What do you do when a "creative" industry fails to fulfill your purpose? Artist Sejal Parekh shares her non-linear journey, from earning a BA in fine art to years in marketing, and the essential pull that brought her back to the studio. She discusses her experiential sculptural work, including a piece inspired by a vivid memory of a stone handmill (chaki) that was contested by others. We explore the deep freedom in unlearning the need for context, allowing art to be experienced directly, and the joy of finding your true path home.

Sejal Parekh is a British-Indian cross-disciplinary artist whose sculptural practice serves as a cartographic intervention into the geographies of displacement. Her work transforms objects and motifs into complex instruments of critical refusal. https://sejalparekh.art/

Guest Curator: Xavier Leopold https://xavierleopoldstudio.com

How do we stay grounded in our purpose when the world offers us the trap of ego? BAFTA-longlisted animator Gagandeep Kaur Chahal joins us to discuss the profound shift in perspective that motherhood has brought to her life and work. We explore the deep research behind her acclaimed animation 'Cha', inspired by the incredible resilience, love and detachment of Bibi Jagdish Kaur, and what it means to practice detachment in a high-stakes creative industry. Gagandeep shares her commitment to making art for its original purpose rather than views or accolades, while offering a critical look at AI and why it can never replace the contextual, lived human experience that gives art its soul.

Gagandeep Kaur Chahal is a BAFTA-nominated animator and artist celebrated for her ability to weave complex narratives with emotional depth. Her work often explores themes of history, memory, and resilience, combining technical mastery with a commitment to storytelling that prioritises human connection over digital convenience.

What is the true currency of life? Artist, poet, and visual storyteller Tyreis Holder invites us into the "portals into her mind," sharing how her textile and poetry practice became a vital healing device after debilitating grief. We discuss the challenge of overthinking and the freedom found in simply giving yourself permission to 'just do' when words fail. Tyreis shares how a creative community helped her navigate a mind that can feel over-stimulated, and how she works toward contentment—a feeling of being fully at one with body and mind. We close with a reflective discussion on how valuing breath as a gift can bring a powerful perspective on life's fleeting nature and guide us toward mindfulness.
Tyreis Holder is a South London-based artist and poet. Her practice centers on explorations of self and the relationship with the mind, using textiles as a poetic language and healing device to generate conversations around social and intimate spaces.

What is the true currency of life? Artist, poet, and visual storyteller Tyreis Holder invites us into the "portals into her mind," sharing how her textile and poetry practice became a vital healing device after debilitating grief. We discuss the challenge of overthinking and the freedom found in simply giving yourself permission to 'just do' when words fail. Tyreis shares how a creative community helped her navigate a mind that can feel over-stimulated, and how she works toward contentment—a feeling of being fully at one with body and mind. We close with a reflective discussion on how valuing breath as a gift can bring a powerful perspective on life's fleeting nature and guide us inwards.

Tyreis Holder is a London-based artist and poet. Her practice centers on explorations of self and the relationship with the mind, using textiles as a poetic language and healing device to generate conversations around social and intimate spaces. https://www.tyreis.art/

Guest Curator: Xavier Leopold https://xavierleopoldstudio.com

How do we prevent ourselves from slipping back into old patterns? Manuela Moscoso, Executive and Artistic Director of CARA in New York, joins us for a deep dive into institutional building rooted in transparency and kinship. We explore her unique curatorial approach—putting ideas in relation to one another to uncover hidden genealogies—and the vital importance of un-learning the "why" behind our habits. Reflecting on the aftermath of the pandemic, Manuela shares her candid cynicism about how quickly society has returned to old ways, while we discuss the grounding power of planning 250 years ahead. By shifting our focus from immediate results to laying long-term foundations, we explore how to create a culture of care that truly lasts.
Manuela Moscoso is a world-renowned curator and institutional leader dedicated to expanding historical records and public discourse. With a career spanning major international biennials and research centers, she now leads CARA (Center for Art, Research and Alliances), a nonprofit space in New York committed to challenging dominant narratives through artistic research, publishing, and a radical commitment to un-learning.

