Art Problems

Doesn't the art world drive you nuts? There are all these rules of conduct you're supposed to follow, but then you're also supposed to know all the times when those rules don't apply. It's like you need the equivalent of a degree in engineering, just to get your foot in the door. (In reality, that degree is probably more like an MFA from Yale.) Well, today I break down the 10 most common contradic...

Are artists getting the short end of the A.I. stick? Faced with a loss of potential revenue, many artists are questioning the value of A.I. models that train on their artwork to produce artwork for users at no cost. Zero dollars from your labor isn't a good deal. In this episode of Art Problems, I discuss the short comings of using licensing to deal with A.I. companies acting like bullies stealing...

One of the great frustrations with the art world is the nonsense terms you have to interpret and apply to your practice. Are you an emerging, mid-career, or an established artist? NOBODY KNOWS. It's different for every application you fill out. What if I told you, I had a solution to this problem? A set of terms where you could easily see your EXACT place within the art world. Well, whatyaknow! Th...

Do I really need to read ArtForum? This and other media-related questions on this episode of Art Problems. We dive into: The state of the media and how it effects you and your practice. When you should start thinking about making a catalogue of your work and their purpose. Whether using paid publications like New American Painting is worth your money. And let's just get this out of the way right h...

In honor of the Whitney Biennial, I'm sharing an episode of Pep Talks for Artists on how to work an opening. In this episode Podcast host and producer Amy Talluto talks with Mandy Wilson Rosen about the book "How to Work a Room" by Susan RoAne to see if it jusssttt might have some helpful tips inside for artists. Spoiler alert: It does. It's chock full of helpful tips for surviving an opening —and...

I am back from the LA fairs, hoo boy, do I have some impressions. There was so much to do and see relative to New York’s Frieze week, that I started to wonder if New York would continue to be the economic center for art! In this podcast I discuss the biz, trends, and art so you have all the information you need to know whether participating in the LA Fairs is worth the investment. You’ll also get...

I know, I know. I'm basically promising the answer to life in an eight-minute podcast! Well, it's not quite that, but this week on the Art Problems Podcast I talk about how understanding your goals and audience can give you the answer to pretty much any question you have about artist statements. And I'll tell you this now: The answers won't stop with statements. Not to be cryptic or anything, but...

Almost every artist will need to take an extended break from art making at some point in their career. Whether that be due to child rearing, the loss of a parent, or a significant move, the job of getting back into the game can be just as challenging as the disruptions that took you away from the studio. You're probably worried that... You have visible gaps in your CV that galleries will notice an...

In this podcast Have you ever exchanged gifts with someone and only to learn that the present you got them is waaaaay more expensive then the one they got you? Awkward! In this Valentine's Day podcast on connection and mailers, I talk about how social currency and exchange works much the same way. If you're asking someone for their email, and you're giving them something in exchange you want it to...

Making any sort of career plan often results self-discovery. In this episode, I speak to three Netvvrk members, Jon Laustsen, Karey Kessler and Arden Bendler Browning about what they've learned through the process. Jon talks about how using a typewriter helped him connect to the process better. Karey talks about the discovery that the length of the journey and the goals she original set have shift...

Are you struggling to find time to do every god damn thing? Of course you are. You're an artist. That's why I started this series on goal setting. In this podcast I speak with artist and Netvvrk member Cadence Giersbach about how she sets priorities and gets things done. Giersbach describes the importance of focusing on the things that are within your control—what you can do each day to get tasks...

Have you ever launched an exhibition space and then tortured yourself over whether to include yourself in a show because you know it will look bad? Or struggled over whether to send an email to gallerist or a DM over instagram because someone followed you, but you're not sure if DMing a welcome is friendly or spam?   Welcome to the world of art world taboos, which are both plentiful and entirely u...

In this episode of Art Problems, I take on a vexed topic for many artists: goal setting! Is it even worth setting goals when it's so difficult to know where your opportunities will come from? Short answer: Yes. I talk to artist and Netvvrk member Heather Beardsley about the process she used to set her goals, and how she achieved them. And you know what? It's not rocket science. You can follow Heat...

