REWIND Ep.05 James Gray & Cafe Art - Ministry of Arts Podcast

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to James Gray & Cafe Art (@CafeArtUK)

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to both abstract artist James Gray and to Cafe Art, a group that helps and supports homeless artists.

James has been mentored and supported by Cafe Art, making his journey out of homelessness a smoother transition.

Each year Cafe Art distribute disposable cameras throughout London's homeless groups. With the images they produce, the 'My London' calendar is created.

To purchase a 'My London' calendar or find out more about Cafe Art online, go to: www.cafeart.org.uk

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

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In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Zack Mennell (@ZackMennell)

Zack Mennell is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist whose work delves into themes of queerness, neurodivergence, and the complexities of visibility. Through performance, photography, and writing, Zack aims to unsettle familiar spaces, making visible the tensions embedded within them.

Their artistic practice often involves exploring the uncanny, seeking to understand life beyond the constraints of daily survival .

Mennell frequently collaborates with performance artist Martin O’Brien, contributing to significant works such as Sanctuary Ring at the SPILL Festival (2016) and The Last Breath Society at the ICA (2021). Additionally, they have worked with artists like Leon Clowes, Baiba Sprance, and Kane Stonestreet .

Their photographic work is strictly analogue, employing 35mm film to document performances and live events. Mennell's practice is informed by their experiences as a queer, working-class, neurodivergent, and disabled individual, aiming to imagine alternative ways of inhabiting the world.

Thanks to Anna at @AbstraktPublicity for the connection

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.org

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

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In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Carrie Reichardt (@CarrieReichardt)

Carrie Reichardt is not only one of Gary Mansfield's favourite artists, but one of his favourite people. She is such a multi-layerd person, a mosaic artist, a craftivist, she’s vocally opposed to death penalty and an all-round bloody good person, albeit a bit of an eccentric one.

Carrie Reichardt is best known for her mosaic and ceramic work, her amazing home is testament to the quality of her work (look online) although she could start to incorporate textile into her work soon.

Carrie, along with partner Bob Osbourne, have just released a compilation of defaced banknotes by various artists in a hardback book entitled CASH IS KING, which is being launched at The Saatchi Gallery with an accompanying exhibition of a number of the banknotes.  CASH IS KING is also available for £15 at www.rebelnottaken.com

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Jessica Gale (@Jess.Gale.Art)

Jessica Gale is a British landscape artist born in 1967 in Catterick, Yorkshire. She began painting in 2010 during a period living in Amsterdam, inspired by the subdued beauty of a Dutch winter and influenced by Rembrandt's moody palette . Her work encompasses both representational and abstract landscapes. She investigates the interplay of shapes, light, and negative space, manipulating these elements through form and colour to convey the energy of her subjects.

Gale trained at The Heatherley School of Fine Art in Chelsea, London, and currently resides and works in London and Dorset. Her diverse media include oil, acrylic, charcoal, pastels, and printmaking. She has exhibited widely, including at Harvey and Woodd in Edinburgh and the Otter Gallery in Dorset, and participated in the 2024 season of Sky’s Landscape Artist of the Year.

For more information on the work of Jessica Gale go to

https://jessicagalefineart.com

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.org

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

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REWID to August 2018: Ep.02: Patrick Hughes - Ministry of Arts Podcast

In Episode 2 you get to meet Patrick Hughes, the artist that brought about the mind-boggling Reverse Perspective manner of painting on a 3D surface. The sound quality of this episode is slightly under par, due to a technical difficulty.

Feel free to contact Gary with any queries, comments etc: email: [email protected] All Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

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In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Erin-Atlanta Argun (@erinatlanta)

Erin-Atlanta Argun is an art and fashion historian who works as the Commissioning Editor for Edition Magazine at MyArtBroker. She is widely recognised for her vibrant street interview series, “Excuse Me Girl,” where she asks passersby what artwork they would most love to own and why—making art conversations more inclusive and engaging.

Erin earned her MA in Fashion History from the Courtauld Institute of Art in 2022, following a BA in History of Art from the University of Cambridge. Her professional journey spans roles in galleries and editorial platforms, with a focus on breaking down barriers to the art world.

