Not Real Art

Shifting gears into an art career can be an exhilarating but challenging task. While passion is a plus, this transition also demands discipline, hard work, and the right kind of encouragement from those around you. For Miles Regis, everything fell into place once the hard-working L.A. artist found support among a steadily growing roster of clients and collectors.

On today’s podcast, host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power sits down with Miles to discuss the painter’s path from entertainment executive to full-time artist at age 40. “A lot of my early collectors were actors and actresses, celebrities,” he says. “It was then a little bit easier for me to jump ship and become a full-time artist. I was actually encouraged by a few of my collectors to do it…that encouragement helped me make the leap.”

Miles’ story may highlight the importance of community, but the Trinidad-born artist stresses that success takes more than famous friends and collectors with deep pockets. “It doesn't matter what you do,” he says. “If you are to succeed at it, you have to put in the hours. End of story.”

In today’s episode, Miles shares some actionable advice for anyone who’s thinking about leaping into a creative career. He discusses leaning into your purpose, using transferable skills to your advantage, and the undeniable benefits of practice, practice, and more practice. If you’re serious about leaving your nine-to-five for a full-time arts career, learning to balance vision with industry practicalities is a necessity. Our conversation with Miles is designed to help listeners get started on the first leg of their journey into a career they love. For a few practical words of wisdom and a whole lot of inspiration from someone who believes “every action is an opportunity for creative self-expression,” tune into our conversation with the incomparable Miles Regis. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• How Miles uses art to make sense of his reality (and how it’s made him a better parent).
• A look at his previous life as a headhunter in the entertainment industry.
• Insight into his transition from the corporate world to full-time artist.
• The encouragement and support Miles received from his early collectors.
• Multifaceted ways that he has expressed himself creatively since he was a kid.
• Why it’s so powerful to lean into your purpose and do what you love to do.
• The work ethic Miles inherited from his parents and how it has served him.
• Ways that his upbringing in Trinidad has influenced his creative practice.
• What moving to the US taught Miles about resilience and finding his tribe.
• His experience of race and racism in the US (and how it evolved once he had children).
• Some of the ways that he deals with inequality and social injustice in his work.
• Where you can see Miles’ work until the end of the year and beyond!

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/miles-regis

Greetings and salutations, creative brothers and sisters! In the midst of moving his family of four into a new home, your trusty host and Not Real Art Founder Scott “Sourdough” Power is a little less tireless than usual, which is why we’re keeping things short and sweet in today’s auditorial. Tune in for some personal updates and our stance on the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, plus some highlights from recent episodes and a sneak peek at what’s to come on the podcast!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Moving house, a Burning Man raincheck, and other personal updates from Sourdough.
• How Not Real Art stands with and supports the creatives participating in the writer’s strike.
• A special shout-out to some recent guests on the Not Real Art Podcast!
• Who you can look forward to hearing from in the near future.

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/sourdough-auditorial

If you’re a longtime listener of our podcast, you already know NOT REAL ART strives to make art accessible to everyone—not just a privileged few. Today’s guest shares a similar mission: As the co-founder of UNREPD, a cutting-edge L.A. gallery that seeks to represent the underrepresented, Sarah Griffin offers a safe space for artists to sell their work without the pretense that comes with typical “white cube” galleries. “As long as we're doing what feels great, what we like, what we're excited about, that's how we stay on the right path,” she says. 

In today’s podcast episode, host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power sits down with Sarah Griffin to discuss the consultant’s ongoing work with marginalized artists and communities. “People have been told that there's a ‘right’ way to do [art],” she says. “Somewhere along the line, people are told that there's a way to make real art. There's a way to make good art. There's a way to look at art. There's a way to understand art. This is what you're supposed to feel about this artist because this is a good artist—all of that is bullshit. None of that is real.”

Sarah co-founded UNREPD in 2019 after she met Tricia Benitez Beanum, an estate sale specialist and interior stylist who owns the Pop Up Home vintage showroom. The two quickly bonded over their shared vision to advance the careers of overlooked artists by introducing them to a new collector base. “[Tricia and I] are both outsiders,” Sarah says. “Neither of us came through the art world. We think that that works to our benefit because we have something a little bit different to say.” 

In this episode, Sarah explains how UNREPD sets itself apart from the cold, unfriendly galleries that intimidate artists and buyers alike. She also shares advice for emerging artists and waxes poetic about the artists who call UNREPD home. Don’t miss our conversation with a true trailblazer, gallerist Sarah Griffin.

