The Create! Podcast

What happens when you feel outside pressure to make work that doesn't feel like you? In this episode, Kat sits down with Philadelphia-based artist and curator Jessica Libor for a deeply honest conversation about identity, persistence, and building a creative life on your own terms.

Jessica shares the story of applying to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts several times before getting in, navigating the tension between her love of fairy tales and beautiful imagery and an academic environment heavily influenced by postmodern aesthetics. She opens up about making dark, tortured paintings to fit in - and how she eventually found her way back to the work she was always meant to make.

They also dig into how Jessica launched Era Contemporary, her own gallery and curatorial project, and why creating your own opportunities is sometimes the most powerful move an artist can make.

You'll also hear about the mindset tools Jessica swears by - from attending high-end exhibitions and imagining yourself in the room as an exhibiting artist, to journaling and scripting her ideal creative life. She also shares the manifestation story behind getting into Spring Break Art Fair, one of New York's most exciting independent art events.

This episode is full of honest reflection on imposter syndrome, developing a personal aesthetic under pressure, and what it really means to stay connected to your North Star as an artist.

ABOUT JESSICA LIBOR

Jessica Libor is a Philadelphia-based artist whose work explores feminine identity, storytelling, and personal mythology through a lens deeply rooted in global fairy tales and folklore. She holds an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and has pursued classical training at the Grand Central Atelier and the Florence Academy of Art. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including solo shows in Paris and Philadelphia, and she was selected for the prestigious SPRING/BREAK Art Show in New York in 2025. Her paintings are held in private collections worldwide and have been featured in American Art Collector, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, and on WHYY/PBS. She is also the host of The Creative Heroine Podcast. Follow her work at jessicalibor.com and on Instagram at @jessicaliborstudio.

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What does it actually take to build a sustainable, global art career in 2026? As the market shifts away from the high-octane speculation of the early 2020s, a new era of radical transparency and artist autonomy is emerging.

In this episode, host Ekaterina Popova sits down with visionary curator, collector, and entrepreneur Sonia Borrell to pull back the curtain on what the world's top collectors are looking for right now. Sonia shares the inspiration behind her newest venture, StudiotoGallery, a platform designed to dismantle traditional gatekeeping and return control to the creator.

From the importance of "positioning over visibility" to navigating the rapid growth of the Chinese art market, this conversation is a masterclass in modern art business. Whether you're an emerging painter or an established professional, Sonia's insights offer a refreshing, high-level perspective on thriving in today's selective ecosystem.

• The 2026 Market Recalibration: Sonia discusses why "hype" pricing is falling away and how artists can re-emerge by focusing on authentic connections and sustainable growth.

• The Sovereign Artist: A look at the StudiotoGallery model, where artists maintain full control over their pricing, inventory, and gallery representation.

• The Power of Positioning: Why your "human filter" and professional presentation matter more to a museum or serious collector than a viral Instagram reel.

• Global Expansion: Sonia shares her experience bridging the gap between Western creators and major corporate partners and institutions in China.

• Sustainable Partnerships: How to identify a "human-centric" gallery and why the future of the art world relies on collaborative, shoulder-to-shoulder work.

• Protecting Your Practice: Practical advice on avoiding scammers, managing mental health in the studio, and staying positive during market shifts.

Sonia Borrell is a prominent art world connector, collector, and founder of Art Belina and StudiotoGallery. With deep roots in the international market, she specializes in helping artists scale their businesses through IP collaborations, museum placements, and high-level mentorship. Sonia is a pioneer in the movement toward a more transparent and educator-led art market, providing artists with the tools they need to lead their own careers.

• Website: soniabblondon.com

• Platform: studiotogallery.com

Create! Magazine

What if I told you that making art literally changes your DNA? In a world that often treats creativity as a luxury or a hobby, the data is finally catching up to what artists have always felt: art is essential medicine.

In this episode, Kat sits down with Daisy Fancourt, a professor of psychobiology and epidemiology at University College London, whose groundbreaking research provides the "validation ammunition" every creative needs. We dive into her new book, Art Cure, which presents decades of evidence showing that arts engagement is a vital clinical intervention.From reducing stress hormones like cortisol to slowing biological aging and influencing gene expression, we explore why creative engagement should be recognized as the Fifth Pillar of Health alongside nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The "Fifth Pillar" Concept: Why creative engagement is as vital to your longevity as diet and exercise.

