TED Talks Art

By TED

What's TED Talks Art about?

Some of the world's greatest artists, designers, photographers and architects showcase their work and visions onstage at the TED conference, TEDx events and partner events around the world. You can also download these and many other videos free on TED.com, with an interactive English transcript and subtitles in up to 80 languages. TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading.

4.0

149 ratings

Download our free app to listen on your phone

LAST EPISODE

Ancient Pompeii's hidden me...

02.27.2023

Take a graffiti tour through ancient Pompeii with Roman archaeologist Jacqueline DiBiasie-Sammons and discover what 2,000-year-old scribblings from antiquity can teach us about life in modern times. A fascinating reminder of what we leave behind for future generations.

TED Talks Art episodes:

02.27.2023 Ancient Pompeii's hidden messages, preserved in graffiti \| Jacqueline DiBiasie-Sammons Take a graffiti tour through ancient Pompeii with Roman archaeologist Jacqueline DiBiasie-Sammons and discover what 2,000-year-old scribblings from antiquity can teach us about life in modern times. A fascinating reminder of what we leave behind for future generations.
02.06.2023 3 stories of Pakistani resilience, told in film \| Jawad Sharif TED Fellow Jawad Sharif was born with a rebellious streak -- and he's used it in his documentary films to amplify the unheard voices of Pakistan. Sharing three stories of everyday heroes -- a high-altitude mountaineer, a folk musician of ...
01.23.2023 The one question every aspiring leader needs to ask \| Constance Hockaday What does inclusive leadership look like? Artist and TED Fellow Constance Hockaday shares how the captain of a trans-Atlantic community raft taught her how to voice her hopes and desires, inspiring a vision of possibility for the future. Hockaday calls ...
12.15.2022 A creative approach to community climate action \| Xavier Cortada When he learned of the threat that rising sea levels posed to his coastal hometown of Miami, Florida, eco-artist Xavier Cortada founded a movement around beautifully designed elevation markers highlighting the risk of flood damage. The collaborative art project quickly ...
11.21.2022 AI-generated creatures that stretch the boundaries of imagination \| Sofia Crespo Can AI help us see beyond our human capabilities? Through a kaleidoscopic blend of technology, nature and art, neural artist Sofia Crespo brings to life animals that push the boundaries of creativity and imagination. Her artistic renditions of chimeras combine ...
09.16.2022 How dance can unleash your inner joy \| Ryan Heffington "We all have our own beautiful ways of moving, and this is worth celebrating," says dancer and choreographer Ryan Heffington. Inviting you to reconsider your connection to dance, he shows how even everyday experiences -- tying your shoes, rocking a ...
09.07.2022 What if you could sing in your favorite musician's voice? \| Holly Herndon What if you could create new music using your favorite musician's voice? Sharing her melodic gifts with the world, multidisciplinary artist Holly Herndon introduces Holly+, an AI-powered instrument that lets people sing with her own voice. Musician Pher joins her ...
08.19.2022 Intelligent floating machines inspired by nature \| Anicka Yi Taking cues from soft robotics and the natural world, conceptual artist Anicka Yi builds lighter-than-air machines that roam and react like autonomous life forms. Her floating "aerobes" inspire us to think about new ways of living with machines -- and ...
07.15.2022 Stories of photographing monumental people -- from Michelle Obama to Stephen Hawking \| Platon With his art, photographer Platon seeks to strip away assumptions and leave viewers with a window into his subject's character, filling our eyes with wonder and curiosity. Sharing extraordinary stories of what it's like to photograph some of the world's ...
06.27.2022 Why art is a tool for hope \| JR Famed for enormous black-and-white portraits that are pasted on surfaces ranging from the Louvre to the US-Mexico border wall, multimedia artist JR continues to tackle ambitious projects. In this powerfully moving talk, he shares how he made a giant mural ...
06.24.2022 An interdimensional performance of imagination \| Particle Ink In a peek into their sprawling metaverse, Particle Ink dazzles with an interdimensional performance combining augmented reality, dance and video projected onto the TED stage.