Key Points From This Episode:

• How Sarah and Tricia discovered their mutual passion for representing the unrepresented. 
• The different perspectives that they bring to the art world as “outsiders.”
• Why she believes that art should be about feeling, not knowing.
• The “buy it because you love it” approach that she takes with collectors.
• Reframing art as a necessity, not a luxury.
• How to find high-quality, original, affordable art that fits any budget.
• The special place that Chicago holds in Sarah’s heart.
• Overcoming the unique challenges that come with running a gallery like UNREPD.
• Ways that UNREPD sets itself apart from typical “white cube” spaces.
• Highlighting some of the incredible artists that Sarah is working with.
• Insight into how UNREPD has built its stable of artists.
• Why Sarah emphasizes that there is no “right” way to make or consume art.
• The role that relationship management plays for gallery owners.

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/sarah-griffin

If you’ve spent any time in Los Angeles, you’re probably familiar with WRDSMTH. The street artist’s iconic stencil of a typewriter cranking out pages of inspirational text is almost as ubiquitous as the city’s traffic.

In today’s podcast episode, host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power sits down with WRDSMITH (aka Phil Brody) to discuss the artist’s unconventional path from Midwestern bookworm to renowned writer and street artist. “I was being creative from when I was a comic book kid,” says WRDSMTH, who initially relocated to L.A. to chase his screenwriting dreams. “When you look at who I am now and what I'm doing now, it just all made sense, all these little stops and starts and different lives that I had.”

Realizing he needed a hobby when he arrived in L.A., WRDSMTH took to the streets and began stenciling, painting, and wheat-pasting his heart out. And the rest, as they say, is history. Today, his work resonates with city dwellers from L.A. and New York to Melbourne and Tokyo. “I always believed in my writing, but when you're a street artist, you're putting art out for the people,” says WRDSMTH. “I was hoping to inspire them and motivate them. But then, when people said, ‘I'd like this on canvas or wood or glass,’ I was taken aback—I never expected to make a dime, but then I realized there might be something here.” 

His most memorable messages are inspired by the conversations he hears, the things he sees everyday, and his journey from comic-book-kid to world-renowned artist. Join us as WRDSMTH shares his thoughts on making authentic connections, reinventing yourself as often as possible, and choosing “paths that make you happy,” even if they’re less traveled. “Dive into pools of the unknown,” he advises. “I think that's so healthy. It's scary, but it's healthy.” 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Insight into WRDSMTH’s trajectory, from writing scripts to writing on walls.
• Rising together: what he really means when it says it’s about “who you know.”
• WRDSMTH’s cookout approach to making connections in the LA art scene.
• How he brought what he loved about comic books and movies into his street art.
• The role of reinvention and why he encourages us to “dive into pools of unknown.”
• How Star Wars inspired WRDSMTH’s dream to become a writer.
• Why he loved the creative control that street art gave him.
• Being the black sheep and choosing an unconventional path to success.
• From vice to candy: some of the brands that WRDSMTH worked on as a copywriter.
• Why he believes you’re doing it wrong if you’re focused on the payout, not the journey.
• How he navigated the “sprawling” world of LA and started doing street art as a hobby.
• The correlation between commissions and building a career as an artist.
• A glimpse into WRDSMTH’s creative process and where he gets inspiration from.
• What the future holds for WRDSMTH (plus a sneak peek into his next book!)

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/WRDSMTH

If you start an art publication from scratch with virtually no capital, prepare to get creative with your time and resources. Today’s guest, Victor Gonzalez, founded GRØSS Magazine fresh out of college with a gleam in his eye and few assets to his name. Fast forward seven years, and the once wobbly publication has blossomed into Grøss Creative Studio, a thriving media company also known as the GCS Agency. 

“Coming into print publishing with very shallow pockets—it really made me resourceful,” says Victor,  who also heads GRØSS as the editor in chief. “I had to lean into that quality. I think that quality has always been instilled in me because I'm the product of immigrant parents, who were just always resourceful, trying to find their own way, trying to do the most with what they had, and figure out ways to stretch their resources, whether it was money or any kind of resource.”

The GCS brand currently houses two initiatives. There’s GRØSS, a contemporary art platform focused on creating space for creative talent, cross-pollination, and ingenuity. Then there’s Relish, a traveling art initiative that empowers, connects, and celebrates creative communities everywhere through a growing range of special projects.