• The Biology of Art: How making and viewing art creates measurable health benefits that accumulate over time.

• DNA & Gene Expression: The fascinating science behind how creativity affects our bodies at a cellular level.

• Validation for Artists: Why your work is a necessity for your collectors and the world, especially during turbulent times.

• The Psychobiology of Art: Daisy's journey from professional pianist to leading researcher at UCL.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• The Book: Art Cure by Daisy Fancourt

• Daisy's Research Group: SBPR Research

• Create! Magazine: www.createmagazine.co

• Newsletter: Join the Weekly Newsletter

• Community: Follow Create! Magazine on Instagram

Connect with the Guest: Daisy Fancourt is Professor of Psychobiology and Epidemiology at University College London where she heads the Social Biobehavioural Research Group, and Director of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre on Arts and Health. She has published 300 scientific papers, won over two dozen academic prizes and is listed as one of the most highly cited scientists in the world. Daisy is also a multi-award-winning science communicator and has been named a World Economic Forum Global Shaper and BBC New Generation Thinker.

In this episode, host Kat (Ekaterina Popova) is joined by painter Emi Avora, a London-trained and Singapore-based artist whose work blends architectural structure with lush, dreamlike abstraction. Drawing from her upbringing in Greece, Mediterranean light, mythology, and lived experiences across cultures, Emi creates immersive interiors that feel both opulent and quietly haunting.

www.emiavora.com

In this conversation, we discuss:

Emi's journey: From growing up in her father's studio in Corfu to her formal art education.

The influence of light: How Mediterranean light remains a primary tool for creating clarity in her work.

Finding roots through relocation: How moving to Singapore drew her back to symbols and mythology in her subject matter.

Building a sustainable practice: Insights on balancing motherhood with a dedicated studio life and trusting the slow unfolding of your work.

Professional milestones: Her recent recognition as the winner of the Women in Art Prize and what that visibility has meant for her career.

Connect with us:

• Website: https://www.createmagazine.co/

• Instagram: @createmagazine

• Substack: https://createmagazine.substack.com

What happens when you stop obsessively planning and trying to control the outcome in the studio and start letting your subconscious lead the way? In this episode of the Create! Podcast, host Ekaterina Popova chats with August Vilella, a self-taught artist whose intuitive approach has landed his work in Art Basel and major galleries across Asia and Europe.

August reveals how he abandoned sketches and rigid concepts to find a "direct language" that transcends cultural and language barriers. We explore his "happy accident" move to Japan, his upcoming 10th-anniversary chronological exhibition, and why he believes the best career investment you can make is simply showing up in person.

The Intuitive Method: Why August starts with a completely white canvas and no prior ideas or sketches to allow the subconscious and past experiences to take a leading role.

The Self-Taught Advantage: How skipping art school allowed August to find his own unique style and "signature" before being influenced by a teacher's perspective.

Building a Career from Zero: The story of how a two-week trip for a show in 2020 turned into a five-year Japanese residency after a flight was cancelled during the pandemic.

Being Your Own "Bad Boss": The discipline required to be strict with gallery deadlines while maintaining a meditative, improvisational creative process.

The "Lottery" of Opportunities: Why traveling to openings and art fairs is essential for letting collectors and directors see your energy and story, not just the final work.

Milestone Exhibitions: A look at his massive 500-square-meter 10th-anniversary show in Shenzhen and upcoming solo exhibitions in Tokyo and Ginza.

"All my past experience have some deep impact in my painting... my subconscious mind have a very important role in the creative process." — August Vilella

"The best way to make an interesting career is to travel, to meet people, to talk with people... they not only see your work, they also see your energy." — August Vilella

Instagram: www.instagram.com/august_vilella_art/

Website: augustvilella.com

Ekaterina Popova is an artist and the founder of Create! Magazine. Explore more articles and opportunities for artists at www.createmagazine.co.

In this episode, I reconnect with Sharone Halevy nearly a year after our collector talk at Superfine (now The Superfair) in San Francisco. Sharone is an abstract expressionist painter who's built her entire practice around commission work and selling directly to collectors without gallery representation.

