Extraordinary Creatives

I’ve been thinking a lot about how I can help more of you be braver, create the work you truly want to make, and stop second-guessing yourself. It feels urgent. So, I’m launching a new weekly short podcast episode called Beat the Block – a no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point shot of creative support.

Each week, I’ll share three tips drawn from Donkey's years in the arts – learned from the incredible arts and business people I’ve worked with, interviewed, and coached, to the burning questions that come up daily inside my mastermind circles, membership and coaching sessions with artists and arts professionals worldwide.

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 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/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way
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.

From growing up in the Middle East where theatre was banned to leading one of London's most innovative cultural spaces, Tarek Iskander's journey is a masterclass in transformative leadership. In this candid conversation, he reveals how his NHS background shapes his mission driven approach at Battersea Arts Centre, championing bold, experimental work while making art accessible through initiatives like "pay-what-you-can" ticketing. His insights on nurturing youth creativity, navigating institutional challenges, and reimagining the arts sector's future offer invaluable lessons for anyone interested in cultural leadership and social impact.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Tarek had to radically shift his natural coaching leadership style during COVID-19. He took on more direct control to protect his team from difficult decisions, showing how crisis management can push leaders outside their comfort zones.
• Through Battersea Arts Centre youth programs, Tarek discovered that having staff who came from local communities mattered more than architectural changes or pricing strategies. His street teams of young people recruiting other young people proved more effective than traditional outreach.
• Having grown up where the theatre was banned, Tarek's conviction about art's vital role in society led him to transform BAC into a vaccine hub during lockdown while maintaining creative programming - demonstrating how arts venues can serve multiple community needs.
• Coming from outside the traditional theatre world, Tarek leveraged his outsider perspective to restructure BAC's financial model, generating 50% of income from private business while making performances accessible through pay-what-you-can ticketing.
• When faced with pressure to post black squares during Black Lives Matter, Tarek chose to commission Black artists to respond creatively instead of making performative gestures. This was a decision that initially received pushback but was later vindicated.
• Despite ticking only two of the ten criteria for the Arts Council job, Tarek spent a week preparing intensively for the interview, demonstrating his belief that hard work can overcome perceived qualification gaps.
• Rather than trying to do everything, Tarek made tough decisions to stop running BAC's museum and co-working space to focus on the core missions of supporting creativity in young people and artists.
• As someone who describes himself as "incredibly shy," Tarek had to overcome significant self-doubt to take on public-facing leadership roles, learning that internal demons often pose bigger challenges than external ones.

BEST MOMENTS

"Growing up in the Middle East where pretty much most of theatre or live performance was banned for most of my childhood... I had very little exposure to the arts."

"I think we never think of our next gen or youth programs as an end to something else... If you believe that the world can be a better place, those new creative ideas are going to come from that next generation."

"The biggest obstacles ahead of us are the ones we put up ourselves."

"BAC is small enough to be naughty and not have to play by the rules necessarily, but maybe big enough that people often take notice when something happens."

"I'm very allergic to things that feel performative or just words.”

"Art and performance is so vital that keeping it going and supporting artists and audiences and young people to engage in those ways feels like really critical work."

"Don't let the barriers up yourself. Let other people put them up for you."

"Sometimes the demons within are probably much tougher than the demons without."

EPISODE RESOURCES

Instagram: @batterseaartscentre

Facebook: @BatterseaArtsCentre

bac.org.uk

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 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/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way
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.

Join Ceri as she speaks with Althea Greenan, curator of the Women's Art Library at Goldsmiths. From slide libraries to digital archives, Althea shares her experiences and activism through preserving and championing women's art for over 30 years. This episode is an exploration of how archives can be living, breathing spaces that inspire movements and create change. Through personal anecdotes and revolutionary projects, Althea reveals how small acts of documentation can spark massive cultural shifts and why archives are not just about the past, but about building feminist futures.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The Women's Art Library began as a slide collection, where artists could submit documentation of their work for £8 per year, creating a democratic, non-hierarchical approach to archiving women's art.
• Throughout her career, Althea has maintained that archives should remain non-hierarchical and accessible, keeping the Women's Art Library's original mission of being open to all researchers, whether academic or independent.
• Through decades of work, Althea has witnessed how a single image or document can spark significant cultural change, proving that archives are not passive repositories but active agents of transformation.
• The transition from analogue to digital hasn't diminished the importance of physical archives; the tactile nature of slides, posters, and documents carries important historical and emotional context.
• Self-archiving was a revolutionary act for female artists in the 1980s and 90s, creating visibility and professional opportunities outside traditional art world structures.
• Contemporary artists and researchers continue to find new ways to activate and interpret the archive, proving its ongoing relevance to current artistic practice.
• The concept of "des oeuvre" suggests that artists' work extends beyond traditional studio practice to include teaching, curating, and institutional change.
• The power of feminist archives lies in their ability to create intimate encounters with ideas and spark movements, even through small scale interactions.