“For the past seven years that I've been running these brands, I’ve worked with a lot of really, really talented artists,” says Victor, who curates and writes for GRØSS. “Because of that, I've definitely had a hard time identifying as an artist…when I tell [people] what I do, they're like, ‘Oh, are you an artist yourself?’ I would usually kind of shy away and be like, ‘Oh, no. Not really.’ But getting back into this has helped me claim my own identity as an artist, a creative.”

Tune into our conversation with GRØSS Magazine’s Victor Gonzalez to hear the founder’s thoughts on writing (“very therapeutic”) and get a sneak peek at the upcoming art documentary he’s producing. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Background on Victor, his love of art, and his entrepreneurial pursuits.
• His publication, GRØSS Magazine, and what motivated him to launch the GCS Agency. 
• How the pandemic reinvigorated his passion for art and artists.
• Victor’s thoughts on why he struggles with identifying as an artist.
• Being the child of immigrant parents and the resourcefulness they instilled in him.
• Ways that Victor has honed his writing skills over the years.
• Starting a media company with virtually no capital and the art of wearing many different hats!
• The story behind the name, GRØSS.
• How he founded the Relish Traveling Art Program as a way to create community.
• Victor’s take on the current state of art media and art journalism.
• AI in the art world and how Victor has been using it for rapid ideation.
• A sneak peek at the art documentary that he’s is producing.
• Victor’s first anniversary with his wife and the “miraculous” story of how they met.
• Tips for artists on building their practice, their career, and their business,
• Some of the exciting upcoming plans for GRØSS and Relish.

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/gross-magazine

Remote, Badir McCleary’s video series on public art, opens with an ambitious statement from the L.A.-based filmmaker: “In a world full of vibrant creativity and captivating stories, there are secrets waiting to be uncovered. From towering sculptures to interactive murals, each stroke and structure is a testament to the boundless imagination of artists who dared to dream big.”

Created in partnership with NOT REAL ART, Remote transports viewers to hidden corners of the globe, where public art ignites conversation, breathes life into forgotten neighborhoods, and transforms entire cities into living galleries. On today’s podcast episode, host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power sits down with longtime friend and collaborator Badir Mcleary to discuss the filmmaker’s interest in public art as a force for radical change.

“Public art was a great topic for this project,” Badir tells Scott. “You don't have to worry about galleries closing. People can easily access what we're talking about. It makes everyone feel included. It's not, ‘Oh. Well, you might have missed it,’ or ‘You had to have a ticket.’ No. You just go.”

“Desert X,” the series’ first installment, sees the filmmaker toting his camera to Coachella Valley in search of site-specific desert installations hiding in plain sight of L.A. “Even though [L.A.] is bustling with a bunch of creatives and creative things, [...] there's just so much more out there,” Badir says, explaining the idea behind Remote and its first episode. “I go to a lot of places in search of art, especially out and around California,” he continues. “There's a lot of stuff that's out in the deserts and just an hour or two drive right outside the city.” 

The second episode in Badir’s Remote series, “Aesthetic Information as Public Art,” transports viewers to the filmmaker’s hometown of Philadelphia, where murals and markers shape the city’s cultural and historical identity. “Philly, for the most part, is a mural- and graffiti-heavy city, filled to the brim with art schools and universities but no true art scene,” says Badir, who now lives and works in L.A. “It has completely done a 180 turn since my youth by providing more opportunities for arts-based activities and mentorship for emerging artists.”

Want a preview of the third episode? Tune into today’s episode with Badir McCleary, who gives listeners a sneak peek into the incredible stories behind the Remote series. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Badir reflects on his experience of creating Remote (and why it doesn’t feel like work).
• How this project is helping him become a better storyteller.
• Ways that Remote has forced Badir to step outside of his comfort zone.
• Why the editing process is such a challenge, especially when it comes to content about art.
• The key to making videos that are impactful and keep viewers coming back for more.
• How viewers can use Remote as a guide to “what’s cool out there in art.”
• A sneak peek into episode two, which explores markers and murals in Philadelphia.
• The types of leaders that are vital to the survival of any creative community.
• Teasers for episodes three, four, five, and six of Remote!
• Questioning what happens to public art when it “comes inside.”
• How Remote is working towards the vision of making art accessible to everyone.
• The importance of feedback (and the positive responses that Badir has already received).
• Ways that Badir is improving his skills with each episode.
• How he infuses the series with his positive attitude and hard work.

