Museum Confidential

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Who's Harold Stevenson? Jan 28, 2022

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Oklahoma artist Harold Stevenson (1929-2018) created big paintings and lived an even bigger life in New York, Paris, Key West, and the Hamptons, becoming best friends with Andy Warhol along the way. For much of the past decade, Dian Jordan (The University of Texas Permian Basin) has been researching Stevenson's singular life, gathering an archive, and laying the groundwork for a definitive biography.

Live From Aspen: Why Warhol Persists Jan 07, 2022

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We haven't done a live audience show in ages. So when the invitation came to travel to Aspen, Colorado for the opening of a new Andy Warhol show at the Aspen Art Museum, we jumped at the opportunity. ANDY WARHOL: LIFETIMES is a career-spanning show originated at the Tate Modern. The AAM invited Los Angeles-based artist Monica Majoli to re-conceptualize the presentation. It's invigorating. This chat features Majoli, Assistant Curator Simone Krug, and the Museum's Director, Nicola Lees.

Mark Mothersbaugh Dec 17, 2021

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Mark Mothersbaugh has been a creative force for well over 40 years. From co-founding DEVO to scoring countless films and shows, his impact is undeniable. That body of work includes many collaborations with filmmaker Wes Anderson ("The Royal Tenenbaums"). We invited Mark to provide an exclusive musical experience for our special exhibition, "THIS IS AN ADVENTURE: Accidentally Wes Anderson." To our great surprise, he said yes.

Barbara Kruger: It's Not a Retrospective Dec 03, 2021

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Barbara Kruger's images and texts have been a consistent source of cultural commentary for decades. Her new exhibition, THINKING OF YOU. I MEAN ME. I MEAN YOU, dominates several spaces in the Art Institute of Chicago. On this episode we chat with the exhibition's co-curator, Robyn Farrell about the artist, the show, and why it's definitely NOT a retrospective.

Van Gogh: The Fanboy Nov 19, 2021

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Few artists have work as instantly recognizable as Vincent van Gogh. But as original and unique as it seems, the work stands on the shoulders of many others. That's exactly what Pulitzer Prize-winning author and acclaimed artist Steven Naifeh explores in his latest book, Van Gogh and the Artists He Loved. Furthering the work that began with his landmark 2011 biography Van Gogh: The Life, Naifeh let's us in on a completely new side of Vincent: the fanboy.

Beyond the "Bad Art Friend" Nov 05, 2021

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We hear the word "viral" all the time. But very few things actually go viral. A recent exception is "Who Is the Bad Art Friend?," a nearly ten-thousand-word feature in The New York Times by Robert Kolker. The story identifies a dispute between two writers that involves Facebook, a kidney donation, and explores the question, "who owns our personal stories?" Journalist Sarah Cascone joins us to discuss a related legal battle involving Andy Warhol and Prince. It's complicated.

Judy Chicago Oct 22, 2021

Show notes

On the occasion of her first career retrospective, we sit down with legendary artist/feminist Judy Chicago. The exhibition , now on view at San Francisco's de Young Museum, includes approximately 130 paintings, prints, drawings, and ceramic sculptures, in addition to ephemera, several films, and a documentary. We also talk about smoke sculptures. What's a smoke sculpture? We'll get to that.

John Lurie Oct 08, 2021

Show notes

Many people have been incorrectly hailed as a "Renaissance Man," but it perfectly describes Mr. John Lurie. Music, acting, painting, writing, he's done it all. With a long-gestating memoir just out and a second season of HBO's "Painting with John" now in production, we recently caught up with Lurie for a wide-ranging chat.

The Smithsonian Goes Hip-Hop Sep 17, 2021

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The long-awaited Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap just dropped. The set includes 129 tracks on 9 discs and a hefty 300–page book with original design by Cey Adams, acclaimed artist and founding creative director of Def Jam Recordings. From his early subway graffiti days alongside Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat to designing classic albums for Beastie Boys and LL Cool J, Adams has been at the epicenter of hip-hop culture. He spoke to us from his studio in New York City.

The Outsiders? Sep 03, 2021

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What is an "outsider artist?" Do we even call them that anymore? In recent years the term shifted to "self-taught artist." Sounds different. But does it mean the same thing? On this episode we chat with Dr. Katherine Jentleson, the Merrie and Dan Boone Curator of Folk and Self-Taught Art at the High Museum in Atlanta. The High recently opened two companion shows focusing on this very topic.

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