05.17.2022 A creator-led internet, built on blockchain \| Adam Mosseri As digital assets like cryptocurrency and NFTs become more mainstream, design thinker and head of Instagram Adam Mosseri believes that creators are uniquely positioned to benefit. These blockchain-enabled technologies could remove the need for a "middleman" in the form of ...
04.05.2022 NFTs, the metaverse and the future of digital art \| Elizabeth Strickler In need of a brief yet illuminating lesson on the obsession with NFTs? Elizabeth Strickler breaks down the acronym and explains the fundamentals of non-fungible tokens, sharing how these digital assets are changing the landscape for artists and content creators ...
03.30.2022 How webtoons are changing movies and TV \| Hyeonmi Kim Pop culture is changing thanks to a different kind of storytelling, says digital strategist Hyeonmi Kim. They're called webtoons: comic-like illustrations published in short segments and meant to be read on a smartphone in five to 10 minutes. Kim breaks ...
03.21.2022 Powerful photos that honor the lives of overlooked women \| Smita Sharma In some parts of the world, girls are as likely to be married off or trafficked as they are to be educated. Photojournalist and TED Fellow Smita Sharma thoughtfully depicts overlooked girls and young women, while making sure not to ...
03.01.2022 My secret to creating real magic \| Christina Tosi In an infectiously joyous talk, Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi shares the sugary jolt of her first food memory and behind-the-scenes stories of her bakery's famously inventive cakes, cookies and treats. This talk may make you hungry -- but it'll ...
02.08.2022 How film captures the space between hope and despair \| Mounia Akl When Lebanon was rocked by a massive explosion at the port of Beirut, filmmaker Mounia Akl came face-to-face with chaos -- and the power of art to create some sense of order. In this poetic, moving talk, Akl shares the ...
01.28.2022 The mind-bending art of deep time \| Katie Paterson Short-sightedness may be the greatest threat to humanity, says conceptual artist Katie Paterson, whose work engages with deep time -- an idea that describes the history of the Earth over a time span of millions of years. In this lively ...
01.12.2022 How comic strips create better health care \| Sam Hester Comics creator Sam Hester is part of a growing movement within health care: graphic medicine. In short, literally drawing attention to a patient's needs and goals with pictures to foster better and more accessible caretaking. Hester shares how illustrating small ...
01.12.2022 How visual storytelling creates better health care \| Sam Hester Comics creator Sam Hester is part of a growing movement within health care: graphic medicine. In short, literally drawing attention to a patient's needs and goals with pictures to foster better and more accessible caretaking. Hester shares how illustrating small ...
11.10.2021 "Being Human" \| Naima Penniman In this stunning spoken-word performance, poet and "freedom-forging futurist" Naima Penniman celebrates the wonders of the natural world and humanity's connection to it. "I wonder if the sun debates dawn some mornings," she says.
11.10.2021 "Being Human" \| Naima Penniman In this stunning spoken-word performance, poet and "freedom-forging futurist" Naima Penniman celebrates the wonders of the natural world and humanity's connection to it. "I wonder if the sun debates dawn some mornings," she says.
11.10.2021 The many reasons to eat a plant-based diet \| Derek Sarno Vegan chef (and head chef of TED Countdown Summit) Derek Sarno is on a mission to unleash the mighty power of plants, creating nutritious food from mushrooms and vegetables that's full of texture and flavor -- and good for the ...
11.10.2021 The mighty power and flavor of plants \| Derek Sarno Vegan chef (and head chef of TED Countdown Summit) Derek Sarno is on a mission to unleash the mighty power of plants, creating nutritious food from mushrooms and vegetables that's full of texture and flavor -- and good for the ...