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/badir-mccleary-remote

As you read this sentence, Black Rock City is preparing to welcome Burners home for another year of jaw-dropping art and all-night dancing in the desert. That’s right, Burning Man 2023 is upon us! To celebrate, we’ve invited one of the most talented artists on the playa to chat about his annual contribution to the festivities—an artist so gifted that he, like Cher, only needs one name: Alice, mirror artist.

On today’s podcast episode, host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power sits down with Alice to discuss the artist’s dream-inspired mirror sculptures. “I find a lot of inspiration for my own art in [my] dreams,” he says. “When you're patient, quiet, and attentive, then the dream will show you what you need to know.” 

Based in Orange County, Alice first became interested in art as a child. While his formal education centers on automotive technology and music, Alice has a talent for what he calls “weird art”: large-scale, kaleidoscopic mirror sculptures that transport viewers into the fourth dimension. Right now, Alice is gearing up for Burning Man 2023, where his five-foot tall infinity mirror sculpture, “Tesseract,” will appear for the first time. Constructed from glass, mirror, and LEDs, “Tesseract” is another name for “hypercube,” or a fourth-dimensional cube. “A tesseract is to the cube what the cube is to the square,” says Alice, who hopes the “citizens of Black Rock City […] will immerse themselves deeply in the appreciation of the unknown fourth dimension.”

Heavily influenced by dreams, Alice is also a Dreamschool scholar with The School of Metaphysics, where he’s studying to become a dream interpreter. In this episode, Alice explains how dreams inspire his sculptures, help him solve creative challenges, and point him in the right direction. We also discuss the value of keeping a dream journal, then get a sneak peek at “Tesseract,” which Burners will be able to see on the playa later this year. “Anything that is possible can happen [at Burning Man and] has happened there,” Alice says. “It's like every holiday wrapped into one, for adults, for a week long.”

In Today’s Podcast Episode

Alice discusses…

• The story behind his name: from Nicholas Baumann to Nicky Alice to Alice
• His unique trajectory, from mechanic to band manager to artist
• Lucid dreaming, astral travel, the School of Metaphysics, and dream circles
• How he uses his dreams to follow signs from the universe 
• How to manifest the answer to any challenge using dream incubation
• His dream journal and some tips for keeping your own
• Why he believes “being lost” is a part of your success
• The inspiration behind “Tesseract,” his installation for Burning Man 2023
• What Burning Man means to him and how it inspired him to create his own event
• Where to find Alice online (and at Black Rock City this year)

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/alice-mirror-artist

We are back with more Comedy 420 from the hilarious Terrence DeLane, a stand-up comedian for the past eight years, who has recently expanded his repertoire by incorporating acting into his resume. We start the show debating sourdough best practices, and Scott explains what makes San Francisco sourdough bread different before diving into Terrence’s set at The Comedy Chateau. Get ready for a side-splitting stand-up comedy show with Terrence as he fearlessly tackles the treacherous terrain of relationship status updates in the world of social media, and unveils the surprising secrets behind his use of Spanish while charming women. Hear about the humorous hurdles he encounters in interracial relationships, including the nerve-wracking ordeal of meeting the parents. Laugh along as Terrence shares his epic tale of getting hit by a car as a fully grown adult and masterfully playing it cool, the complexities of dating a Latino man, his experiences of solo high moments, creating vision boards, and much more! Tune in for a hysterical live stand-up comedy show with the incredible Terrence DeLane! 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Terrence DeLane

Terrence DeLane on Twitter 

Terrence DeLane on Facebook

Terrence DeLane on Instagram

The Comedy Chateau 

Two Tickets To Paradise

Laugh Gallery

Laugh Gallery on Instagram

Scott ”Sourdough” Power

Katie Love

Known for its emphasis on figuration, surrealism, and pop culture, the New Contemporary Art movement has roots in the irreverent, high-energy counterculture of the ‘90s. Largely self-supported and community-driven, the movement has slowly taken shape beyond gallery walls, incorporating “lowbrow,” accessible, and socially-activated work by artists that tend to fall outside the mainstream. 

On today’s podcast episode, host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power sits down with Andrew Hosner of Thinkspace Projects to discuss the curator’s leading role in the New Contemporary Art movement. As the co-founder, curator, and owner of Thinkspace, Andrew is an authority on all things street art and L.A. subculture. “We're blessed to know a lot of people,” he says. “We’ve got our toe in the subculture. If we’re able to help be that mouthpiece that helps expand that bandwidth for those folks and get them seen by the general public and let them live their lives through their creativity and their God-given gifts and stuff like that, that's a pretty special thing.”