Through her work at MyArtBroker, she produces insightful content about the prints and editions market, while spotlighting underrepresented voices and fresh perspectives within contemporary art. Her approach merges scholarship with storytelling, bringing both depth and accessibility to art media.

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://wwwministryofarts.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

REWIND to July 2018: Ep. 01: Duggie Fields - Ministry of Arts Podcast

The very first episode of The Mizog Art Podcast features conceptual Maximalist painter Duggie Fields.

Duggie was the very first artist that corresponded with Gary Mansfield whilst he was in prison, Gary states that Duggie is the foundation stone of his new life as an artist, or a 'born again' artist, as Gary Jokingly refers to himself.

See: http://www.mizogart.com for full listing.

Feel free to contact Gary with any queries, comments etc: email: [email protected] All Social Media: @mizogart

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In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Sara Reeve (@SaraReeveDraws)

Sara Reeve is a Brighton-based painter and tutor with a primary focus on portraiture and painting people. Her work is characterised by strong use of colour, bold shapes, and impactful compositions. Drawing inspiration from both observation and photography, she has a particular interest in portraying women in her paintings. Sara works with oil paints, a medium she finds ideal for capturing the visceral essence of flesh and faces.

As a tutor at Draw Brighton, Sara leads regular evening courses on Painting Portraits in Oils, weekend workshops on Self-Portraiture, and weekly online life-drawing sessions. She also teaches Life Drawing and Portraiture to local artist groups and schools in the community.

In her personal practice, Sara explores the dynamic tension between subject and viewer, often focusing on a direct gaze. Her work delves into the interaction between what a painting communicates to its audience and the emotional response it evokes. Through her art, Sara aims to uncover deeper layers of connection with both the sitter and the viewer.

Sara was participated in Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year, which lead to her being invited to host her own Sky Arts Masterclass episode.

Also mentioned in this episode were: @jakespicerart @draw_brighton @artistoftheyear @sussexpaoty @amy_dury @wendybarrattart @geoffreyharrison @rayrichardson1

For more information on the work of Sara Reeve go to

https://sarareeve.com

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.org

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Carrie Jean Goldsmith (@CarrieJeanGoldsmith)

Carrie Jean Goldsmith is a Canadian-born artist residing in the UK, celebrated for her abstract paintings that emphasize colour, light, and tonal gradation. Her creative process involves layering various media, embracing diverse brush marks and the luminosity of paint to produce unforeseen outcomes. This method allows her to craft imagery that is both compelling and ambiguous, often evoking a sense of light and occasionally drawing subtle connections to landscapes without being site-specific.

Over more than two decades, Carrie's artistic journey has evolved from representational landscapes to a more abstract and gestural approach. Initially inspired by Canadian artist Emily Carr, she began by painting trees and forests, gradually deconstructing these images into shapes and light. The constraints of the COVID-19 lockdowns prompted her to adopt a looser style, characterised by broad swathes of colour and visible brushstrokes, leading to a more intuitive and expressionistic technique.

In her studio practice, Goldsmith begins her day by completing ongoing works to reacquaint herself with her materials and techniques before embarking on new pieces.

She often prepares multiple canvases in advance, allowing her the freedom to explore and experiment without interruption. This approach underscores her commitment to spontaneity and the celebration of serendipitous discoveries in her art.

For more information on the work of Carrie Jean Goldsmith go to

https://www.CarrieJeanGoldsmith.com/

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.org

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

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In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Meg Malloy/Working Arts Club (@WorkingArtsClub)

Founded by Meg Molloy in 2024, the Working Arts Club is a London-based independent network dedicated to professionals in the arts from working-class backgrounds.

Originally from Margate, Molloy founded the club to confront the isolation and structural barriers often experienced by those from lower-income communities within the arts industry.

The club fosters a strong sense of community through networking events, workshops, and panel discussions featuring influential working-class voices in the creative sector.

Since its inception, it has grown rapidly, with nearly 1,000 members—approximately 75% of whom identify as women. More than just a professional resource, the Working Arts Club provides a space for solidarity and honest conversation about class-based challenges in the arts.

Looking ahead from its first anniversary, Molloy hopes to broaden the club’s reach into schools and universities, encouraging young people from similar backgrounds to pursue and thrive in creative careers.

For more information on the work of Working Arts Club contact [email protected]

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.