10.21.2021 How your nature photos can help protect wild animals \| Tanya Berger-Wolf We're losing animal and plant species at such a swift, unprecedented rate that it's nearly impossible to keep up. Computational biologist Tanya Berger-Wolf demonstrates how harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and one of the internet's biggest resources -- public ...
09.23.2021 The art of paying attention \| Wendy MacNaughton In an invitation to slow down and look at the world around you, graphic journalist Wendy MacNaughton illustrates how drawing can spark deeply human, authentic connections. Ready to try? Grab a pencil and join MacNaughton for this delightful talk. "Drawing ...
08.09.2021 Why are stolen African artifacts still in Western museums? \| Jim Chuchu African artifacts shown in museums worldwide are often not borrowed, but stolen -- and TED Fellow Jim Chuchu is on a mission to get them back. Learn the sordid history behind how many of the collections in the West came ...
08.09.2021 Why are stolen African artifacts still in Western museums? \| Jim Chuchu African artifacts shown in museums worldwide are often not borrowed, but stolen -- and TED Fellow Jim Chuchu is on a mission to get them back. Learn the sordid history behind how many of the collections in the West came ...
08.09.2021 Why are stolen African artifacts still in Western museums? \| Jim Chuchu African artifacts shown in museums worldwide are often not borrowed, but stolen -- and TED Fellow Jim Chuchu is on a mission to get them back. Learn the sordid history behind how many of the collections in the West came ...
05.24.2021 Documentary films that explore trauma -- and make space for healing \| Almudena Toral Through documentary films following survivors of trauma, TED Fellow Almudena Toral makes invisible psychological scars seen. She shares the heartbreaking story of Adayanci Pérez, a six-year-old girl from Guatemala suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to her encounter with ...
05.24.2021 Documentary films that explore trauma -- and make space for healing \| Almudena Toral Through documentary films following survivors of trauma, TED Fellow Almudena Toral makes invisible psychological scars seen. She shares the heartbreaking story of Adayanci Pérez, a six-year-old girl from Guatemala suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to her encounter with ...
05.24.2021 Documentary films that explore trauma -- and make space for healing \| Almudena Toral Through documentary films following survivors of trauma, TED Fellow Almudena Toral makes invisible psychological scars seen. She shares the heartbreaking story of Adayanci Pérez, a six-year-old girl from Guatemala suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to her encounter with ...
05.24.2021 Documentary films that explore trauma -- and make space for healing \| Almudena Toral Through documentary films following survivors of trauma, TED Fellow Almudena Toral makes invisible psychological scars seen. She shares the heartbreaking story of Adayanci Pérez, a six-year-old girl from Guatemala suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to her encounter with ...
05.24.2021 What should humans take to space (and leave behind)? \| Jorge Mañes Rubio One day, humans will explore space en masse and live scattered across the solar system on planets like Mars and beyond. Inspired by his time as artist-in-residence at the European Space Agency, TED Fellow Jorge Mañes Rubio wants to rethink ...
05.24.2021 Playful, wondrous public spaces built for community and possibility \| Matthew Mazzotta Introducing a new type of public space, custom-fit for communities in need of a shot of hope and wonder. Artist and TED Fellow Matthew Mazzotta takes us across the US, sharing delightful projects that refresh space and place, spark collective ...
04.26.2021 To accomplish great things, you need to "let the paint dry" \| Daniel J. Watts As theaters closed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the creatives who populated their stages were plunged into a state of seemingly endless uncertainty. Aided by a delightful and metaphorically resonant piece of performance art, multidisciplinary artist Daniel J. ...
04.26.2021 To accomplish great things, you need to "let the paint dry" \| Daniel J. Watts As theaters closed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the creatives who populated their stages were plunged into a state of seemingly endless uncertainty. Aided by a delightful and metaphorically resonant piece of performance art, multidisciplinary artist Daniel J. ...
