Learn more about Esther Kim Varet: https://www.estherkimvaret.com/

This week, Carrie chats with Esther Kim Varet—co-founder of Various Small Fires, the gallery with locations in LA, Seoul, and Dallas—to discuss her journey from opening a gallery at 24 (inspired by a chance $60,000 payday at an art fair) to running for Congress in Orange County.

Yes, she's the real-life inspiration behind the gallery owner character in HBO's Girls. But this conversation goes far deeper than pop culture moments. Esther talks about building an empire in an industry not designed for someone who looks like her, the lessons she learned from art world legend Mary Boone, and why "fake it till you make it" actually works in contemporary art.

Then we come to the pivot point: Why would someone at the top of the art world walk away to run for Congress? As the daughter of North Korean refugees who started with $400 and a shiitake mushroom farm in Texas, Esther explains her urgent mission to fight authoritarianism, protect free speech, and ensure her kids inherit a democracy worth living in. She's not just changing the art world anymore—she's fighting for the future.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Seen podcast.

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About Behind The Seen

The Behind The Seen Series brings on art world professionals of all sorts to give you insight into what the art world is really like. Curious what it’s like being a gallerist, an art critic or a curator? Then this series is for you.

This week, Carrie Scott sits down with artist Wilma Woolf.

Wilma is a Virtual Artist working in London. In 2020 she completed a Masters in Fine Art at Central Saint Martins, graduating with a Distinction. She has exhibited her work at The Tate Modern, V&A and at Richard Saltoun Gallery in Mayfair with a solo exhibition centred around her installation, Domestic. In 2022 Woolf was invited to the Houses of Parliament to display her work Domestic, which was then discussed by MP Rosie Duffiled in a House of Commons debate. She has recently been interviewed by Art Newspaper and displayed her work "I Collected You Carefully" at the Richard Saltoun Gallery alongside an artist talk chaired by Hettie Judah, art critic and guardian journalist. Her latest exhibition was at the V&A in April 2024 as part of the 'Feminist Futures' exhibition. 
Woolf's core concern is the extrapolation of political injustices told through data, collected testimonials and the communication of this through artistic means.
Integral to the meaning of her work is the making process. Her works are often memorialistic in nature and are both labour and research intensive. Through this making process she fulfils a personal devotional need to pay tribute to people whose lives have been affected and interrupted by injustice. 
Woolf's work is noted for being repetitive, organised and often comprising of grids or grid like structures. It is multi-disciplinary in its approach, incorporating installations, sculptural and 2D work, through diverse materials such as concrete, photography, glass, light and ceramics.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Seen podcast. Liked what you heard? Get early access to these episodes and a ton of other great art content by becoming a member of Seen at seen.art (⁠⁠⁠⁠https://seen.art⁠⁠⁠⁠).

Join our free newsletter and become an art insider:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://mailchi.mp/seen/waitlist⁠⁠⁠

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This week, Carrie Scott interviews artist Richelle Rich.

What does Margaret Thatcher have to do with Mr. Whippy ice cream? And why does it matter to contemporary art?

Listen to this episode to find out.

Working from her vine-covered studio in Santa Monica, Richelle is finally looking back at the Isle of Wight—the small island where she grew up. Her current work explores systems of power through unexpected objects: ice cream, chalk cliffs, and folklore. She's investigating the urban legend that Margaret Thatcher invented soft-serve ice cream as an entry point to the intersection of personal and political history.

We talk about her decade traveling with an inflatable sex doll as her alter ego, creating a giant floral installation spelling "cunt" in the California desert, and why she prefers subversive ambiguity over overt political messaging—except when it comes to abortion rights.

But this goes beyond art. We get honest about motherhood and creative practice—making art from dirty nappies during postpartum depression, raising teenage boys who understand privilege without guilt, and feeling like a wild horse being broken in even with help and privilege.

