What We Make

Curator and writer Susanna Brown on exhibition-making, writing photography, and why sharing art is about community, not gatekeeping.

In this episode of What We Make, we travelled to London to meet curator and writer Susanna Brown at the London College of Communication. Susanna spent thirteen years as Curator of Photographs at the V&A, where she helped build the Photography Centre, and has curated exhibitions seen by hundreds of thousands of people, on Cecil Beaton, Horst and Tim Walker. This autumn she opens Tim Walker’s Fairyland at the National Portrait Gallery, and her most recent book, Chanel in Vogue, is out now with Thames & Hudson.

We talk about curating as a form of storytelling, how she thinks about an exhibition from the visitor’s side, what it means to “collaborate” with photographers who are no longer alive, and why, after a career inside some of the world’s great institutions, she believes sharing art is about community and togetherness rather than keeping it for an elite.

Follow these links to learn more about Susanne Brown:

• Instagram: @suzy_brown_london
• On her current exhibition out now; Tim Walker’s Fairy Land: https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/2026/tim-walkers-fairyland-love-and-legends
• And her latest book; Chanel in Vogue: https://www.thamesandhudsonusa.com/books/chanel-in-vogue-hardcover

This is episode is hosted by Angèle Alberti. Production and editing by Florence de Schlichting. Sound design and composition by Tom Biddle. Graphic design by Shrey Kathuria. What We Make is brought to you by L’Atelier Angele Alberti.

Follow us @whatwemakepodcast.

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In this episode of What We Make, we sit down with photographer Jack Davison whose dreamlike images have made him one of today’s most sought-after creatives in both art and fashion.

From his breakout commission with The New York Times to collaborations with Vogue, Dazed, Hermès, Burberry, and The Row, Jack’s career has been defined by instinct, curiosity, and a refusal to follow a single path. His photographs—whether portraits, architecture, or everyday objects—reveal the surreal in the ordinary through chiaroscuro, abstraction, and a cinematic eye.

Together, we trace his journey into photography, explore the role of honesty and play in creative work, and reflect on what it means to evolve as an artist while staying true to yourself.

This is a conversation about process, perseverance, and the unexpected ways creativity unfolds.

Follow these links to learn more about Jack Davison:

• Instagram: @jackdavisonphoto , @helions_print
• Web: https://www.jackdavison.co.uk/ , https://helions.co/

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In this episode of What We Make, we sit down with the duo behind the cult publication Sixteen Magazine; Xavier Encinas, Founder and Creative Director, and Victoire Simonney, Fashion Director and Stylist. Xavier is also the founder of the multidisciplinary consultancy XES, and Victoire is one of the most respected stylists working today, with a portfolio that spans M Le Monde, Dazed, Double, Vogue, WSJ, and campaigns for houses like Chanel, Dior, Cartier, and Louis Vuitton.

Sixteen is a biannual print magazine that pairs commissioned fashion and documentary photography with carefully selected archival work. In our conversation, Xavier and Victoire share how Sixteen came to life, what drives their curatorial decisions, and how they define the kind of image that’s worthy of print. We also explore the launch of The Sixteen Film Institute, a cinematic extension of their world that continues their commitment to thoughtful, independent storytelling.

Discover more from :

• Instagram: @sixteen.world, @sixteenfilminstitute, @xavier.encinas, @victoiresimonney
• Website: https://sixteen.world/

Hosted by Angele Alberti @angelealberti

Production & Editing by Florence de Schlichting @flodeschlichting

Sound Design & Composition by Tom Biddle @b_i_d_l

Graphic Design by Shrey Kathuria @shreykathuria

This podcast is brought to you by @latelierby

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maya Golyshkina is a self-taught, Russian-born performance artist who didn’t wait for the perfect materials or the perfect moment to start creating. From a shared bedroom in Moscow, she began building handmade sets and surreal images using whatever she could find from cling film, cardboard, even eggs. Her playful, unpolished works soon caught the eye of fashion houses like Marc Jacobs and Balenciaga, launching a practice rooted in resilience, resourcefulness, and a refusal to wait for permission.

We talk about growing up under pressure, the power of satire, and how humour can be a radical creative force.