We discuss her transition from theater directing to painting, why she works on sliding scales to make art accessible, and how she uses sound and storytelling to create "tangible memories," paintings that capture how moments felt rather than every detail. Sharone shares her approach to building confidence, why friends and family are your first important collectors, and how she leveraged social media to create direct audience connection.

As lead curator and operations manager at The Superfair, Sharone coaches every exhibiting artist on booth curation, pricing strategy, and selling techniques. We discuss the fair's rebrand and refocus on attracting the right buyers rather than massive crowds, and why in-person events matter for artists, especially those in rural areas.

We wrap up with Sharone's challenge for the year: find a hobby. Not another income stream or content for social media, something tactile and creative you do purely for joy.

CALL FOR ART: CREATE! MAGAZINE 2026 WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL EDITION

Deadline: January 31st, 2026

Submit: https://www.createmagazine.co/call-for-art

CONNECT WITH SHARONE:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/art_by_sharone/

Website: https://www.artbysharone.com

CONNECT WITH CREATE! MAGAZINE:

Instagram: @createmagazine

Collective: https://www.createmagazine.co/collective

Website: https://www.createmagazine.co

MENTIONED: The Superfair: thesuperfair.com

1000 Libraries coloring books

In this episode, Kat addresses the familiar "January tension"—the conflict between feeling ambitious about new goals while simultaneously exhausted from the past year. She explores what "sustainability" actually means for artists, moving beyond the buzzword to examine what emotionally and financially supports a creative career.

Kat shares insights from Vadim Zeland's book Reality Transurfing, discussing the concept of "pendulums"—energy structures built on collective beliefs (like the pressure to post daily on social media) that feed off our energy. She explains why feeding these pendulums is a losing game and how true magic happens when you prioritize joy and flow over algorithms.

Finally, Kat breaks down the difference between the "glamour" of the art world (museum shows, viral posts) and the reality of what actually pays the bills, encouraging listeners to conduct a "Sustainable Studio Audit" to track income, time, and energy costs.

Key Takeaways:

• The January Tension: Navigating the split between wanting to force your career forward and acknowledging deep exhaustion
• Understanding Pendulums: How collective beliefs (like "real artists suffer" or "you must hustle 24/7") become energy vampires that distract us from our true desires
• Reality Transurfing: Insights from Vadim Zeland's book on how energy flows naturally when you do what you truly want, rather than what you think you should do
• Glamour vs. Reality: Why the things that look successful (fancy gallery representation, viral reels) are often not the things that pay the bills (print sales, teaching, direct sales)
• Imposter Syndrome: Overcoming the feeling that you aren't "legitimate" if your business is scrappy or doesn't fit the traditional art world model
• The Sustainable Studio Audit: A practical exercise to list your income sources, estimate time invested, and rate energy cost (low, medium, high) to eliminate what drains you

Resources Mentioned:

Reality Transurfing by Vadim Zeland

Sponsor:

This episode is brought to you by Grapevine.

The secondary market already exists around your work—it's just happening without you. When art reappears on eBay or Craigslist, it loses context, and so do you.

Grapevine is being built to change that, helping artists turn resale energy into momentum and value. Grapevine gives artists a simple page of their own where collectors can resell work peer-to-peer, with your approval, your context, and optional royalties if you choose.

Learn more and reclaim your secondary market at grapevine.market.

Connect with Create! Magazine:

Website & Magazine: createmagazine.co

Education & Resources: createu.co

Newsletter: createmagazine.substack.com

Instagram: @createmagazine

Welcome back to a brand new season! In this solo episode, Kat reflects on nearly a decade of navigating a full-time art career and the subtle traps that can stall creative growth.

If you have ever felt busy but unfulfilled, or found yourself saying "yes" to every group show and opportunity out of a fear of missing out, this episode is for you. Kat discusses the concept that "good is the enemy of great" and how filling our schedules with "good" opportunities often prevents us from doing the deep, legacy-building work our souls actually crave.

In this episode, we cover:

• The "Short-Term Giggle": Why we chase immediate dopamine hits (like small group shows) instead of waiting for the "full meal" of a cohesive body of work.

• Deep Work vs. Shallow Validation: Moving away from the pressure to look successful on Instagram and toward creating work that truly matters.

• The Fear of the Empty Calendar: Overcoming the survival-brain instinct that tells us we are failing if we aren't constantly busy.