02.17.2021 How theater weathers wars, outlasts empires and survives pandemics \| Cara Greene Epstein When catastrophe strikes, art prevails -- and has done so for centuries. In this fascinating talk, writer and director Cara Greene Epstein places the closing of theaters during the coronavirus pandemic in a historical context, exploring how we can use ...
02.17.2021 How theater weathers wars, outlasts empires and survives pandemics \| Cara Greene Epstein When catastrophe strikes, art prevails -- and has done so for centuries. In this fascinating talk, writer and director Cara Greene Epstein places the closing of theaters during the coronavirus pandemic in a historical context, exploring how we can use ...
02.17.2021 How theater weathers wars, outlasts empires and survives pandemics \| Cara Greene Epstein When catastrophe strikes, art prevails -- and has done so for centuries. In this fascinating talk, writer and director Cara Greene Epstein places the closing of theaters during the coronavirus pandemic in a historical context, exploring how we can use ...
02.01.2021 When the world is burning, is art a waste of time? \| R. Alan Brooks Is art worth it? "Hell yeah," says graphic novelist R. Alan Brooks -- art has the power to scare dictators, inspire multitudes and change hearts and minds across the world. Reflecting on his journey to become an artist at a ...
01.19.2021 How a strong creative industry helps economies thrive \| Mehret Mandefro When global leaders think about which industries can fuel economic growth, the arts are often overlooked. But filmmaker Mehret Mandefro says the creative sector actually has the power to grow economies -- while also helping safeguard democracy. In this captivating ...
01.19.2021 How a strong creative industry helps economies thrive \| Mehret Mandefro When global leaders think about which industries can fuel economic growth, the arts are often overlooked. But filmmaker Mehret Mandefro says the creative sector actually has the power to grow economies -- while also helping safeguard democracy. In this captivating ...
12.09.2020 How creative writing can help you through life's hardest moments \| Sakinah Hofler Have you ever seen or experienced something and wished you spoke up? Writer Sakinah Hofler makes the case for writing as a tool to help you process difficult memories and reclaim the power they may hold. Pick up a pen ...
12.09.2020 How creative writing can help you through life's hardest moments \| Sakinah Hofler Have you ever seen or experienced something and wished you spoke up? Writer Sakinah Hofler makes the case for writing as a tool to help you process difficult memories and reclaim the power they may hold. Pick up a pen ...
10.05.2020 An illustrated kingdom of real, fantastical plants \| Nirupa Rao Botanical artist Nirupa Rao captures the spirit and beauty of nature in watercolor. With a portfolio of enchanting, scientifically accurate illustrations, she aims to reignite our emotional connection to the environment -- and open our eyes to an entire kingdom ...
10.05.2020 An illustrated kingdom of real, fantastical plants \| Nirupa Rao Botanical artist Nirupa Rao captures the spirit and beauty of nature in watercolor. With a portfolio of enchanting, scientifically accurate illustrations, she aims to reignite our emotional connection to the environment -- and open our eyes to an entire kingdom ...
08.18.2020 Art in the age of machine intelligence \| Refik Anadol What does it look like inside the mind of a machine? Inspired by the architectural vision of a futuristic Los Angeles in "Blade Runner," media artist Refik Anadol melds art with artificial intelligence in his studio's collaborations with architects, data ...
08.18.2020 Art in the age of machine intelligence \| Refik Anadol What does it look like inside the mind of a machine? Inspired by the architectural vision of a futuristic Los Angeles in "Blade Runner," media artist Refik Anadol melds art with artificial intelligence in his studio's collaborations with architects, data ...
07.23.2020 Give yourself permission to be creative \| Ethan Hawke Reflecting on moments that shaped his life, actor Ethan Hawke examines how courageous expression promotes healing and connection with one another -- and invites you to discover your own unabashed creativity. "There is no path till you walk it," he ...