BEST MOMENTS

"Archives are living entities, sparking connection, care, and joy."

"A lot of the labour and the care and the personal evidence of inscription that artists very carefully made on these slide mounts is not evident in collections that are digitised."

"It's hard to be a thinker, a maker and be on the edges of society sometimes." 

"Sometimes all it takes is one person to say, 'Hey, I think you might like this,' to spark curiosity and shift someone's entire worldview."

"When do you stop being an artist is the question and how much of this work that you're doing really should be seen as part of your artistic practice."

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.gold.ac.uk/make/ 

https://sites.gold.ac.uk/animatingarchives/ 

Yes to the Work!: The Women's Art Library https://www.art360foundation.org.uk/media
- film by Holly Antrum commissioned by the Art360 Foundation

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 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/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way
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.

Ceri interviews internationally acclaimed artist Catherine Yass, whose groundbreaking lens-based work pushes the boundaries of photography and film. The conversation explores her innovative techniques, including her distinctive method of layering negatives and positives, her relationship with architectural spaces, and her thoughts on time, failure, and resistance in art. This episode offers a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a Turner Prize nominee who continues to challenge conventional perspectives in contemporary art.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Catherine discovered her signature blue colour through mistakes while learning to use a 5x4 camera, leading her to deliberately overlay negative and positive images to challenge the idea that photographs must represent reality exactly as we see it.
• Her early experiences cycling around a deteriorating swimming pool in Tower Hamlets while watching Canary Wharf being built shaped her understanding of architectural power dynamics and social inequality in London.
• Catherine views her deliberately slow working process with cumbersome equipment as a form of resistance, noting how the industrial revolution transformed time into a commodity that must be used efficiently.
• For the NHS Swimmers, she asked healthcare workers to perform the same swimming movements twice, creating a temporal doubling that she felt was crucial to avoid the work looking like an advertisement in a public space.
• Through her High Wire project, Catherine came to value the importance of failure when the performer couldn't complete the walk, realising that sometimes dreams are more valuable than their achievement.
• Having started by photographing rhinoceros at the zoo, Catherine's fascination with weight, structure and gravity has remained consistent throughout her career, from early sculpture to recent film works.
• She maintains her artistic freedom by teaching just enough to fund her studio, allowing her to pursue projects without complete dependence on art sales, which she's found can fluctuate dramatically.
• Her transition from making physical interventions in architecture to photographing spaces emerged from the practical reality that installations are temporary, leading her to document them with photography which then became its own form.

BEST MOMENTS

"The camera is very big player in it... It's quite like a third character in the room with you before you even start making."

"I think through teaching you keep reading... there's a whole process of discussion and learning going on all the time, which is really rich."

"Freedom isn't freedom if it treads on somebody else's freedom. So you have to protect people's freedoms."

"I was interested in the idea of the subject not being whole, not being sort of complete or reliable or steady."

"Slowing things down can be quite a resistance... working with that big camera makes you work in a very organised way."

EPISODE RESOURCES

Guest Links:

https://www.catherineyass.co.uk/

Instagram @catherine.yass

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 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/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way
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.

In this episode, Ceri talks about cultural curation with Salma Tuqan, Director of Nottingham Contemporary. From her early days at Art Dubai to influential roles at the V&A and beyond, Salma shares her views on how cultural institutions can evolve, adapt, and remain relevant in challenging times. Salma explores everything from collection strategies to institutional sustainability while highlighting the importance of collective effort and generosity in creating inclusive cultural spaces.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Salma's leadership philosophy focuses on building collective effort, demonstrated through her work at Nottingham Contemporary where she leads a team of 70, prioritising collaborative decision making and community input.
• Throughout her career at the V&A, Salma challenged traditional museum structures by working to integrate Middle Eastern art across departments rather than isolating it, showing her commitment to breaking down institutional silos.
• Drawing from her Palestinian heritage and early exposure to diverse cultural practices, Salma approaches curation with an understanding that Western categorisations of art aren't universal.
• In her role at the Delfina Foundation, Salma developed innovative funding models for under resourced regions, creating pools of resources from multiple small contributions to support artists from areas like Central America.
• At Nottingham Contemporary, Salma prioritises long term artist relationships over one off exhibitions, allowing creative partnerships to evolve naturally from small collaborations to major shows.
• Rather than arriving with preset plans at new institutions, Salma's approach is to first listen and understand the existing ecosystem before developing strategies collaboratively.
• Through projects like "While We Wait," Salma demonstrates her commitment to considering the afterlife of exhibitions and ensuring local communities can access the art they inspire.
• As a director facing multiple contemporary challenges, Salma emphasises the importance of maintaining joy as a form of resistance while building solidarity networks with other cultural leaders.

