Ministry of Arts Podcast

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REWIND Ep.19 Mark Wallinger - Ministry of Arts Podcast Oct 14, 2025

Show notes

In this REWIND episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Mark Wallinger (recorded: November 2018).

Mark Wallinger is known for exploring identity, faith, and politics through diverse media. His Labyrinth (2013) project placed unique labyrinth designs across London’s Underground stations, symbolising journeys and introspection. Earlier, his celebrated sculpture Ecce Homo (1999) depicted a life-sized, vulnerable Christ figure on Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth, challenging perceptions of power, humanity, and compassion. Wallinger’s thought-provoking works continue to engage public spaces and question contemporary British identity

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.co.uk

Email: ministryofartsorg@gmail.com

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

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

Ep.293 Rod Kitson - Ministry of Arts Podcast Oct 06, 2025

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In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Rod Kitson (@RodKitsonArt)

Rod Kitson is an artist known for his expressive portraiture and socially engaged art projects. Kitson’s work often explores themes of identity, community, and mental health.

His distinctive style combines bold brushwork with a keen sensitivity to his subjects, capturing emotion and character in equal measure.

Kitson gained national attention for his live portrait projects, in which he paints members of the public in pop-up studios and public spaces. These sessions not only produce intimate works of art but also encourage dialogue around creativity and well-being. He is particularly recognised for his “100 Heads” initiative, where he painted one hundred people in as many days, showcasing the diversity and stories of his local community.

His work has been exhibited across the UK and is often noted for its accessibility and community focus. Kitson continues to blur the lines between artist and facilitator, using portraiture to foster connection and empathy.

For more information on the work of Rod Kitson go to

https://www.rodkitson.com

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.co.uk

Email: ministryofartsorg@gmail.com

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

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

REWIND Ep.18 Mat Collishaw - Ministry of Arts Podcast Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

In this REWIND episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Mat Collishaw (recorded: Nov 2018).

Mat Collishaw was a key figure in Damien Hirst's legendary Freeze exhibition, as well as Charles Saatchi's controversial [at the time] Sensations exhibition at the Royal Academy.

Mat has used the latest VR technology to recreate William Henry Fox Talbot's 1839 photography exhibition, even including the Chartist's prodest.

In his 2018 work, Mask of Youth, Mat collaborated with cutting-edge special effect designers to create a 'truer' interpretation of what Queen Elizabeth I may have looked like around the time her Armada Portrait was painted (the two works sit opposite each-other at The Queens House, Greenwich, London).

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.co.uk

Email: ministryofartsorg@gmail.com

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

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

Ep.292 Kevin Devonport - Ministry of Arts Podcast Sep 14, 2025

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In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Kevin Devonport (@KevinDevonportFineArt)

Kevin Devonport is a self-taught British artist whose journey from prison to international recognition highlights the life-changing power of art. Raised in Leeds, he left school without qualifications and served several prison terms for drug-related offences. During a 13-year sentence, he discovered painting through a class run by Care After Combat, a charity supporting ex-service personnel, sparking a profound shift in his life.

While imprisoned, Devonport earned a First-Class Honours BSc in Sociology from the Open University, shaping his artistic themes of identity, consumerism, and social structure. His still-life works use everyday objects to tell personal and social stories.

Based at Assembly House Studios in Leeds, Kevin exhibits widely and mentors others, particularly ex-offenders and veterans, promoting art as a tool for rehabilitation.

For more information on the work of Kevin Devonport go to

https:// KevinDevonport.com/

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.co.uk

Email: ministryofartsorg@gmail.com

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

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

REWIND Ep.15 Rugman - Ministry of Arts Podcast Sep 03, 2025

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In this REWIND episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Rugman (@@rugmanart)

Rugman is known for blending street art with fine art influences. His bold work often combines graphic iconography, stencil techniques, and layered textures.

Drawing inspiration from pop culture, politics, and global symbolism, he reimagines familiar imagery with a subversive twist. Rugman frequently explores themes of identity, consumerism, and cultural power.

Exhibiting internationally, he has collaborated with brands and musicians, while maintaining a distinct style rooted in urban creativity and visual storytelling.

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.co.uk

Email: ministryofartsorg@gmail.com

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

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

Ep.291 Helen Starr pt.2/2 - Ministry of Arts Podcast Aug 27, 2025

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PART 2

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Helen Starr (@themechatroniclibrary)

Helen Starr, a Trinidadian artist and activist, is known for blending digital technology with cultural storytelling. She explores identity, indigeneity, and spirituality through immersive art, often using virtual and augmented reality.

Helen advocates for inclusivity in the arts, challenging colonial narratives and amplifying marginalised voices. Her work connects Caribbean heritage with future-facing media, fostering dialogue on community, environment, and social justice while reimagining how technology shapes human experience.

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.co.uk

Email: ministryofartsorg@gmail.com

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

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

Ep.290 Helen Starr pt.1/2 - Ministry of Arts Podcast Aug 24, 2025

Show notes

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Helen Starr (@themechatroniclibrary)

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.org

Email: ministryofartsorg@gmail.com

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

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

REWIND Ep. 14: Bill Daggs - Ministry of Arts Podcast Aug 17, 2025

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REWIND Ep. 14: Bill Daggs - Ministry of Arts Podcast

In this REWIND episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Bill Daggs (@billdaggs)

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Bill Daggs, a multidisciplinary artist who weaves painting, sculpture, installation, text, moving image, performance and sound into poetic explorations of urban rituals, memory and community.

Rooted in a background as an MC, his visually narrative works blend social observation and nostalgic storytelling across media

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.co.uk

Email: ministryofartsorg@gmail.com

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

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

Ep.289 Graeme Messer - Ministry of Arts Podcast Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Graeme Messer (@GraemeMesser)

Graeme Messer is a London-based multidisciplinary artist whose work spans assemblage, photography, text, and performance. Originally from South Africa, he moved to the UK in the 1980s and built a successful early career in theatre, directing works by Shakespeare and Tennessee Williams, and founding the award-winning company Out of Bounds.

Since 2010, Messer has focused solely on visual art, bringing his theatrical flair into the gallery space.

Messer’s work is often autobiographical, exploring themes such as identity, shame, self-worth, and the complex interplay between vulnerability and resilience. He is known for his distinctive mirror pieces—vintage mirrors etched with bold, confrontational or affirming text, illuminated with LED lighting. These works prompt viewers to reflect—both literally and metaphorically—on themselves and the world around them.

Messer continues to push boundaries, using art as a means to question, provoke, and connect.

For more information on the work of Graeme Messer go to

https://www.Graeme Messer.com

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.org

Email: ministryofartsorg@gmail.com

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

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

REWIND Ep.13 Franko B - Ministry of Arts Podcast Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

In this REWIND episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Franko B (@franko_b_artist)

Franko B is a performance and multidisciplinary artist known for using his body to explore themes of pain, love, and politics. Active since the 1990s, his provocative work spans performance, installation, video, and painting. Often confronting taboo subjects, Franko B challenges perceptions of vulnerability and the human condition, leaving a lasting impact on contemporary art.

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.co.uk

Email: ministryofartsorg@gmail.com

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

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

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