Art Problems

Latest Episodes:

EP 94: When and How to Hire Help for Your Studio Oct 17, 2025

Show notes

One of the most common challenges artists face is knowing when—and how—to hire help for their practice. This week, I'm breaking down the practicalities of hiring: from determining if you're ready, to figuring out what you can afford to pay, to managing assistants effectively. I cover the key tipping points that signal it's time to bring on help, the difference between contractors, assistants, and coaches, and why feeling overwhelmed doesn't always mean you need to hire someone. We also discuss W.A.G.E.'s fee calculator as a concrete tool for determining fair pay, why underpaying assistants creates more problems than it solves, and how Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) can make working with help much smoother. Plus, I explain how coaching can bridge the gap between doing everything yourself and hiring expensive consultants—helping you work smarter before you invest in working more. If you're struggling with time management, turning down opportunities, or can't meet deadlines without help, this episode offers practical guidance for making your first hire or improving how you work with the people already supporting your practice. Relevant Links:

EP 93: The Cancer Episode with Sculptor John Powers Oct 03, 2025

Show notes

This week we’re talking about how health events affect the lives of artists. Sculptor John Powers joins me as we share our experiences - his traumatic hand injury and subsequent cancer diagnosis, and my own recent double mastectomy.

We dig into the specific challenges artists face when medical crises threaten the tools of our trade, how we navigate the US healthcare system, and the mental strategies that help us maintain morale when everything feels out of control. We also explore the practical realities: phantom limb pain, nerve regeneration, the importance of finding the right surgeon, and how artistic skills - like explaining complex ideas and self-entertaining in solitude - translate surprisingly well to being a patient.

Medical crises are one of the top reasons artists in our community need to step back from their work, yet we rarely discuss how to navigate them. This podcast fills that need.

Relevant Links:

EP 92: Is the Era of Art Fair Spectacle Over? Sep 12, 2025

Show notes

VVrkshop founder Paddy Johnson and artist William Powhida dive into their impressions of the 2025 Armory Art Fair in New York. In this episode, we explore how Frieze's new ownership has changed the fair's feel, from stricter security to the notable absence of mega galleries like Hauser & Wirth and Gagosian.

We break down the numbers - more than half of 2024's exhibitors didn't return, LA galleries dropped by 26%, and smaller works dominated booths as galleries adapted to market realities. The conversation covers standout pieces that caught our attention, from Nick Farhi's provocative glory hole installation at Europa to Nikita Gale's politically charged "Interceptor" barricade at 56 Henry.

We also dig into emerging art trends, including the rise of "art history textbook painting" where artists render historical styles in abstract brushstrokes, and discuss the troubling vacuum in art criticism. The episode touches on the political climate's impact on art-making and whether we're seeing the end of an era for large-scale art fair presentations.

Relevant Links:

The Armory Show

Tim Van Laere Gallery (Rinus Van de Velde)

Victoria Miro (Doron Langberg, Flora Yukhnovich)

Peter Blum Gallery (Marha Tuttle)

Europa (Nick Farhi)

56 Henry (Nikita Gale)

Yancey Richardson Gallery (Marilyn Minter)

Corbett vs. Dempsey (Cauleen Smith)

What If The World Gallery (Mia Chaplin)

Uffner & Lui (Talia Levitt)

Marinaro (Ever Baldwin)

Hess Flatow (Emma Safir)

Dastan Gallery (Tehran artists)

P40D Gallery (Piper Bangs)

Anton Kern Gallery (David Shrigley)

James Cohan (Simon Evans)

EP 91: Why Art Speak Persists and How to Ditch It Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

What exactly is "art speak" and why do artists continue to use it when we all agree it’s creates a poor reading experience? In this podcast, I break down the inflated language that clutters artist statements—from "liminal" and "corporeal" to meaningless spatial metaphors that make work sound more complex than it is.

Drawing on Alix Rule and David Levine's landmark essay "International Art English," I explore why vague academic language emerged from 1970s French poststructuralist influence and why it's stuck around for nearly 50 years. Plus, we discuss why clarity can become your competitive advantage as AI changes how we evaluate written materials and grant competitions intensify.

RELEVANT LINKS:

"International Art English" by Alix Rule and David Levine (2012)

Free Masterclass: "How to Build an Art Career When Traditional Paths Fail" - July 22nd, 7:30 PM EST Netvvrk membership: [JOIN HERE]

EP 90: Three Mistakes to Avoid when Applying for a Guggenheim Fellowship Jun 27, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Paddy gives you the skinny on the Guggenheim Fellowship, one of the most prestigious awards for mid-career artists. The talk contains tips and strategies you won't find on their website, including knowing when to apply and how often. You won't find this information anywhere else, so have a listen. Even if you're not planning to apply, this episode will give you strategies for ALL grant applications.

