productivity to fluctuate during this time.

Creative expression during grief doesn’t have to meet previous standards. Small, honest acts of making can be both healing and meaningful, even if they feel insignificant at first.

Supporting yourself through grief includes caring for your body, mind, and creativity. Movement, mindful breathing, creating micro works and finding safe rituals can all help.

BEST MOMENTS

"Grief rewires us … it is labour. It's your brain, body and heart rewriting the world without your person in it.”

"Exhaustion isn't weakness, it's biology, which is why beating yourself up for not being productive is the cruellest trick of all."

"Find your own strange scaffolding, the thing that makes you feel safe or gives your brain a rest, and don't underestimate the power of ritual."

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://cerihand.com/podcasts/personal-experience-and-artistic-expression-with-emma-talbot

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

****

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today!

https://cerihand.com/membership

****

Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course

Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/

****

Book a Discovery Call Today

To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

****

Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity

Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Today, Ceri sits down with Kathryn and Dan Mikesell, the powerhouse duo behind one of the world’s most respected artist residencies - Fountainhead Arts - a game-changing residency in Miami that’s not only shaping artists’ lives but reshaping the art world itself. They support artists in building sustainable, thriving practices and to build an art ecosystem that’s equitable, global, and deeply personal.

This conversation is rich in wisdom for artists, curators, collectors, and funders alike. Kathryn and Dan share the radical generosity, strategy, and structure behind the residency’s success; why they’re committed to buying emerging work directly from artists and never flipping it; how they create chemistry between residents; and the importance of building genuine relationships that go far beyond the transaction.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Kathryn and Dan have hosted 600+ artists, from 50 countries, turning their home into a launchpad for creative careers.

Supporting fellow artists is essential for building a thriving, sustainable art community. Generosity, mentorship, and reciprocity create a culture where opportunities, knowledge, and encouragement are shared, while also strengthening your career.

Stay top of mind by regularly touching base with people and sharing your authentic self-e.g. Personal details like what books you are reading helps people to connect with you on a personal level and continue to support you.

BEST MOMENTS

“You have to put yourself out there. If you don’t naturally have that confidence, you have to push yourself to build it .”

“Generosity and reciprocity are really the most important parts of building the kind of community that you want around you.”

“Confidence is a muscle. Success looks different for everyone. Building your world begins by showing up, again and again, with authenticity and curiosity.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.fountainheadarts.org

https://www.instagram.com/fountainheadarts

[email protected]

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

**

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today!

https://cerihand.com/membership

**

Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course

Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network

**

Book a Discovery Call Today

To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

**

Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity

Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Not long ago, Ceri asked one of her favourite artists if there was a subject they’d like her to write about in her weekly Beat the Block newsletter. They said, “making through grief.” When she shared the question on Instagram, a surprising number of you asked for the same thing. Having learned a lot about grief: through losing her own family and friends, through study, and through supporting clients as they navigate it - Ceri decided to tackle the subject.

But instead of diving into science and tools, she found herself writing about how grief actually feels. At first she thought it might be too naff, weird, or c*p to share. But she had written it, sincerely, for you, so decided to take the risk and share it, just as you do daily.

If you’re too raw at the mo, you may want to skip it and come back to it, but if you listen and it lands with you, please let Ceri know.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The experience of grief is deeply personal and often invisible to others, yet it profoundly shapes artistic expression.

Grief can become a constant, unpredictable presence in the creative process. It can both stifle and fuel creativity, making the act of creation feel risky but also necessary.

Even in the depths of grief, noticing and appreciating small, everyday moments of beauty can offer inspiration and help you reconnect with your creativity.

BEST MOMENTS

“Grief is the unwelcome guest in the studio, a technicolour rattlesnake, hypnotic, terrifying, distracting, poisonous. You can't ignore it.”

“Grief doesn't just strip you bare. It also hones your vision. It makes the random sacred. It reminds you to notice, to hold close, to find magic in the everyday, to be braver, to care.”