Last year, I predicted what 2023 in the art world would look like. This week, I take a look back at those predictions, share what I got right and wrong, and make new ones for 2024. Spoiler alert: We've got big structural changes ahead. It's hard to say how those changes will play out, but discuss the benefit of approaching shifts with cautious optimism.   Relevant links: The Internet is about to G...

Do you have an internal ticker tape running tracking one anxiety to the next? Many of us who struggle with fears that our ambitions for our art will never align with our careers find end of year planning stressful. That's why, in this podcast, I invited artist and meditation expert Kristen Jordan to the podcast. (Psst: She also manages the Netvvrk membership support desk.) She tackles all of the a...

Is conventional wisdom shifting? Many believe art fairs and artists shouldn't mix. One artist described it to me as watching your parents have sex. It's not something artists want to do! But not everyone agrees. In this episode I speak to artist Mark Joshua Epstein about his experience at the Miami art fairs and why he believes the stigma associated with artists who attend without exhibiting their...

Is there a way to escape the demoralizing FOMO many artists experience during the Miami art fairs? In this episode of Art Problems, I discuss the ceiling many artists feel during this time of year, how to insert yourself into the fairs, and how not to feel like this whole art endeavor-thing is pointless. Spoiler alert: The whole art thing is not pointless.

This week, I conducted an experiment: I took a survey that identified problems for standard businesses by revenue stages and examined how those problems aligned with the average artist's studio practice. Surprise! The metrics didn't line up. So, I used the framework for the business stages to create my model for artists. This podcast shares what I learned and produced for you! In the process, I cr...

In this episode, I discuss the abundance of triggers liable to make you feel a little more sensitive about your career this time of year including the Miami art fairs, holiday sales, and an art market recession. I also discuss what you can do when you start feeling all the feels. We often get in our own way when we become self-conscious about visibility. This podcast is designed to give you the to...

Do you really need an artist residency? You know it helps a CV, but how much? Will it help other aspects of your career? In this episode, I talk about how to determine if you need a residency and how to find the residencies best suited to your needs. If you've been stressing over whether you should spend time at a residency or how to find one, this podcast will provide an answer to many of those a...

Is your lack of tech literacy stressing you out?   Are you worried you're too old to get the hang of new technology?   Maybe you're not old, and reasonably tech-savvy, but still stymied by constant tech updates?   Today on the podcast I invite my mother, Jacqueline Johnson, to talk about her use of technology.   She is not a master of technology. But, at age 77, she has figured out how to use what...

Is your body not working as well as it did when you were twenty? Is this affecting your studio practice? Welcome to the joys of mid-career!   In this episode of Art Problems, I speak about the importance of seeking out good healthcare so you can sustain your work in the studio.   Try different types of support.   Use what works for you.   Trust your body.   Adapt, adapt, adapt.   Learning to accep...

In this episode, I talk to artists Barbara Nitke, Natalya Kochak, Laurence Elle Groux (goes by Elle) to talk about how they used the Netvvrk membership to help them secure their Chelsea show Mind Body and Soul—a Chashama exhibition at 320 West 23rd Street in New York. We go through the process of how they met, how they got the show, the resources they needed to make the show, and now, what they ca...

Let me guess. You have a million things to do to move your art career forward, but you're only one person, and you're struggling to find time in the studio, let alone do all the other tasks. You need one job, not four. In this episode of Art Problems, I discuss how to get the time you need in the studio. The solutions I have aren't sexy, and some of them aren't even that fun. But you know what is...

Does anyone even read art criticism any more? For years, the prevailing wisdom told us that the art industry needs art criticism to grow. And yet, today, the industry is larger than ever; the number of professional art critics in the country is dwindling, and those writing reviews aren't having them read. So, do we need art criticism? Is art criticism itself the problem? Is it too positive to be t...