• Career Reflection: Kat shares her personal decision to scale back on scattered commitments to focus on producing a body of work she is truly proud of.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

We have officially opened the doors to our membership, The Create! Collective! This is our career membership for artists who want to grow together.

• What's Inside: Twice-monthly Zoom calls, guest speakers, and support circles.

• New Opportunity: Active members are invited to participate in our exclusive Artsy exhibition coming up this March.

• Bonus: Join for the year and receive a special sweatshirt bonus gift.

Join The Create! Collective here: https://www.createmagazine.co/collective

CONNECT WITH KAT

Email: [email protected] Substack: https://createmagazine.substack.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend or leaving a review. Cheers to pursuing greatness together!

In this magical start to the new year, host Kat sits down with her dear friend—psychic medium, curator, and author Sarah Potter. As we step into 2026, Sarah shares wisdom from her life-changing new book, Sober Magic: Using the Tarot and Ritual in Your Journey Away from Drinking.

Together, they explore the deep intersection of art and spirituality, discussing how to navigate the "party culture" of the art world while honoring your boundaries. Sarah opens up about her transition from full-time art curator to professional witch, the power of "Glamour Magic" to armor yourself for difficult social situations, and why asking for help is a brave creative act.

Plus, we dive into a Tarot forecast for 2026! Sarah reveals why this is a "Magician Year," filled with manifestation power, and how you can harness this energy to create the life (and art) you desire. Whether you are sober, sober-curious, or simply seeking a spiritual reset, this episode is a nourishing guide for your soul.

Key Takeaways:

• Sober Magic: How to replace the "ritual" of drinking with nourishing spiritual practices like Tarot and altar work.

• The Art World & Alcohol: Navigating gallery openings and networking events without the crutch of a drink.

• Glamour Magic: Using fashion and intentional adornment (like heirlooms or specific colors) as spiritual armor.

• The 2026 Forecast: Why 2026 is the "Year of the Magician" and what that means for your creative potential.

• Embracing Discomfort: Why sitting with uncomfortable feelings is actually a superpower for artists.

About the Guest: Sarah Potter is a psychic medium, Tarot reader, and professional witch based in New York City. A former art curator, she now uses her intuitive gifts to help clients craft their dream lives through color magic, ritual, and Tarot. She is the author of Sober Magic and the creator of the Cosmo Tarot deck for Cosmopolitan. Her work has been featured in Refinery29, InStyle, and Teen Vogue.

Connect with Sarah:

• Book: Sober Magic

• Instagram: @iamsarahpotter

• Website: iamsarahpotter.com

• Substack: iamsarahpotter.substack.com

Mentioned in This Episode:

• The Witch Wave Podcast with Pam Grossman

• Create! Magazine's Winter Solstice Issue (Curated by Sarah Potter)

Supported by Create! Magazine:

• Join the Community: createmagazine.co/collective

• Submit Your Work (Women's Issue): createmagazine.co/call-for-art

• Subscribe to our Substack: createmagazine.substack.com

In this special bonus episode of the Create! Podcast, Kat (Ekaterina Popova) sits down with artist and curator Victoria Fry, founder of The New Visionary Art Collective, for a grounded and nourishing conversation about creativity, intuition, and building a sustainable creative practice and career.

Together, they explore the importance of making art for pleasure separate from career expectations, balancing multiple creative roles, and staying connected to intuition and inner joy. Kat also shares insights from her 100-Day Painting Challenge and reflects on how daily practice can transform both studio work and mindset.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, reconnect with why you make art, and create from a place of trust rather than pressure.

Topics Covered: • Making art for pleasure, not performance • Balancing creative business with studio practice • Letting go of perfectionism and expectations • Daily practice as devotion and self-trust • The role of intuition and the inner child in artmaking • Creating sustainable momentum as an artist

Links & Resources: Create! Magazine https://createmagazine.co

Paint With Kat https://paintwithkat.com

100-Day Painting Challenge https://www.paintwithkat.com/challenge

Visionary Art Collective https://www.visionaryartcollective.com

Connect with the Podcast: Subscribe to the Create! Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen. Leave a review to support the show and help more artists discover these conversations.

About the Host: Ekaterina Popova is an artist, educator, and founder of Create! Magazine, an international platform supporting contemporary artists through publishing, education, and community.