“This is grief my friend. I too have a technicolour rattlesnake of grief. Its bite floored me too, but here I am with you. We'll dance with yours together until you are both ready for it to shed its skin.”

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

****

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today!

https://cerihand.com/membership/

****

Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course

Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/

****

Book a Discovery Call Today

To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

****

Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity

Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

This week, Ceri is delighted to introduce you to the extraordinary Ben Luke, who has spent three decades at the heart of the art world, his voice shaping how we hear from artists—now it’s his turn to share what shaped him. A writer, broadcaster and host of A Brush With… and The Week in Art, his new book What is Art For?, published by HENI, gathers 25 conversations with established international artists including Michael Armitage, Phyllida Barlow, Jeremy Deller, Ellen Gallagher, Theaster Gates, Julie Mehretu and Doris Salcedo.

You’ll hear about his early life in suburban Kent, how drama classes shaped his voice, why Warhol and Dalí obsessed him as a teenager, the critics and pop stars who influenced his style, and the moments that pushed him to stop painting and start writing.

Most of all, they unpack what drives and motivates him after 30 years in the art world—and why he believes artists hold the keys to how we see and live.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Encounters with Warhol, Dalí, Bowie and Eno, changed Ben´s outlook and sparked his imagination. They inspired him to embrace creativity and explore new ideas.

Ben’s parents nurtured his creative ambitions and never curtailed his dreams, while his father’s strong political values instilled in him a sense of curiosity, openness, and commitment that shaped his path as a writer and critic.

Criticism doesn't have to come from cynicism. It can come from love. Interviews can be collaborations rather than interrogations.

The true measure of art is whether it helps us see differently, feel differently. So keep following the references and going down the rabbit holes, because art, as Ben suggests, isn't just for looking, it's for living.

BEST MOMENTS

“I remember everybody I ever liked being described as pretentious, so I saw people being called pretentious as being a badge of honour.”

“Fund culture. It makes us better. It makes us more human. It makes us more alive. It makes us understand each other better.”

“The responsibility of the critic is to engage as deeply as possible with the work before writing about it.”

GUEST RESOURCES

Ben´s Book - published by HENI - https://heni.com/shop/books/what-is-art-for

https://www.theartnewspaper.com

https://podcasts.apple.com/gt/podcast/a-brush-with/id1525997434

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-week-in-art/id1280469178

HOST BIO

With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

****

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today!

https://cerihand.com/membership

****

Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course

Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network

****

Book a Discovery Call Today

To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

****

Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity

Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media https://disruptivemedia.co.uk

Today, Ceri talks about the one skill that completely changed her life. Not a new app, not a productivity hack, but negotiation. As a recovering people-pleaser, Ceri used to dread negotiating with challenging people. She´d avoid it, overgive, or undercharge.

When Ceri faced a challenging experience with a narcissist that nearly overwhelmed her, she learned from negotiation expert Kwame Christian. Since then, negotiation has empowered her to get paid fairly, build healthier collaborations, and stand her ground—even in tough situations.

Whether you’re selling a piece of work, applying for a commission, or setting the terms for a group show—you are negotiating. So, let Ceri get you ready to do it with confidence and care.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Before negotiating know what you want and why, learn about who you’re negotiating with, and acknowledge your feelings.

Preparation is crucial—ask yourself questions to clarify goals, needs, and possible barriers. Research the other person.

Stick to your values and boundaries.

BEST MOMENTS

“Negotiation has become a superpower. It´s helped me get paid properly, build healthier collaborations and feel more grounded even in tricky situations.”

“No is not failure. Your time, energy and sanity have got value, and sometimes walking away is the wisest decision.”