Relevant links:

https://www.gf.org/

EP 89: This Is Artist Time with Natalia Nakazawa Jun 20, 2025

Show notes

Artist Natalia Nakazawa believes this moment of extreme uncertainty is actually "artist time"—when we need to step up as visionaries and fill the voids that traditional systems are leaving behind. This is the second interview in my series on how to find hope through artistic practice. Natalia has built multiple collectives and focuses on long-term sustainability over quick wins. We discuss making culture essential infrastructure and why artists need to connect beyond their silos. This is about training yourself to dream big and recognizing that artists are needed everywhere.

RELEVANT LINKS:
Natalia Nakazawa: https://www.natalianakazawa.com/
Socrates Sculpture Park Fellowship: https://socratessculpturepark.org/
Hue Museum: https://huemuseum.org/
Join Netvvrk: https://www.vvrkshop.art/i-want-to-netvvrk-now

EP 88: Bravery Earns you Hope: An Interview with Julie Peppito Jun 13, 2025

Show notes

After feeling demoralized by Trump’s election, artist Julie Peppito researched how to resist authoritarianism and merged her studio practice with street activism—what she calls "artivism."
Peppito, who is leading Saturday's No King's protest in NYC, believes artists are uniquely positioned to break through disinformation as messengers and visual communicators.

We discuss her four-part formula for building hope: community, social proof, joy, and collaboration, plus practical advice on organizing art builds, leading protests, and turning your studio into a "hope-making machine."

RELEVANT LINKS:
Julie Peppito: https://www.juliepeppito.com/
Julie Peppito Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliepeppito/
50501: https://www.fiftyfifty.one/
Indivisible: https://indivisible.org/
Heather Cox Richardson Newsletter: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/
The Ink by Anand Giridharadas: https://the.ink/

EP 87: What to Do When There Are No Answers Jun 06, 2025

Show notes

When external pressures feel overwhelming and traditional solutions fall short, how do artists move forward? From The Whitney pausing its Independent Study Program to AI threatening brand partnerships, the challenges facing artists today often don't have clear fixes.

Art Coach Paddy Johnson explores why believing every threat is already reality can paralyze us, how social media platforms prioritize reach over genuine connection, and why the art world's scrappy resilience might be our greatest asset. Plus, an announcement about an upcoming series designed to bring hope and courage to the creative community.

RELEVANT LINKS:
Whitney Museum Suspends Independent Study Program - Hyperallergic

Do Artists Need Galleries - artnet Art Market Minute podcast
Trump Said He Fired the National Portrait Gallery Director. She’s Still There. - Bloomberg

Netvvrk membership

EP 86: What It Looks Like to Trust Your Instincts May 30, 2025

Show notes

At the end of 2024, artist Amy Kligman left her executive director role to create her own opportunities by identifying gaps in the Kansas City arts ecosystem. She launched Special Effects gallery to make local artists more nationally visible and the Salon for Possible Futures, an artwork that doubles as a community gathering space. We discuss how Amy navigates risk and uncertainty, measures success in experimental projects, and uses art to build empathy and human connection during politically volatile times.

RELEVANT LINKS:

Amy Kligman: https://www.amykligman.com/

Amy Kligman Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amykligman/

Special Effects Gallery: https://www.instagram.com/specialfxgallery

The Salon for Possible Futures: https://www.nermanmuseum.org/exhibitions/2025-03-28-amy-kligman.html

EP 85: What is Killing the New York Fairs, Part Two May 21, 2025

Show notes

In this second part of our two-part series on New York Art Fair Week, William Powhida and Paddy Johnson discuss the standout artworks from Independent, NADA, and Spring Break. Despite the thin crowds and economic challenges explored in Part 1, there were notable works worth celebrating. The conversation highlights vintage game boards at Independent, playful Nancy Drew-inspired paintings at Spring Break, and meticulously detailed highway landscapes at NADA.

Most significantly, we explore how the most politically relevant work happened outside the fairs, with an extended conversation of Mitchell Chan's "Insert Coins" – a deceptively simple video game installation that reveals itself as a devastating commentary on capitalism, cryptocurrency, and rigged systems. This piece, along with Open Collective's Ukrainian war karaoke installation, connected to the anxieties of the real world, in a way that seemed largely absent from the commercial fair venues.

Relevant Links:

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