BEST MOMENTS

"I'm a big believer in collectively working, and that's a big part of the ethos of my leadership style as well. I believe that things happen with people."

"When we look around the world and with everything that's at stake, there's never been a moment where the role of institutions is as important as it is."

"There's a lot of focus around the public facing aspect of institutions, particularly thinking about the artistic program and what does that mean when you're platforming artists who are talking about labour issues and simultaneously cutting the hours of the lowest paid workers."

"I think joy is also a key form of resistance too."

"The V&A is a huge entity, a huge institution, and I spent a lot of time developing relationships first and listening to people."

"I really believe that the best work happens and is developed collectively."

EPISODE RESOURCES

Guest Links:

www.salmatuqan.com

Instagram: @stuqan

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 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/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way
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.

Ceri talks with Lisa Cooley, a former New York gallerist turned art advisor. Lisa shares how she went from being an accidental gallery worker to running her own acclaimed Lower East Side gallery for nine years. With remarkable honesty, she discusses the challenges of managing a gallery through a recession, the toll on mental and physical health, and the complexities of artist-dealer relationships. Now working as an art advisor and launching a new podcast called Oko, Lisa gives her experiences and thoughts on relationship building, collecting, and navigating the art world's unspoken rules.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Throughout her career, Lisa discovered that running a gallery wasn't just about selling art; it required building genuine human connections that couldn't be scaled or rushed, even as the art world grew increasingly commercial.
• Lisa developed a unique approach to evaluating artwork, insisting on both an intellectual response and visceral visual pleasure, refusing to compromise on either aspect when choosing artists to represent.
• After closing her gallery, Lisa learned that being honest about failures and challenges - though often discouraged in the art world - ultimately led to deeper, more meaningful professional relationships.
• Through difficult experiences with artists, Lisa came to understand that gallery-artist relationships work best when treated as business partnerships, allowing for clearer boundaries and communication.
• Lisa's experience running her gallery during the 2008 recession taught her that sometimes working harder isn't the answer.
• When Lisa's health began suffering from overwork, she made the difficult but necessary decision to close her gallery, learning that physical and mental wellbeing must take precedence over art world pressures.
• As an art advisor, Lisa discovered that building collector relationships requires a 4-6 month period that's less about art education and more about understanding how people communicate and make decisions.
• Lisa found that small, thoughtful gestures, from handwritten notes to carefully chosen chocolates, often proved more effective in building lasting business relationships than grand gestures or aggressive sales tactics.

BEST MOMENTS

"Being candid is highly, highly punished, and I think it's only now with a lot of distance where I really feel comfortable trying to share as much as possible." 

"The gallerist-artist relationship is not a marriage. It is not family. It is a business relationship... A marriage is very different. It's reciprocal. And gallery-artist relationships are frequently not reciprocal."

"Sometimes galleries just aren't that supportive..."

"You can scale everything in the art world... but you can't scale the human relationships. That's impossible to scale."

EPISODE RESOURCES

IG @lisacooleynyc

www.lisacooley.com

www.ask-oko.com

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 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 Artist Mastermind Circle
The Artist Mastermind Circle is a focused group coaching programme for mid-career contemporary artists ready to take their practice and career to the next level. You’ve built a solid foundation, and now it’s time to refine your strategies, increase your income, and tackle new challenges with confidence. This exclusive, application-only programme provides expert guidance from Ceri Hand and the support of a trusted community to help you achieve greater recognition and expand your opportunities.
Apply Now

****

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/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way
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.

In this special end of year solo episode, Ceri answers questions from her mastermind community members. From exhibition planning and pricing artwork to connecting with collectors and maintaining social media boundaries, she gives her expert advice from her extensive experience in the art world.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• When planning exhibitions, start with self-reflection about your goals and desired outcomes before engaging with collaborators or institutions. Consider what you want to optimise for, press coverage, commissions, or collector engagement?
• Price artwork based on market research and ecosystem participation rather than production costs or time invested. Research comparable works and understand that value in art is based on perceived worth within the social system.
• Building relationships with collectors requires authentic connection rather than direct pitching. Research their interests and engage naturally through shared networks and events.
• When updating your website during a practice transition, focus on quality over quantity. Edit work to show your best pieces that reflect your current direction while maintaining coherency with past work.
• Create psychological safety in professional relationships by showing genuine interest before making any asks. Start with appreciation and sharing relevant content before discussing your own work.
• Exhibition planning needs adequate time for idea development before production. Avoid rushing into execution without proper conceptual exploration with collaborators.
• Social media should be approached strategically as a tool for community building rather than passive consumption. Set specific goals for engagement and research.
• Documentation and legacy planning are crucial for exhibitions - ensure high-quality photography and materials that can continue generating opportunities after the show closes.

BEST MOMENTS

"The art market is such an unusual thing because it's all based on perceived value. It's not like we're breaking down the costs, say with coffee... when it comes to art, the market really is dependent on how many people want that thing."

"The worst thing you can do as an artist is to squirrel yourself away in a cupboard and come out with an idea like, ta-da. What do you think? It's really about you having the idea to the best of your ability to a point and then opening up."

"Sometimes less is more. So I love asking myself this question: What's the simplest thing I could do that would give me the biggest return on my time invested?"

"If you want to be collected by serious collectors who are participating in that ecosystem, then I would encourage you to evaluate what else is being sold at a similar price that you think your work may be being sold at."

"Every exhibition is a publishing moment. It's not the only moment, but it's the start of another opportunity coming down the pipeline."

"Put the social back into social media, which is really about you being deliberate with what your goals are whilst you're there."

"If you want some love, you have to show the love first."

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 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 Artist Mastermind Circle
The Artist Mastermind Circle is a focused group coaching programme for mid-career contemporary artists ready to take their practice and career to the next level. You’ve built a solid foundation, and now it’s time to refine your strategies, increase your income, and tackle new challenges with confidence. This exclusive, application-only programme provides expert guidance from Ceri Hand and the support of a trusted community to help you achieve greater recognition and expand your opportunities.
Apply Now

****

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/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way
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.

Ceri speaks with polymath Louise Gray, whose creative career spans textiles, fashion, costume, sound, and writing. Louise shares her experiences in fashion, textile design, and education, discussing her bold aesthetic choices, fearless approach to creativity, and commitment to authenticity. Her journey from establishing her own fashion label to teaching at Central Saint Martins, and currently venturing into new creative areas, provides insightful guidance for anyone on their own artistic journey. This discussion explores sustainability, the significance of creative freedom, and the necessity of staying authentic to your own values.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Having grown up in rural Scotland, Louise learned to see extreme colours in nature, which later influenced her distinctive colour palette in fashion, combining contrasting hues that both clash and complement
• She deliberately kept her fashion label small and focused on high-quality, handcrafted pieces rather than bending to industry pressure to make more commercial products or use digital printing
• Louise views collaboration as essential for creative growth, seeking out artists and creators who challenge her while still maintaining her unique vision and voice
• Rather than trying to please everyone, Louise focused on creating work that excited her personally, knowing that authenticity would attract the right audience who truly connected with her aesthetic
• When teaching at Central Saint Martins, Louise rewrote the MA Fashion curriculum to emphasise sustainability and encouraged students to deeply question their identity and values as designers
• After closing her fashion label, Louise took delivery jobs to fund her creative work, choosing financial freedom over prestige to make art on her own terms
• She approaches textiles as a feminist practice, seeing it as a way to amplify historically overlooked women's work while pushing boundaries of what textile art can be
• Louise has learned to separate her sense of self-worth from her creative work, leading to more artistic freedom and joy in the making process

BEST MOMENTS

"I'm not trying to be you, I'm trying to be me. I'm interested in creating something that I know will talk to other people, because it's interesting."

"I've had to really detach my sense of value from my work because I thought that they were the same thing, and since I've detached them, there's so much more lightness to the work that I do."

"Joy is about connecting with other people, like true joy is always about other people.”

"I'm so grateful that I have chosen a creative path. It is not easy. I didn't need it to be easy. I haven't learned from easy."

"I liked making things which had multiple technique fabrics. I wasn't trying to make it accessible to people, I was trying to make the most beautiful things that I could dream of."

"Sometimes just saying this is who I am and this is how I want to do it is good."

"If you can make work that makes somebody feel something, you've won."

EPISODE RESOURCES

www.iamlouisegray.com
@louisegray__

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 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 Artist Mastermind Circle
The Artist Mastermind Circle is a focused group coaching programme for mid-career contemporary artists ready to take their practice and career to the next level. You’ve built a solid foundation, and now it’s time to refine your strategies, increase your income, and tackle new challenges with confidence. This exclusive, application-only programme provides expert guidance from Ceri Hand and the support of a trusted community to help you achieve greater recognition and expand your opportunities.
Apply Now

****
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/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way
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.

Ceri speaks with Lady Skollie, a bold South African artist who fearlessly challenges artistic conventions. From her early days at a specialist art school to becoming an internationally acclaimed painter, Lady Skollie shares her journey as a modern day cave painter and gives her experiences of gallery relationships, motherhood, and maintaining artistic integrity. Her original perspectives on the art world, cultural identity, and creative authenticity make this the perfect episode for anyone interested in the intersection of art, culture, and personal truth.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Lady Skollie maintains creative freedom by creating physical distance from city centres and setting clear boundaries with galleries, emphasising the importance of separation between artists and collectors.
• Her work is deeply rooted in her identity as a descendant of the indigenous people of South Africa, reimagining traditional cave paintings on a larger scale.
• Success in the art world for her, came through strategic support, including a partner who gave her two years to focus solely on art, leading to international gallery representation.
• Lady Skollie has found that physical fitness and consistent creative practice have been crucial elements for maintaining artistic productivity and mental well being.
• She challenges the modern trend of artist accessibility, advocating for maintaining mystery and separation between artists and collectors.
• Her perspective on showing work internationally reveals how art is received differently across cultures, particularly regarding themes of sexuality and cultural identity.
• She approaches commercial work by comparing potential earnings to what she could make painting, ensuring her time is valued appropriately.
• Lady Skollie also emphasises the importance of having freedom from financial pressure to maintain artistic integrity and make authentic work.

BEST MOMENTS

 "I've always wanted to be an artist."

"If you're going to go for white money, you should go for very old white money."

"I'm not someone who draws all the time, but I consistently create... I constantly think about art."

"I'm of the opinion if you're not based in a place like South Africa, it's really hard to understand what drives people here."

"Sometimes pressure makes diamonds. But I think for me, it just makes lunacy. I need freedom."

"Back in the day, I used to be known as the pawpaw and penis girl because I would just paint pawpaws and penises."

"I consider myself a modern day cave painter."

"If you don't like something, then just look away from it, but you cannot control how other people experience something."

EPISODE RESOURCES

Guest Links: 

Instagram: 

@LadySkollie

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 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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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/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way
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/

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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.

In this episode, Ceri speaks with Jennifer Higgie, whose evolution from painting lemons to shaping Frieze magazine spans more than two decades. She opens up about the realities of the art world, the necessity of creative discipline, and her mission to respect artists' work with authenticity. Through her shift from art critic to author uncovering hidden women artists in art history, Jennifer demonstrates what it takes to build and sustain a creative life. Her thoughts and experience of writing's emotional toll and the exposure of sharing creative work resonate deeply, while her practical experience serves as both a roadmap and reminder for other creatives. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Jennifer developed her disciplined approach to writing through 23 years at Frieze, treating it like a ‘normal’ job with strict deadlines and word counts while learning the importance of stopping at the right time to maintain quality
• She deliberately positioned herself as an "enthusiast" rather than a critic, choosing to write primarily about work she felt passionate about rather than producing negative criticism
• To sustain her writing career, she worked as a waitress for 15 years, preferring this to desk jobs as it didn't interfere with her creative headspace
• She built and maintained vital creative networks across London, Berlin and Australia that have supported her throughout her career transitions
• After experiencing burnout and anxiety, she sought CBT support, which helped her learn to distinguish between real and hypothetical anxieties
• Her research into overlooked women artists led her to discover how much messier and more inclusive art history is than she was taught
• As reviews editor at Frieze, she developed a systematic approach to balance coverage between established institutions, emerging artists and everything in between.
• Her experience taught her that writing requires accepting that most work goes into a void of silence, with rare but meaningful moments of connection with readers

BEST MOMENTS

"Writing is very much like dropping a pebble into a very deep pool or well, and very occasionally you hear a faint splash, and that's about it"

"The idea of super bohemian artists going wild and drinking or taking lots of drugs... you can't last very long if you do that"

"Paintings are like portals, you look in, you look into them, and you go into them, and then you travel around a bit, and you come out again"

"Everyone has a story...and it's your responsibility to find out what that story is"

"Art history was for too long taught as if it was carved in stone"

"I'm infuriated by the idea that history was written as if it was all about white male achievement"

EPISODE RESOURCES

Guest Links:

https://www.jenniferhiggie.com/

Instagram @jennifer_higgie

Book Link:

https://www.weidenfeldandnicolson.co.uk/titles/jennifer-higgie/the-other-side/9781474623322/

PODCAST HOST BIO

With over 30 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/ 

****

Build Relationships The Easy Way
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.