Older episodes

02.27.2023 Ancient Pompeii's hidden messages, preserved in graffiti \| Jacqueline DiBiasie-Sammons Take a graffiti tour through ancient Pompeii with Roman archaeologist Jacqueline DiBiasie-Sammons and discover what 2,000-year-old scribblings from antiquity can teach us about life in modern times. A fascinating reminder of what we leave behind for future generations.
02.06.2023 3 stories of Pakistani resilience, told in film \| Jawad Sharif TED Fellow Jawad Sharif was born with a rebellious streak -- and he's used it in his documentary films to amplify the unheard voices of Pakistan. Sharing three stories of everyday heroes -- a high-altitude mountaineer, a folk musician of ...
01.23.2023 The one question every aspiring leader needs to ask \| Constance Hockaday What does inclusive leadership look like? Artist and TED Fellow Constance Hockaday shares how the captain of a trans-Atlantic community raft taught her how to voice her hopes and desires, inspiring a vision of possibility for the future. Hockaday calls ...
12.15.2022 A creative approach to community climate action \| Xavier Cortada When he learned of the threat that rising sea levels posed to his coastal hometown of Miami, Florida, eco-artist Xavier Cortada founded a movement around beautifully designed elevation markers highlighting the risk of flood damage. The collaborative art project quickly ...
11.21.2022 AI-generated creatures that stretch the boundaries of imagination \| Sofia Crespo Can AI help us see beyond our human capabilities? Through a kaleidoscopic blend of technology, nature and art, neural artist Sofia Crespo brings to life animals that push the boundaries of creativity and imagination. Her artistic renditions of chimeras combine ...
09.16.2022 How dance can unleash your inner joy \| Ryan Heffington "We all have our own beautiful ways of moving, and this is worth celebrating," says dancer and choreographer Ryan Heffington. Inviting you to reconsider your connection to dance, he shows how even everyday experiences -- tying your shoes, rocking a ...
09.07.2022 What if you could sing in your favorite musician's voice? \| Holly Herndon What if you could create new music using your favorite musician's voice? Sharing her melodic gifts with the world, multidisciplinary artist Holly Herndon introduces Holly+, an AI-powered instrument that lets people sing with her own voice. Musician Pher joins her ...
08.19.2022 Intelligent floating machines inspired by nature \| Anicka Yi Taking cues from soft robotics and the natural world, conceptual artist Anicka Yi builds lighter-than-air machines that roam and react like autonomous life forms. Her floating "aerobes" inspire us to think about new ways of living with machines -- and ...
07.15.2022 Stories of photographing monumental people -- from Michelle Obama to Stephen Hawking \| Platon With his art, photographer Platon seeks to strip away assumptions and leave viewers with a window into his subject's character, filling our eyes with wonder and curiosity. Sharing extraordinary stories of what it's like to photograph some of the world's ...
06.27.2022 Why art is a tool for hope \| JR Famed for enormous black-and-white portraits that are pasted on surfaces ranging from the Louvre to the US-Mexico border wall, multimedia artist JR continues to tackle ambitious projects. In this powerfully moving talk, he shares how he made a giant mural ...
06.24.2022 An interdimensional performance of imagination \| Particle Ink In a peek into their sprawling metaverse, Particle Ink dazzles with an interdimensional performance combining augmented reality, dance and video projected onto the TED stage.
05.17.2022 A creator-led internet, built on blockchain \| Adam Mosseri As digital assets like cryptocurrency and NFTs become more mainstream, design thinker and head of Instagram Adam Mosseri believes that creators are uniquely positioned to benefit. These blockchain-enabled technologies could remove the need for a "middleman" in the form of ...
04.05.2022 NFTs, the metaverse and the future of digital art \| Elizabeth Strickler In need of a brief yet illuminating lesson on the obsession with NFTs? Elizabeth Strickler breaks down the acronym and explains the fundamentals of non-fungible tokens, sharing how these digital assets are changing the landscape for artists and content creators ...
03.30.2022 How webtoons are changing movies and TV \| Hyeonmi Kim Pop culture is changing thanks to a different kind of storytelling, says digital strategist Hyeonmi Kim. They're called webtoons: comic-like illustrations published in short segments and meant to be read on a smartphone in five to 10 minutes. Kim breaks ...
03.21.2022 Powerful photos that honor the lives of overlooked women \| Smita Sharma In some parts of the world, girls are as likely to be married off or trafficked as they are to be educated. Photojournalist and TED Fellow Smita Sharma thoughtfully depicts overlooked girls and young women, while making sure not to ...
03.01.2022 My secret to creating real magic \| Christina Tosi In an infectiously joyous talk, Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi shares the sugary jolt of her first food memory and behind-the-scenes stories of her bakery's famously inventive cakes, cookies and treats. This talk may make you hungry -- but it'll ...
02.08.2022 How film captures the space between hope and despair \| Mounia Akl When Lebanon was rocked by a massive explosion at the port of Beirut, filmmaker Mounia Akl came face-to-face with chaos -- and the power of art to create some sense of order. In this poetic, moving talk, Akl shares the ...