“Practice makes powerful. Practice your negotiation skills in low-risk settings first.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

Kwame Christian - https://negotiateanything.com

HOST BIO

With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

**

The Artist Mastermind Circle: Ready to stop second-guessing and start building momentum in your art career? Applications are now open for the next Artist Mastermind Circle—a six-month coaching programme for mid-career artists who are serious about growing their confidence, income, and opportunities.

Apply by September 15th, 2025, at https://cerihand.com/artist-mastermind-circle

and take the next bold step.

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today!

https://cerihand.com/membership

**

Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course

Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network

**

Book a Discovery Call Today

To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

**

Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity

Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

For the British artist Holly Stevenson clay, memory and psychoanalysis intertwine in hauntingly playful sculptures. This conversation traces Holly’s extraordinary journey—from her Russian grandmother’s concentration camp survival and the inspiration a Chilean refugee provided, to set design in Rome and motherhood, all the way to her groundbreaking residency at the Freud Museum. Discover how Holly’s fiercely independent spirit, and fascination with what hides in plain sight have shaped her visceral, intimate works.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Holly´s work is heavily influenced by psychoanalysis, both in subject matter and in approach.

Holly finds beauty and meaning in everyday materials like clay, wood, paper, and even bed sheets.

The creative path is rarely linear, but it can be deeply coherent if we learn to trust our instincts and follow the thread of our own obsessions.

BEST MOMENTS

“Holly makes the invisible visible - emotionally, materially and economically.”

“I wanted to see something or hear something affirmative. But it's not about that, is it? It's about process. It's about accumulation. It's about one mark plus one mark, plus three marks plus 5000 marks, makes a drawing.”

“Clay, like life, demands presence and patience. It cracks, resists, warps and still invites you back.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.holly-stevenson.co.uk

https://www.instagram.com/holly__stevenson

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

****

The Artist Mastermind Circle: Ready to stop second-guessing and start building momentum in your art career? Applications are now open for the next Artist Mastermind Circle—a six-month coaching programme for mid-career artists who are serious about growing their confidence, income, and opportunities.

Apply by September 15th 2025 at https://cerihand.com/artist-mastermind-circle/ and take the next bold step.

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today!

https://cerihand.com/membership/

****

Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course

Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today.

https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/

****

Book a Discovery Call Today

To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

****

Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity

Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

To grow your art career, you don’t need one gatekeeper, you need a creative ecosystem. Nobody´s career can grow in isolation, everyone needs champions - Curators, Writers, Collectors, Funders, Peers, Producers, Family and Friends. People who give feedback, open doors, and say your name in the right room.

Ceri shares how to spot your artworld champions in the wild, connect with them and start building your own support network today.

Ready to take action? Start the Unlock Your Artworld Network self-paced course today and learn how to build the connections that will sustain your art and your career - https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Your champions are the people who help you move forward. They're not always famous or powerful, but they do offer guidance, feedback, introductions and advocacy.

Amira found new champions and opportunities by mapping out who supported and wrote about artists she admired, then reaching out to them herself, in a genuine, thoughtful way.

Map out your current champions, who's helped you so far, who's in your corner, who you've been meaning to reconnect with Choose three areas you want to grow in and let your champions help you to do that.

BEST MOMENTS

“Let's get into the nuts and bolts, because this is how the art world really works, and how your work gets seen, shared and supported.”

“ When one door's stuck shut, a champion might just crack open a window.”

“Think of your networks as your ecosystem. They don't have to be fancy or formal. They can be a group of artists visiting shows together, a creative co-working space, a book group, an online course or coaching membership like mine.”

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.

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The Artist Mastermind Circle: Ready to stop second-guessing and start building momentum in your art career? Applications are now open for the next Artist Mastermind Circle—a six-month coaching programme for mid-career artists who are serious about growing their confidence, income, and opportunities.

Apply by September 15th 2025 at https://cerihand.com/artist-mastermind-circle/ and take the next bold step.

Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today!

https://cerihand.com/membership/

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Book a Discovery Call Today

To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected]

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Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity

Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/