When does freedom become overwhelming? Artist Jordan Zayas Kelly discusses the pressure of time in an academic year and the paradox of the blank canvas, exploring how we often crave external constraints when true freedom feels like too much. She shares her journey from a rigid, prescriptive artistic approach to creating intuitively, and how this shift allows her work to be more accessible. We discuss the work of unlearning complexity to make space for connection, allowing the viewer to re-ascribe histories and ultimately see themselves in the art.

Jordan Zayas Kelly is an interdisciplinary artist working between New York and London. Her experimental practice harnesses histories that resist traditional documentation, transforming historically exploited materials into aesthetic interventions. https://jordanzayaskelly.com/

Guest Curator: Xavier Leopold https://xavierleopoldstudio.com

Art as a universal language. Deep and Angie open the conversation reflecting on the profound, similar impact of the Journey of the Mind exhibition on audiences in both London and New York, underscoring how a mind "out of control" connects us all through shared pain and the search for purpose. The conversation then pivots to Sally Tallant, President and Executive Director of the Queens Museum, who discusses her "Year of Uncertainty" and the assurance that personal resilience can bring. We explore the powerful challenge of leading a deeply diverse institution where communities are often disparate, and how art can be a truly welcoming, genuinely inclusive place for connection. We conclude by redefining "community"—moving away from external identity markers to focus on the boundaryless mind.

Sally Tallant is a leading cultural figure committed to transforming institutional barriers. Her leadership has successfully positioned the Queens Museum as a vital public space—a model for how museums can be genuinely inclusive and dedicated to social justice

Can we find peace in chaos? Artist Anais Öst shares the profound inspiration behind her work: witnessing an Icelandic volcanic eruption. She reflects on how nature’s displacement, despite its power, is never rooted in greed, and how fire creates fertile ground for rebirth. The conversation explores interconnectedness, using the powerful analogy of the mind as a water droplet seeking to merge with the Ocean—the true source. We discuss the essential work of self-reflection, asking: are we living authentically, and how can a spirit of genuine curiosity guide us back to our deepest values?
Anais Öst is a Peruvian-Swedish interdisciplinary artist whose work explores the intersection of light, sound, and time. Her immersive installations blur the lines between human and environment, inviting reflection on transformation and the passage of elemental force. https://www.anaisost.com/
Guest Curator: Xavier Leopold https://xavierleopoldstudio.com

What happens when the career you were told to pursue leaves you empty? Artist Ed Vince, who held senior roles at companies like Apple and Facebook, shares his candid journey from the peak of the tech bubble to a profound personal 'breakthrough'. We explore the unsustainable chase for external validation and the desperate attempts to find internal consistency through intense wellness practices. Ed discusses how art became his path to true purpose and flow, allowing him to create with the joy of a child by taking discarded materials and transforming them with care, reflecting on how we must also care for ourselves and others.

Ed Vince is a London-based sculptor and artist. Responding to his extensive background as an advertising Creative Director, his work critically examines consumer culture and proposes that discarded elements can be reimagined with renewed significance and purpose. https://www.edwardvince.com

Guest Curator: Xavier Leopold https://xavierleopoldstudio.com

How does the search for Truth lead you back to your true Self? Artist Ramone 'K' Anderson opens up about the internal wrestling match he experienced when following rigid paths led him to neglect his inherent artistic purpose. He shares how restrictive views blocked his creative flow, only for his art to ultimately bring him back to his deepest sense of Self. We explore the essential work of unlearning dogma to find creative freedom, discussing how internal stillness and deep listening are needed to access genuine purpose.

Ramone 'K' Anderson, a recent RCA Contemporary Art Practice graduate, is a Hackney, North London-based artist and visual storyteller who resists the pressure for his work to be easily consumable. His multi-layered practice explores the issue of ownership of one's story and illuminates issues around equity of cultural capital.https://www.ramonekanderson.com

Guest Curator: Xavier Leopold ⁠https://xavierleopoldstudio.com