Discover more from :

• Instagram: @_themaiy_

Hosted by Angele Alberti @angelealberti

Production & Editing by Florence de Schlichting @flodeschlichting

Sound Design & Composition by Tom Biddle @b_i_d_l

Graphic Design by Shrey Kathuria @shreykathuria

This podcast is brought to you by @latelierby

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of What We Make, I sit down with Tsunaina, the British–Nepali model and musician whose haunting voice and singular visual style have captivated audiences around the world. First known for her striking presence in images by Tim Walker and Paolo Roversi, Tsunaina has since stepped into a new realm: one of music, performance, and richly layered storytelling. We met in a recording studio in London, where her quiet poise and eloquence made a lasting impression. In our conversation, Tsunaina reflects on the theatrical nature of her work, the evolution of her creative voice, and the power of building a world that feels entirely her own.

Bold, confident, and uncompromising in her artistic vision, Tsunaina speaks to what it means to remain authentic while carving out space in the public eye.

Discover more from Tsunaina:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tsunaina/?hl=en
• Website: https://www.tsunaina.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/72b2WJCKaPIyFXWaqFUdHB?si=GxjxfhvkSjSbgONu_kCu_A

Hosted by Angele Alberti @angelealberti

Production & Editing by Florence de Schlichting @flodeschlichting

Sound Design & Composition by Tom Biddle @b_i_d_l

Graphic Design by Shrey Kathuria @shreykathuria

This podcast is brought to you by @latelierby

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re joined by Harri KS, the London-based designer and artist behind Let’s Put Him in a Vase, the viral MA collection that reimagined menswear with sculptural, inflatable silhouettes. Born in Kerala, Harri’s practice is anything but surface-level. It’s rooted in global craftsmanship, material innovation, and a deep interrogation of the body as both subject and medium.

We unpack the journey from South India to Central Saint Martins and dive into how Harri has shaped his identity through making, transforming challenges like colour blindness into creative catalysts. This conversation is a reminder that while vision might go viral, it’s the discipline, collaboration, and craft behind the scenes that truly make it soar.

To learn more about Harri KS:

• Instagram: @harri_ks
• Website: www.harriks.com

Hosted by Angele Alberti @angelealberti

Production & Editing by Florence de Schlichting @flodeschlichting

Sound Design & Composition by Tom Biddle @b_i_d_l

Graphic Design by Shrey Kathuria @shreykathuria

This podcast is brought to you by @latelierby

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In this episode, I speak with painter Chechu Álava, whose portraits of women feel both ethereal and quietly radical. Originally from Asturias in northern Spain and now based in Paris, Chechu’s work reimagines historical and literary figures, reclaiming women who’ve long been seen as muses or marginal characters, and offering them presence, agency, and light. We talk about where this fascination began, how she creates the gauzy, dreamlike atmosphere in her paintings, and what it means to paint from intuition rather than strategy. This is a conversation about her journey and the invisible threads that connect women across time.

You can learn more about Chechu's work in the following links;

https://www.instagram.com/chechualava/

https://www.chechualava.com/

https://www.cobgallery.com/artists/237-chechu-alava/

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Photographer and writer Antony Penrose grew up surrounded by some of the most influential figures in 20th-century art. The son of Surrealist artist Roland Penrose and trailblazing war photographer Lee Miller, Antony has spent much of his life preserving, sharing, and expanding their extraordinary legacies.

In this special episode, recorded on location at Farleys House in Sussex, once the family home and now a living archive, Antony reflects on a life shaped by creativity, courage, and curiosity. He speaks about his mother’s fearless transformation from Vogue model to frontline photojournalist, the enduring spirit of Surrealism, and the profound role photography plays in bearing witness to history.

We explore the emotional labour of guardianship, the art of storytelling across generations, and what it means to hold memory with both tenderness and truth.

Antony also shares rare memories of growing up surrounded by some of the most renowned creative figures of the 20th century; Picasso, Miró, Man Ray, and Leonora Carrington among them. Offering a unique glimpse into the world of creative icons.

To learn more about Antony Penrose, Farleys House, and the legacy of Lee Miller and Roland Penrose, follow these links;

https://www.farleyshouseandgallery.co.uk/

https://www.leemiller.co.uk/

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