For nearly 20 years now, Andrew’s discerning eye for emerging talent, commitment to community building, and passion for pushing culture forward has resulted in an exceptional roster of lesser-known, mid-career, and established artists from all over the world (as well as a close-knit circle of loyal art-lovers that keep coming back for more). “In LA, a city that's probably got [a hundred things going on on any given night], we’re pretty blessed to have [so many people in] our community that are always showing up, month after month, to support us and our artists,” Andrew says. “We try to never lose sight of that.” 

In this episode, Andrew gives us a glimpse into Thinkspace’s history, charting its unconventional trajectory from a passion project to an internationally acclaimed gallery space. Tuning in, you’ll learn how Thinkspace’s focus on collaboration and community benefits both the gallery and the artists it supports. Don’t miss our conversation with the visionary curator behind Thinkspace Projects, Andrew Hosner. 

In Today’s Podcast Episode:

Andrew Hosner discusses…

• How Thinkspace found a foothold in the up-and-coming L.A. art scene
• The history behind the gallery and their unconventional approach
• The collaborative mindset that underpins Thinkspace’s marketing strategy
• How Thinkspace’s focus on community benefits both the gallery and its artists
• The gallery’s process for working with international artists and galleries
• Art as a spiritual product that benefits your health and well-being
• The juxtaposition of gentrification and economic development through art
• Why he refers to his ever-expanding art collection as a “roadmap”
• Insight into his approach as an art dealer: “If I wouldn’t buy it, I won’t try and sell it to you.”
• Why it's better to have art on the walls than money in the bank

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/andrew-hosner

Our individual and collective histories are composed of fragments—bits of information we piece together in different ways. According to former professional athlete, multidisciplinary artist, and NOT REAL ART 2022 grant winner Kiley Ames, these fragments can be rearranged and reinterpreted to create personalized perceptions of reality.

Using small, distinct brushstrokes to illustrate her philosophy on fragments, Kiley paints in an Impressionistic style that prioritizes light, color, and texture. “[Painting] is a very tactile experience, and I want people to get up close to it and see it [from] far away and look at it from the side,” says Kiley, who often invites patrons to her studio at the Beacon Arts Building in Inglewood, California. “I love for people to see my work in person […] the way I paint is incredibly difficult to see online, regardless of how great the photos are.”

On today’s podcast episode, host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power sits down with Kiley to discuss the importance of authenticity, how she developed her unique style, and why she ultimately embraces duality in both work and life. Kiley also shares her thoughts on freelancing at the Annie Leibovitz Studio for the better part of a decade: “When you see someone like Annie [Leibowitz] or Irving Penn or Van Gogh, you only see the final piece or the final photograph,” she says. “You don’t see all the ones that weren’t chosen.” In short? Even great artists don’t get it right the first time.

A self-professed latecomer to the art world, Kiley embraced an expressive style after realizing that “good art” isn’t necessarily photorealistic. “[Photorealistic art] is beautiful, but I also realized that it wasn’t representative of who I am,” she says. “ It took me a really long time to break out of that because you get rewarded for creating something that looks like something else.” Subjective, evocative, and dreamy, Kiley’s style evolved from exploration and experimentation, traits she encourages in other emerging artists. Tune into our conversation with Kiley Ames on the player below, then head over to our 2022 grant winner’s exhibition to see her winning work.

Key Points From This Episode:

• The welcoming community and support system that Kiley found at Beacon Arts Building.
• Challenges with networking in the art world and how Kiley has built relationships.
• Why it’s difficult to properly appreciate her paintings in pictures or online.
• How Kiley found her artistic voice and developed her unique visual style.
• Some insight into who Kiley is and how she embraces duality.
• What being a professional athlete taught her about discipline and redefining success.
• A look at Kiley’s creative process (which doesn’t involve sketchbooks!)
• Her most recent body of work and what it represents, and what she’s working on now.
• Kiley’s take on why lawmakers are focused on drag shows and not gun control.
• Ways that art can facilitate less combative discussions about very serious issues.
• Advice for navigating the art world, staying on budget, and applying for artist grants.
• The impact COVID had on Kiley as an artist, and how the ocean helped her personally.
• Lessons and personal reflections from Kiley’s experience of working with Annie Leibowitz.
• Words of wisdom for young artists: learn to fall in love with the process!
• Why artists shouldn't restrict themselves to just one medium.
• The stories that Kiley is trying to tell through her work and her approach to titles.

For more information, please visit http://notrealart.com/kiley-ames