CHANEL Connects

Latest Episodes:

New Romantics: Lauren Collins and Gerard & Kelly Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

Lauren Collins, writer at The New Yorker, is well-versed in the art of storytelling. She connects with Gerard & Kelly, who evolved from romantic partners and collaborators into an established artist duo. The history of time and place has been a topic of exploration for all three, who connect at Gabrielle Chanel’s storied villa, La Pausa. Their conversation explores the language of dance, the rich legacy of Americans on the French Riviera, and what’s lost in translation.

The Art of Performance: Francesca Hayward and Allison Katz Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

For episode two, ballerina Francesca Hayward connects with artist Allison Katz. Hayward’s rapid ascent to Principal Dancer of The Royal Ballet is testament to her exceptional talent and stage presence. Katz has also gained international recognition—her work explores memory across cultures and centuries and is held in the collection of Tate Modern in London, Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, among many others. Together, they discuss the parallels between dance and painting and the importance of staying true to your vision.

In Search of Home: Lupita Nyong’o and Emanuele Coccia Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

Academy Award-winning actor and House ambassador Lupita Nyong’o connects with Emanuele Coccia, esteemed professor and author of ‘Philosophy of the Home’. The two explore different ideas of home: Coccia has moved over 40 times, while Nyong’o shares how her relationship to place was shaped in Kenya, Mexico and the US, and together they discuss how ‘home’ is redefined in the digital age. The conversation unfolds in the drawing room of Gabrielle Chanel’s beloved Riviera home—La Pausa.

CHANEL Connects Season 5 Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

For Season 5, listeners are transported to La Pausa, Gabrielle Chanel’s "ideal Mediterranean villa" on the French Riviera. The new season features changemakers across disciplines: Academy Award-winning actor Lupita Nyong’o, Emanuele Coccia – philosopher and professor, Francesca Hayward of The Royal Ballet, artist Allison Katz, performance art duo Gerard & Kelly, Lauren Collins – writer at The New Yorker, artist Matthew Lutz-Kinoy, Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco, and American artist Adam Pendleton.

Episodes will be released weekly from July 16.

Foreigners Everywhere: Adriano Pedrosa and Yana Peel Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

Season Four of CHANEL Connects, the flagship arts and culture podcast, concludes with Adriano Pedrosa, curator of the 60th edition of the Venice Biennale and the Artistic Director of the São Paulo Museum of Art. In conversation with Yana Peel, Global Head of Arts & Culture at CHANEL, Pedrosa discusses the theme for this year’s Biennale: Stranieri Ovunque—Foreigners Everywhere, and how an exhibition can "reinforce what truly matters."

The Venetian Script: Michael Rock and Irma Boom Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

At the Palazzo Persico, the world-famous designers Michael Rock and Irma Boom reflect on Venice’s pivotal role in the history of book publishing – and its influence on generations of contemporary artists. Michael is the co-founder of 2x4, while Boom has designed more than 300 books across her career. Together, they explore how, more than 500 years ago, Venice revolutionised art, a legacy that continues to this day.

The Islanders: Hildigunnur Birgisdóttir and Trevor Yeung Aug 13, 2024

Show notes

This episode connects two artists from countries uniquely impacted by climate change. Representing Iceland and Hong Kong, Hildigunnur Birgisdóttir and Trevor Yeung are navigating this year’s Venice Biennale and Venice as a city, much the way they treat their island homes. At the Conservatorio di Musica, looking out onto the Italian canals, they discuss how art can inspire action in the natural world.

Curators and the Zeitgeist: Simon Castets and Courtney J. Martin Aug 06, 2024

Show notes

What makes a great curator, and what brings them to the Venice Biennale, without fail, for the past two decades? In this episode, distinguished curators from the museum world connect to share their stories of seeing and discovery. Simon Castets, Director of Strategic Initiatives at LUMA Arles in France, speaks with Courtney J. Martin, Executive Director of the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation in New York. Together, they discuss how the biennale shapes the coming trends in the international art scene.

The Sparring Partners: William Kentridge and Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev Jul 30, 2024

Show notes

The South African multidisciplinary artist William Kentridge and the famed curator Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev have created some of the most resonant work of their time. These two giants of the art world discuss the Venice installation of William’s film Self-Portrait as a Coffee Pot, Carolyn’s work as the former director of the Castello di Rivoli museum in Italy, and the origins of their long and rich creative relationship.

The France Pavilion: Julien Creuzet Jul 23, 2024

Show notes

Julien Creuzet, one of the world’s leading contemporary artists, connects with Alvin Li, Curator of International Art at the Tate Modern in London. Julien is a professor at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Paris and the first French-Caribbean artist to represent France at the Venice Biennale. Supported by the CHANEL Culture Fund, his exhibition blends sculpture and film with poetry and music, transforming the France Pavilion. In a conversation with Alvin Li at Palazzo Pisani Moretta, Julien revisits his childhood on the island of Martinique and reflects on art’s unique capacity to unearth untold stories.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected