In Talks With

Danielle meets Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum, a multidisciplinary artist whose work transcends borders, time, and genres.

Originally from Botswana and now based in the Netherlands, Pamela's practice encompasses drawing, painting, and installation. She intricately weaves together mythology, science, and narrative storytelling. This episode delves into her latest exhibition, "It Will End In Tears," her debut solo show at a prominent UK institution, the Barbican’s Curve Gallery, running until early 2025. This site-specific installation plunges viewers into a world inspired by film noir, crime fiction, and her distinctive alter-ego characters.

During the conversation, Pamela explores her influences and inspirations, including the writings of Bessie Head; Alfred Hitchcock's meticulous approach to film-making; and the aesthetics and drama of film noir. She shares insights into her concept of "world building," discussing how her extensive collection of vintage clothing informs the characters that inhabit her creations.

Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum is represented by Goodman Gallery.

Goodman Gallery

Barbican

Photo: Lotte van Uitterst

In this episode, Danielle Radojcin visits the Sid Motion Gallery in South East London to talk to the British artist Phoebe Cummings, known for her extraordinary sculptures made from unfired clay. Phoebe’s work challenges traditional views of ceramics, focusing on the beauty of impermanence as her pieces dissolve over time. They evoke themes of nature, transience, and the fragile relationship between humanity and the natural world. 

Phoebe was born in Staffordshire, the heart of the British ceramics industry. She studied Three-Dimensional Design at the University of Brighton before completing an MA in Ceramics & Glass at the Royal College of Art in London. A lack of funds to pay for a kiln forced her to begin working with unfired  clay, and over the years, Phoebe has carved a unique path in the art world, becoming known for her ephemeral sculptures crafted entirely from the material.

Her work is a reflection of nature’s transient beauty and the passing of time, often exploring themes of growth, decay, and the fragile relationship between humanity and the natural world. Phoebe’s pieces, which dissolve or disintegrate over time, challenge the traditional expectations of ceramics as a durable, permanent medium, and are more of a performance than static art piece, to be cherished as a memory rather displayed forever in a museum. 

In 2011, she won the prestigious British Ceramics Biennial Award, and her installations have been exhibited in notable institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum and York Art Gallery.

Join Danielle and Phoebe as they explore Phoebe's creative journey, the influence of nature in her art, and her upcoming exhibition at the Sid Motion Gallery curated by Tom Cole, where her work will be shown alongside that of Robert Mapplethorpe and Magdalena Abakanowicz.

https://www.phoebecummings.com/

https://sidmotiongallery.co.uk/

Danielle Radojcin travels to Brussels, Belgium to meet artist Jaclyn Conley, originally from Canada and currently based in Connecticut, USA. Jaclyn creates expansive works that create new worlds from seemingly disparate sources. Yet when these elements converge on her canvas, they establish entirely new relationships. Drawing inspiration from 16th-century art, religious iconography, and utopian photographs of 1970s commune life, Jaclyn redefines perceptions of time, place, and personal freedom. She deftly manipulates nonlinear time and intertwines themes of protest and politics.

Her physical artworks are characterised by their large scale, and thick, energetic strokes of oil paint. Soft, feminine colours evoke a quiet, introspective mood, inviting viewers to reflect. At the onset of an exhibition of her new paintings at the Maruani Mercier gallery in Brussels, this episode delves into Jaclyn's thematic inspirations, their contemporary relevance, her artistic journey, and how her work interwines with other aspects of her life. 

“It’s about finding talented people and bringing them together to create beautiful things.” Join Danielle as she goes behind the scenes at Graanmarkt 13 with its co-founder, Ilse Cornelissens. This Belgian gem, a key part of Antwerp's famous creative community, features a carefully curated selection of fashion, perfumes, and homeware.

The elegant five-storey, 18th-century townhouse, where Ilse and her family live, overlooks a historic market square surrounded by grand houses and the imposing Bourla Theatre. Opened with her husband in 2010 with the help of world-renowned architect Vincent Van Duysen, it boasts a basement restaurant and a terrace perfect for fine-weather lounging. Danielle speaks with Ilse to explore her refreshing approach to retail, the journey of establishing Graanmarkt 13, and the deep-rooted magic of Antwerp's creative scene.

Graanmark 13

Kassl Editions

Danielle travels to Kettle’s Yard, the contemporary art gallery in Cambridge, UK, to meet Megan Rooney, a Canadian artist renowned for her diverse and interdisciplinary practice encompassing painting, sculpture, installation, and performance.

Kettle's Yard is a charming art gallery and house that was originally the home of Jim Ede, a former curator at the Tate Gallery, and his wife Helen. From the mid-1950s until the early 70s, the Edes resided at Kettle’s Yard and created a space to display their impressive personal art collection, which includes works by Miro, Henry Moore, and Ben Nicholson. The house is arranged to maintain its domestic atmosphere, blending art with everyday objects to create an inspiring environment. Kettle's Yard also hosts temporary exhibitions, concerts, and educational programs, the most recent of which is a showcase of Megan Rooney’s work, including a site-specific temporary mural, a series of paintings, a dance performance, and a book.

Born in South Africa and raised between Brazil and Canada, Rooney's work explores themes of identity, memory, and the human experience, blending abstract forms with narrative elements. Now based in London, her vibrant, large-scale paintings and immersive installations are characterised by a dynamic use of colour and texture. She has exhibited internationally, including at prominent institutions like the Serpentine Galleries in London and the Louis Vuitton Foundation, and is recognised for her innovative approach to blending different media and creating evocative, experiential art.

Danielle visited Kettle's Yard to discuss with Megan her latest offering on the eve of the exhibition opening, which is her first major solo show in the UK.

https://www.kettlesyard.cam.ac.uk/

https://ropac.net/artists/210-megan-rooney/

Photo (detail): Eva Herzog

Carpenters Workshop Gallery has redefined the art and design landscape, making it a beacon for sustainability, community building and the continuous evolution of artistic expression. In this episode, Danielle Radojcin speaks to co-founder Loïc Le Gaillard and the designer Harry Nuriev about challenging traditional design boundaries. 

Founded in 2006 by Loïc Le Gallaird and Julien Lombrail, Carpenters Workshop Gallery has challenged the conventional gallery model, encouraging visitors to immerse themselves deeply in the art, fostering a connection that transcends mere observation.

Since then, each of its  global expansions—from London to Paris, and New York to Los Angeles, serves not just as a space for displaying art but as a hub for emotional investment and innovation. The latest addition, Ladbroke Hall in West London, epitomises this philosophy. Having featured a broad spectrum of creatives, including furniture design icon Wendell Castle, artist Yinka Shonibare and jewellery designer Michele Lamy, it stands as a flagship space promoting extensive engagement and exploration in the arts.

Harry Nuriev, the visionary behind Crosby Studios, is known for his transformative design philosophy that integrates art, architecture, and fashion into everyday life. His work, celebrated for challenging traditional boundaries, showcases how design can reflect and alter our perception of contemporary society.  He has exhibited several times with Carpenters Workshop Gallery, as well as partnering on projects with the likes of Balenciaga, Nike and Liam Gillick.

Harry and Loïc join Danielle on this episode to talk about how their collaborative efforts at Carpenters Workshop Gallery contribute to the continuous evolution of artistic expression.

Image: Chair 3, by Harry Nuriev, via Carpenters Workshop Gallery

Guest host Simon Chilvers speaks to Trino Verkade, Chief Executive of The Sarabande Foundation, a beacon of support and inspiration for emerging talent in the creative world. Founded by the legendary Alexander McQueen in 2006, Sarabande has blossomed into a nurturing space offering not only studios but also a wealth of knowledge through talks and workshops spanning various disciplines. 

Trino Verkade's journey intertwines deeply with the legacy of Alexander McQueen himself. Hailing from Liverpool, she began her career as McQueen's first employee, standing witness to the genius and innovation that defined his work until his untimely passing in 2010. Since then, she has continued to shape the landscape of fashion, lending her expertise to renowned brands such as Mary Katrantzou and Thom Browne. However, her heart ultimately found its home at Sarabande in 2017, where she now orchestrates every facet of the foundation's operations. 

In this special episode, Trino Verkade sits down with Simon to share her insights, experiences, and aspirations. From her intimate beginnings with McQueen to her tireless dedication to nurturing the next generation of creatives, she talks about what makes Sarabande unique and its plans for the future. 

https://sarabandefoundation.org/

Photo: Sølve Sundsbø

Who was Pauline Boty? With her blonde, backcombed hairstyle and It Girl charm, this pioneer of Pop Art embodied  the 1960s scene in London, hanging with Bob Dylan, posing for David Bailey, and acting with Michael Caine in the film Alfie. As a new generation discovers her work, Danielle Radojcin and guests explore the tragically short life and burgeoning legacy of this extraordinary woman.  

Born in 1938 in Croydon, Boty studied at The Royal Academy and became a part of the nascent British pop art movement, along with the likes of Peter Blake and Derek Boshier. In the words of the writer Michael Bracewell, “She seemed to embody the early days of the Pop Age.” 

During her tragically short life, she produced an exciting and complex body of work, commenting on pop culture, feminism and so much of the era in which she lived, and much of which has been assembled for an exhibition at the Gazelli Art House in Mayfair, where this recording took place. 

Danielle Radojcin discusses Pauline Boty with  Mila Askarova, owner of Gazelli Art House and curator of the exhibition; Vinny Rawding , film director of a new, soon to be released documentary about Boty; and the curator and art historian Sue Tate, author of a biography on Boty’s life.

Episode artwork: Michael Ward, Untitled (Men Only Cover Shot), 1963/2023. Courtesy of Elizabeth Seal-Ward for the Michael Ward Archive, Iconic Images & Gazelli Art House (detail)

Of her work, British artist Lubaina Himid says she is "filling in the gaps of history." Danielle Radojcin travels to The Holburne Museum in Bath to meet her at her new exhibition, Lost Threads, which, like much of her work, addresses the histories and legacies of colonialism and slavery.

Himid turns 70 this year. She was born in Zanzibar, but after her father tragically died of malaria when she was just a few months old, her British mother took her to live in the UK, where they settled in London. She eventually studied Theatre Design at Wimbledon College of Art, and the Royal College of Art. 

Over the course of her career, Himid has aimed to make art that creates a dialogue with her audience - she has said how the patterns in her work are a form of narrative; she has also made a point of championing under-represented artists, especially Black and Asian women. She became a key figure in the 1980s London, “Black art” movement, in which so called black art moved from the margins to the centre of British culture thanks in part to a series of influential exhibitions Himid curated. She was the first Black woman to win the Turner Prize, which she was awarded in 2017, and was elected to the Royal Academy in 2018, the same year she was made a CBE for services to art. Today, she  lives and works in Preston, where she is a professor at the University of Central Lancashire. Himid sat down with me at the Holburne in the midst of the press preview of her new exhibition, in one of the main, very large rooms there, to tell me a bit about her work…

Episode artwork: Lubaina Himid, Man in a Pyjama Drawer, 2021 via Hollybush Gardens

Journalist Danielle Radojcin visits British artist David Remfry in his studio, where he reflects on his life as an artist - from 60s London (Francis Bacon was a neighbour), to 20 years spent living in the Chelsea Hotel to a triumph at the Royal Academy  - and the famous people who have sat for him along the way. 

Born in Worthing in the 50s and raised in the northern industrial town of Hull, Remfry studied art and moved to London in the 60s, holding his first solo exhibition there in 1973. A life-threatening illness and a chance encounter with an American gallerist propelled him to fame in Los Angeles in 1980, when an exhibition of his work there sold out immediately.   

He became known for his large scale watercolour landscapes and portraits, and in particular for his ongoing series of people dancing. His portraits of the fashion designer Jean Muir and the actor John Gielgud are held at the National Portrait Gallery, as well as which he has work in the permanent collections at the V&A and RA. 

Over the years he has enjoyed a strong connection with the USA – he spent 20 years in New York, where he lived in the storied Chelsea Hotel, often asking his neighbours, who included Quentin Crisp and Ethan Hawke, to sit for him. In 2001 he was  awarded an MBE for services to British Art in America.

In 2006 he was elected a Member of the Royal Academy of Arts, and last summer he was celebrated for his enthusiastic curation of the Summer Exhibition, in which he was determined to give a voice to under-represented talent. He's also known for painting the interior of the famous tea salon at Fortnum & Mason, and a fashion campaign he drew for the fashion designer Stella McCartney.

In spite of his achievements, however, he vows he'll never be part of the establishment and continues to draw - and dance - every day. In 2025 there will be a retrospective of his work in Beverely, Yorkshire.