01.28.2022 The mind-bending art of deep time \| Katie Paterson Short-sightedness may be the greatest threat to humanity, says conceptual artist Katie Paterson, whose work engages with deep time -- an idea that describes the history of the Earth over a time span of millions of years. In this lively ...
01.12.2022 How comic strips create better health care \| Sam Hester Comics creator Sam Hester is part of a growing movement within health care: graphic medicine. In short, literally drawing attention to a patient's needs and goals with pictures to foster better and more accessible caretaking. Hester shares how illustrating small ...
01.12.2022 How visual storytelling creates better health care \| Sam Hester Comics creator Sam Hester is part of a growing movement within health care: graphic medicine. In short, literally drawing attention to a patient's needs and goals with pictures to foster better and more accessible caretaking. Hester shares how illustrating small ...
11.10.2021 "Being Human" \| Naima Penniman In this stunning spoken-word performance, poet and "freedom-forging futurist" Naima Penniman celebrates the wonders of the natural world and humanity's connection to it. "I wonder if the sun debates dawn some mornings," she says.
11.10.2021 "Being Human" \| Naima Penniman In this stunning spoken-word performance, poet and "freedom-forging futurist" Naima Penniman celebrates the wonders of the natural world and humanity's connection to it. "I wonder if the sun debates dawn some mornings," she says.
11.10.2021 The many reasons to eat a plant-based diet \| Derek Sarno Vegan chef (and head chef of TED Countdown Summit) Derek Sarno is on a mission to unleash the mighty power of plants, creating nutritious food from mushrooms and vegetables that's full of texture and flavor -- and good for the ...
11.10.2021 The mighty power and flavor of plants \| Derek Sarno Vegan chef (and head chef of TED Countdown Summit) Derek Sarno is on a mission to unleash the mighty power of plants, creating nutritious food from mushrooms and vegetables that's full of texture and flavor -- and good for the ...
10.21.2021 How your nature photos can help protect wild animals \| Tanya Berger-Wolf We're losing animal and plant species at such a swift, unprecedented rate that it's nearly impossible to keep up. Computational biologist Tanya Berger-Wolf demonstrates how harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and one of the internet's biggest resources -- public ...
09.23.2021 The art of paying attention \| Wendy MacNaughton In an invitation to slow down and look at the world around you, graphic journalist Wendy MacNaughton illustrates how drawing can spark deeply human, authentic connections. Ready to try? Grab a pencil and join MacNaughton for this delightful talk. "Drawing ...
08.09.2021 Why are stolen African artifacts still in Western museums? \| Jim Chuchu African artifacts shown in museums worldwide are often not borrowed, but stolen -- and TED Fellow Jim Chuchu is on a mission to get them back. Learn the sordid history behind how many of the collections in the West came ...
08.09.2021 Why are stolen African artifacts still in Western museums? \| Jim Chuchu African artifacts shown in museums worldwide are often not borrowed, but stolen -- and TED Fellow Jim Chuchu is on a mission to get them back. Learn the sordid history behind how many of the collections in the West came ...
08.09.2021 Why are stolen African artifacts still in Western museums? \| Jim Chuchu African artifacts shown in museums worldwide are often not borrowed, but stolen -- and TED Fellow Jim Chuchu is on a mission to get them back. Learn the sordid history behind how many of the collections in the West came ...
05.24.2021 Documentary films that explore trauma -- and make space for healing \| Almudena Toral Through documentary films following survivors of trauma, TED Fellow Almudena Toral makes invisible psychological scars seen. She shares the heartbreaking story of Adayanci Pérez, a six-year-old girl from Guatemala suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to her encounter with ...
05.24.2021 Documentary films that explore trauma -- and make space for healing \| Almudena Toral Through documentary films following survivors of trauma, TED Fellow Almudena Toral makes invisible psychological scars seen. She shares the heartbreaking story of Adayanci Pérez, a six-year-old girl from Guatemala suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to her encounter with ...
05.24.2021 Documentary films that explore trauma -- and make space for healing \| Almudena Toral Through documentary films following survivors of trauma, TED Fellow Almudena Toral makes invisible psychological scars seen. She shares the heartbreaking story of Adayanci Pérez, a six-year-old girl from Guatemala suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to her encounter with ...
05.24.2021 Documentary films that explore trauma -- and make space for healing \| Almudena Toral Through documentary films following survivors of trauma, TED Fellow Almudena Toral makes invisible psychological scars seen. She shares the heartbreaking story of Adayanci Pérez, a six-year-old girl from Guatemala suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to her encounter with ...
05.24.2021 What should humans take to space (and leave behind)? \| Jorge Mañes Rubio One day, humans will explore space en masse and live scattered across the solar system on planets like Mars and beyond. Inspired by his time as artist-in-residence at the European Space Agency, TED Fellow Jorge Mañes Rubio wants to rethink ...