We explore "escape velocity" from island culture, becoming more politically active in LA than she ever was in London, and how our generation of women is partnered with the first generation of men figuring out modern fatherhood with no roadmap.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Seen podcast. Liked what you heard? Get early access to these episodes and a ton of other great art content by becoming a member of Seen at seen.art (⁠⁠⁠⁠https://seen.art⁠⁠⁠⁠).

Join our free newsletter and become an art insider:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://mailchi.mp/seen/waitlist⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode of the Seeing series, curator Carrie Scott sits down in studio with Joel Mesler .

In this deeply personal conversation, Joel opens up about the end of his abandonment issues, why he deliberately chooses discomfort, and what it really means to create permission for others to feel. As an introvert who holds office hours at galleries, he embodies fascinating contradictions—and his radical honesty about parenting, art market strategies, and personal healing makes this one of our most destabilizing interviews yet.

What happens when you sit down with an artist whose work demands genuine vulnerability from everyone in the room? Listen to find out.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Seen podcast. Liked what you heard? Get early access to these episodes and a ton of other great art content by becoming a member of Seen at seen.art (⁠⁠⁠https://seen.art⁠⁠⁠).

Join our free newsletter and become an art insider:⁠⁠⁠ https://mailchi.mp/seen/waitlist⁠

If you want to connect with us between episodes, follow us on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/watchseenart⁠⁠⁠).

In this episode, artist Richard Phillips sits down with Carrie Scott to talk everything from his meteoric rise after being featured on Gossip Girl, to being 'cancelled' and the abrupt closure of his show at Gagosian. From his unconventional creative process and willingness to destroy seemingly finished works to why he believes today's artists are creating from a place of fear - Richard reminds us that we can't always believe what we hear or see on the internet.

Richard Phillips is an American artist known for large-scale photorealistic paintings that often depict women sourced from fashion magazines and gossip publications. After receiving his BFA from Massachusetts College of Art in 1984 and MFA from Yale School of Art in 1986, Phillips worked as an art handler at the Guggenheim Museum before establishing his painting career. His glossy, hyperrealistic style transforms mass media imagery into fine art, with the artist stating that "fashion is not separate from art" when describing his approach to appropriating commercial source material.

From Carrie: "Perhaps my expectations were low. But I left so happy to have met this man, and indeed happy to have seen his work in person. His facility, and agenda are both extraordinary. His art speaks to the complexities of modern life, exploring themes of celebrity, consumerism, and the intersection of art and popular culture. And I think the art world needs Richard right now. Even if we don’t really want to look at how ugly that side of things can be."

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Seen podcast. Liked what you heard? Get early access to these episodes and a ton of other great art content by becoming a member of Seen at seen.art (⁠⁠https://seen.art⁠⁠).

Join our free newsletter and become an art insider:⁠⁠ https://mailchi.mp/seen/waitlist⁠

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In this episode, Carrie sits down with Berto Herrera, an American artist and former U.S. military member now based in Germany, who brings a unique perspective to exploring themes of identity, power, and technology through multidisciplinary work. Trained at Parsons and involved early in his career with Los Angeles's influential art collective Box Eight, he worked for a decade as an art director at Adidas before returning to fine art. His practice spans installations, photography, painting, and digital works, driven by philosophical reflections on humanity and addressing themes of consumerism, late-capitalism, corporatism, and cultural identity, with all of his work since his first exhibition in 2006 centered on dismantling and examining subtle cultural biases that shape societal dynamics.

From Carrie: "Berto Herrera's work might not be overtly political or totally autobiographical, but we talk about both those things in our interview. He's constantly trying to raise awareness around things that matter to him, but also that should matter to all of us. Issues around surveillance and racism and military force, these are big things, and he puts them in his work so vividly, but he does it under the veil of beauty."

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Seen podcast. Liked what you heard? Get early access to these episodes and a ton of other great art content by becoming a member of Seen at seen.art (⁠⁠⁠https://seen.art⁠⁠⁠).