05.24.2021 Playful, wondrous public spaces built for community and possibility \| Matthew Mazzotta Introducing a new type of public space, custom-fit for communities in need of a shot of hope and wonder. Artist and TED Fellow Matthew Mazzotta takes us across the US, sharing delightful projects that refresh space and place, spark collective ...
04.26.2021 To accomplish great things, you need to "let the paint dry" \| Daniel J. Watts As theaters closed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the creatives who populated their stages were plunged into a state of seemingly endless uncertainty. Aided by a delightful and metaphorically resonant piece of performance art, multidisciplinary artist Daniel J. ...
04.26.2021 To accomplish great things, you need to "let the paint dry" \| Daniel J. Watts As theaters closed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the creatives who populated their stages were plunged into a state of seemingly endless uncertainty. Aided by a delightful and metaphorically resonant piece of performance art, multidisciplinary artist Daniel J. ...
02.17.2021 How theater weathers wars, outlasts empires and survives pandemics \| Cara Greene Epstein When catastrophe strikes, art prevails -- and has done so for centuries. In this fascinating talk, writer and director Cara Greene Epstein places the closing of theaters during the coronavirus pandemic in a historical context, exploring how we can use ...
02.17.2021 How theater weathers wars, outlasts empires and survives pandemics \| Cara Greene Epstein When catastrophe strikes, art prevails -- and has done so for centuries. In this fascinating talk, writer and director Cara Greene Epstein places the closing of theaters during the coronavirus pandemic in a historical context, exploring how we can use ...
02.17.2021 How theater weathers wars, outlasts empires and survives pandemics \| Cara Greene Epstein When catastrophe strikes, art prevails -- and has done so for centuries. In this fascinating talk, writer and director Cara Greene Epstein places the closing of theaters during the coronavirus pandemic in a historical context, exploring how we can use ...
02.01.2021 When the world is burning, is art a waste of time? \| R. Alan Brooks Is art worth it? "Hell yeah," says graphic novelist R. Alan Brooks -- art has the power to scare dictators, inspire multitudes and change hearts and minds across the world. Reflecting on his journey to become an artist at a ...
01.19.2021 How a strong creative industry helps economies thrive \| Mehret Mandefro When global leaders think about which industries can fuel economic growth, the arts are often overlooked. But filmmaker Mehret Mandefro says the creative sector actually has the power to grow economies -- while also helping safeguard democracy. In this captivating ...
01.19.2021 How a strong creative industry helps economies thrive \| Mehret Mandefro When global leaders think about which industries can fuel economic growth, the arts are often overlooked. But filmmaker Mehret Mandefro says the creative sector actually has the power to grow economies -- while also helping safeguard democracy. In this captivating ...
12.09.2020 How creative writing can help you through life's hardest moments \| Sakinah Hofler Have you ever seen or experienced something and wished you spoke up? Writer Sakinah Hofler makes the case for writing as a tool to help you process difficult memories and reclaim the power they may hold. Pick up a pen ...
12.09.2020 How creative writing can help you through life's hardest moments \| Sakinah Hofler Have you ever seen or experienced something and wished you spoke up? Writer Sakinah Hofler makes the case for writing as a tool to help you process difficult memories and reclaim the power they may hold. Pick up a pen ...
10.05.2020 An illustrated kingdom of real, fantastical plants \| Nirupa Rao Botanical artist Nirupa Rao captures the spirit and beauty of nature in watercolor. With a portfolio of enchanting, scientifically accurate illustrations, she aims to reignite our emotional connection to the environment -- and open our eyes to an entire kingdom ...
10.05.2020 An illustrated kingdom of real, fantastical plants \| Nirupa Rao Botanical artist Nirupa Rao captures the spirit and beauty of nature in watercolor. With a portfolio of enchanting, scientifically accurate illustrations, she aims to reignite our emotional connection to the environment -- and open our eyes to an entire kingdom ...
08.18.2020 Art in the age of machine intelligence \| Refik Anadol What does it look like inside the mind of a machine? Inspired by the architectural vision of a futuristic Los Angeles in "Blade Runner," media artist Refik Anadol melds art with artificial intelligence in his studio's collaborations with architects, data ...
08.18.2020 Art in the age of machine intelligence \| Refik Anadol What does it look like inside the mind of a machine? Inspired by the architectural vision of a futuristic Los Angeles in "Blade Runner," media artist Refik Anadol melds art with artificial intelligence in his studio's collaborations with architects, data ...
07.23.2020 Give yourself permission to be creative \| Ethan Hawke Reflecting on moments that shaped his life, actor Ethan Hawke examines how courageous expression promotes healing and connection with one another -- and invites you to discover your own unabashed creativity. "There is no path till you walk it," he ...