Join our free newsletter and become an art insider:⁠⁠⁠ https://mailchi.mp/seen/waitlist⁠⁠

If you want to connect with us between episodes, follow us on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/watchseenart⁠⁠⁠).

In this week's episode of Behind the Seen, Carrie Scott sits down with the art world's favourite YouTuber and art educator: James Payne from Great Art Explained.

What happens when a self-proclaimed "worst artist in history" becomes one of the world's most beloved art educators? Meet James Payne, the mastermind behind Great Art Explained - the YouTube channel that's quietly revolutionized how we think about art.

In this conversation, James reveals the beautifully accidental journey that led him from giving tours to North American students to creating 15-minute videos that have captivated nearly 2 million followers. We dive into his "sleepy voice" that sends people to sleep (and he loves it), why he never shows his face on camera, and how a tweet from Stephen Fry changed everything.

But this isn't just about YouTube success - it's about democratizing art. James breaks down his mission to make art accessible to everyone, from art experts to "that 15-year-old boy in Wisconsin" he keeps in mind with every video. No art speak, no gatekeeping, just pure passion translated into the clearest, most compelling language possible.

We explore the myths James debunks in his new book - from Georgia O'Keeffe's flowers (spoiler: Stieglitz was the problem) to Rodin's factory-made sculptures, and why Monet getting France's first speeding ticket actually matters for understanding his work. Plus, the three-year research journey that nearly broke him but resulted in something he's never been more proud of.

This is a masterclass in turning expertise into accessibility, following your gut, and proving that the best educators aren't always academics - sometimes they're passionate tour guides who stumbled into something extraordinary during lockdown.

Perfect for: Art lovers, educators, content creators, anyone who's ever felt intimidated by the art world, and people who believe culture should be for everyone.

Featured: James Payne's new book "Great Art Explained: How to Look at Art and Understand It" - out October 2nd (UK) / October 14th (US & worldwide)

Grab your copy: https://amzn.to/4nLZFzp

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Seen podcast.

Liked what you heard? Get early access to these episodes and a ton of other great art content by becoming a member of Seen at seen.art.

If you want to connect with us between episodes, follow us on Instagram, @watchseenart.

About Behind The Seen

TheBehind The Seen Series brings on art world professionals of all sorts to give you insight into what the art world is really like. Curious what it’s like being a gallerist, an art critic or a curator? Then this series is for you.

In this episode, photographer Alexei Riboud sits down with Carrie Scott. Born into the art world yet carving his own distinctive path, Riboud shares intimate reflections on his journey, influences, and approach to photography as both art form and personal expression.

Our conversation explores Riboud's fascinating relationship with photography - a medium he embraces for its ability to balance his love of solitude with meaningful connection to the world. With candid insight, he discusses growing up surrounded by artistic luminaries, trading prints with photography legends, and developing a style that honors influences while remaining distinctly his own.

Alexei Riboud is an accomplished photographer born into remarkable artistic lineage as the son of sculptor/poet Barbara Chase-Riboud and renowned photographer Marc Riboud. Despite this heritage, Alexei's path to photography was not predetermined but personally discovered, leading to a distinctive visual language that balances documentary tradition with contemporary vision.

His work has focused on documentary storytelling with particular interest in communities at the margins, including recent projects in Panama's Afro-Caribbean community in Colón. Riboud's approach combines the humanistic perspective reminiscent of his father's work with elements of the dynamic energy found in photographers like William Klein, whom he greatly admires.

Beyond his photography, Riboud is known for his thoughtful reflections on the medium itself and its power to connect people across cultural boundaries. His work continues to evolve while maintaining a commitment to authentic visual storytelling.

From Carrie: I don't mind admitting that Alexei Riboud kind of terrifies me. He comes from art world grace, really. Barbara Chase-Riboud is his mother, Marc Riboud is his father, and so his kind of understanding of art, it's pure and instinctive, right? I've studied it for years - he grew up with it. There's a different thing here. And you see that in the work for sure. He's got a fluency that it's extraordinary. But what I love about being able to interview artists is that you learn something new when you speak to them. And today I realized that actually Alexei is a photographer in spite of the fact that he was raised by artists. This wasn't something that was like a foregone conclusion and not something that maybe they even encouraged. He found photography kind of in spite of where he comes from. And again, I think you see that in the work because it's raw and honest and there's no sentimentality to it. It's just extraordinary. Like him.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Seen podcast. Liked what you heard? Get early access to these episodes and a ton of other great art content by becoming a member of Seen at seen.art (⁠https://seen.art⁠).

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In this episode, Kofi Perry, the 2023 Ingram Prize-winning painter, chats with Carrie Scott.

Kofi's large-scale oil paintings challenge everything you think you know about classical art and contemporary identity. In this revealing conversation, Carrie Scott explores how this emerging artist bridges ancient artistic traditions with futuristic visions, creating imagined figures that feel both timeless and urgently contemporary.

Kofi Perry (b. 1998, Sidon) is an American contemporary painter based in New York City and London.

From Carrie: "Kofi’s paintings are a vibrant exploration of cultural identity and social issues. When we spoke, he explained how he blends abstraction and realism in his work. His pieces are colorful, intricate painting that challenges you to think about race, history, and power. His art is a bold and thought-provoking journey through identity and social commentary."

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Seen podcast. Liked what you heard? Get early access to these episodes and a ton of other great art content by becoming a member of Seen at seen.art (⁠⁠https://seen.art⁠⁠).

Join our free newsletter and become an art insider:⁠⁠ https://mailchi.mp/seen/waitlist

If you want to connect with us between episodes, follow us on Instagram:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/watchseenart⁠⁠).

In this episode, Carrie Scott joins painter Jeffrey Melo in his New York studio.

From Carrie: "Jeffrey's commitment to representation, particularly of Black people, is unwavering. To appreciate his work fully, it's essential to view it through the lens of Thelma Golden's "post-black" concept from the late 1990s. This vision embraces a nuanced understanding of Blackness—one that celebrates complexity, multiplicity, and individuality. It rejects monolithic identities in favor of a fluid, dynamic Black culture, filled with diverse voices and perspectives.

Jeffery Melo embodies this "post-black" paradigm. His art transcends traditional boundaries, exploring intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and class. With each brushstroke, he challenges stereotypes and celebrates the richness of Black culture, illuminating stories often left in the shadows."

Jeffrey is an artist whose paintings, sculptures, and murals reflect history, music, art/culture, and looks to celebrate, mourn, and bring light to the untold stories of characters in history. He uses portraits to illustrate a realness and an ability to emotionally connect with the stories one would otherwise not be as familiar with. His practice of oil paintings provides you a window into a world that could very well be your own, allowing you, the audience, to empathize with the work and the story it tells. Melo’s aim is to provide the audience with the tools to get curious, inquisitive, and accountable when considering very familiar stories being presented through unfamiliar characters. 

Jeffrey Melo was born in the Bronx, NY and currently resides in NYC. Melo received a BFA in Illustration from the University Of The Arts in Philadelphia.  After graduating in 2012 and moving back to New York, Melo found himself out of love and out of practice with art, which lasted through 2018. As a First Generation American of immigrant parents from the Dominican Republic, Melo was always  reminded of his identity. It wasn’t until he went to college that he discovered that who he was perceived very differently amongst his peers. His passion was reignited after a sudden shift in the climate of race and equality in America. This need to have his voice heard inspired Melo and brought purpose back into his Art. 

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Seen podcast. Liked what you heard? Get early access to these episodes and a ton of other great art content by becoming a member of Seen at seen.art (⁠⁠https://seen.art⁠⁠).

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