TED Talks Art

What's TED Talks Art about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

TED Talks Art episodes:

Ancient Pompeii's hidden messages, preserved in graffiti | Jacqueline DiBiasie-Sammons

3 stories of Pakistani resilience, told in film | Jawad Sharif

The one question every aspiring leader needs to ask | Constance Hockaday

A creative approach to community climate action | Xavier Cortada

AI-generated creatures that stretch the boundaries of imagination | Sofia Crespo

How dance can unleash your inner joy | Ryan Heffington

What if you could sing in your favorite musician's voice? | Holly Herndon

Intelligent floating machines inspired by nature | Anicka Yi

Stories of photographing monumental people -- from Michelle Obama to Stephen Hawking | Platon

Why art is a tool for hope | JR

An interdimensional performance of imagination | Particle Ink

A creator-led internet, built on blockchain | Adam Mosseri

NFTs, the metaverse and the future of digital art | Elizabeth Strickler

How webtoons are changing movies and TV | Hyeonmi Kim

Powerful photos that honor the lives of overlooked women | Smita Sharma

My secret to creating real magic | Christina Tosi

How film captures the space between hope and despair | Mounia Akl

The mind-bending art of deep time | Katie Paterson

How comic strips create better health care | Sam Hester

How visual storytelling creates better health care | Sam Hester

"Being Human" | Naima Penniman

"Being Human" | Naima Penniman

The many reasons to eat a plant-based diet | Derek Sarno

The mighty power and flavor of plants | Derek Sarno

How your nature photos can help protect wild animals | Tanya Berger-Wolf

The art of paying attention | Wendy MacNaughton

Why are stolen African artifacts still in Western museums? | Jim Chuchu

Why are stolen African artifacts still in Western museums? | Jim Chuchu

Why are stolen African artifacts still in Western museums? | Jim Chuchu

Documentary films that explore trauma -- and make space for healing | Almudena Toral

Documentary films that explore trauma -- and make space for healing | Almudena Toral

Documentary films that explore trauma -- and make space for healing | Almudena Toral

Documentary films that explore trauma -- and make space for healing | Almudena Toral

What should humans take to space (and leave behind)? | Jorge Mañes Rubio

Playful, wondrous public spaces built for community and possibility | Matthew Mazzotta

To accomplish great things, you need to "let the paint dry" | Daniel J. Watts

To accomplish great things, you need to "let the paint dry" | Daniel J. Watts

How theater weathers wars, outlasts empires and survives pandemics | Cara Greene Epstein

How theater weathers wars, outlasts empires and survives pandemics | Cara Greene Epstein

How theater weathers wars, outlasts empires and survives pandemics | Cara Greene Epstein

When the world is burning, is art a waste of time? | R. Alan Brooks

How a strong creative industry helps economies thrive | Mehret Mandefro

How a strong creative industry helps economies thrive | Mehret Mandefro

How creative writing can help you through life's hardest moments | Sakinah Hofler

How creative writing can help you through life's hardest moments | Sakinah Hofler

An illustrated kingdom of real, fantastical plants | Nirupa Rao

An illustrated kingdom of real, fantastical plants | Nirupa Rao

Art in the age of machine intelligence | Refik Anadol

Art in the age of machine intelligence | Refik Anadol

Give yourself permission to be creative | Ethan Hawke