Bench Talk

👉🏼 Enrolments for our signature program Going Pro Self Led are opening soon. Join the waitlist to get first access here- https://www.artcareeracademy.com/waitlist-goingpro-sl 🔥 Kitt Bennett has painted a skeleton on the ground the size of a city block, a mud crab that looks like it’s about to eat him, and ground murals he’s happy to leave fading in the weather for a decade. On purpose. If you’v...

What happens when a city gets behind public art? And what does it take to build a thriving mural community that impacts everyone from homeless people to politicians? In this live panel discussion recorded at the Darwin Street Art Festival's 10-year celebration, Tom Gerrard sits down with David Collins (founder and director), George Rose (established muralist), Caleb Schatz (emerging artist), and R...

How do you build an international mural career when Australia feels like the other side of the world? In this episode of Bench Talk, Tom Gerrard reconnects with George Rose in Darwin, where they've both been painting murals for the Darwin Street Art Festival. George shares her journey from painting walls across Australia to becoming an internationally sought-after muralist, working everywhere from...

In this engaging interview, artist Jacob Morley shares his journey from tattooing to painting, his creative process, and how moving to the Mornington Peninsula has influenced his art and lifestyle. Discover insights on building a sustainable art career, the importance of space organization, and the joy of experimenting with different mediums.   In this episode we explore:    Transitioning from tat...

Mural artist Hiroyasu Tsuri (TWOONE) was the very first guest on the BenchTalk art career podcast ~ ten years ago, on a rooftop in Melbourne with a dictaphone and no plan. Today he's one of the most compelling working artists in the world — painting large-scale murals across Japan, Malaysia, Morocco and Hong Kong, living in rural Italy and building an art career entirely on his own terms. In this...

👉🏼 Watch the limited time full MASTERCLASS REPLAY on the 3 Shifts Professional Artists Make to Build Real Careers: https://www.artcareeracademy.com/lp-replay-3shifts What's the real difference between an 'artist' and a 'professional artist'? It's not talent. It's not luck. It's a fundamental mindset shift that changes everything. In this episode of Bench Talk, Tom Gerrard sits down with Claire B...

👉 FREE live masterclass training for working visual artists ~ discover why talented artists stay stuck and the 3 shifts that change everything. https://www.artcareeracademy.com/freetraining-unstuck What does it really take to transition from graffitti writer to full-time studio artist? In this episode of Bench Talk, Tom Gerrard reconnects with Los Angeles-based artist Kristopher Raos for an in-de...

What does it take to evolve as an artist without losing yourself in the process? In this episode of Bench Talk, Tom Gerrard sits down with Sydney-based artist Elliott Rutledge for a raw, honest conversation about artistic evolution, breaking into the gallery world, and the courage it takes to keep experimenting when you're not sure if anyone will buy the work. Elliott is a true creative polymath -...

Every artist has been there. Someone - a gallerist, a family member, a fellow artist - pulls you aside and tells you exactly what's wrong with your work. You didn't ask. But now you can't stop thinking about it. In this episode of Bench Talk, Claire Bradshaw from Art Career Academy and I unpack one of the most common (and damaging) experiences in an artist's career: unsolicited advice and what to...

In this insightful interview, Byron Bowman Kehoe, a seasoned gallerist, shares his journey through the art world, from early exposure to art in his family gallery to working in Japan and New York. Discover his perspectives on art collection, studio practices, street art, and how galleries like Backwoods shape Melbourne's vibrant art scene. ------ KEY TAKEAWAYS: - Early exposure to art through fami...

A listener question inspired this episode — and it highlights something many artists and collectors experience: How do you create a commissioned artwork that truly feels right for everyone involved? In this episode of Bench Talk, we explore how commissions can become rewarding creative collaborations when expectations are clear and communication is open. Because when alignment is there, the proces...

👉 Join the FREE 3-day Going Pro Bootcamp and discover how to build a thriving art career with clarity, confidence, and authentic visibility—no hustle required. https://www.artcareeracademy.com/3-day-bootcamp What is art really for? In this deeply reflective episode of Bench Talk, I sit down with contemporary artist Jasmine Mansbridge for an expansive conversation about dreams, geometry, stillness...

👉 Join the FREE 3-day Going Pro Bootcamp and discover how to build a thriving art career with clarity, confidence, and authentic visibility—no hustle required. https://www.artcareeracademy.com/3-day-bootcamp In this episode of Bench Talk, Tom Gerrard sits down with Claire Bradshaw from the Art Career Academy to reflect honestly on 2025 and map out a grounded, sustainable approach to 2026 as an ar...

👉 Join the FREE 3-day Going Pro Bootcamp and discover how to build a thriving art career with clarity, confidence, and authentic visibility—no hustle required. https://www.artcareeracademy.com/3-day-bootcamp What does the future of the art world really look like for working artists? In this episode of Bench Talk, Tom Gerrard and Claire Bradshaw break down the five biggest art market trends from 2...

In this episode, Tom Gerrard sits down again with Claire Bradshaw from the Art Career Academy to unpack everything that goes into preparing for an exhibition — from concept and timing to marketing, mindset, and presentation. Fresh off his solo show 20 Shot Sequence at Lennox Street Gallery, Tom shares his own process, lessons learned, and mistakes to avoid. Claire breaks it down into clear, action...

In this episode of Bench Talk, I sit down with private art dealer Sarah Hook (Fletcher Arts) to dive deep into the world of art dealing, collecting, and what it really takes for artists to thrive in today’s art market. ------ KEY TAKEAWAYS: ⚡️ How private art dealers work with artists, architects, and interior designers ⚡️ The story behind Sarah’s “3 Days, 30 Artists” home exhibition model ⚡️ S...

👉 FREE Resource: Download the Artist Visibility Guide mentioned in this episode — learn how artists are getting seen by gallerists and collectors right now! https://www.artcareeracademy.com/visibility-guide In this episode of Bench Talk, Claire Bradshaw from the Art Career Academy and I dive deep into the three pillars of artist visibility — online presence, relationships, and opportunities. We u...

In this episode of BenchTalk, I'm joined by artist Loribelle Spirovski for a deep dive into Sydney Contemporary 2025. As first-time exhibitors, Loribelle and I share our impressions of Australia’s biggest art fair - from booth placement strategies to the works that stopped us in our tracks. We talk about the role of art fairs in shaping art careers, the difference between seeing art online vs in t...

Street artist CTO (Peter Seaton) joins us for an unfiltered conversation about street art, graffiti politics, and painting walls across Melbourne and beyond. KEY TAKEAWAYS: - His shift from psychedelics and self-discovery into murals - Learning rope access to paint massive walls safely (and why swing stages scare him) - Balancing illegal vs legal murals — and why most people don’t know which is wh...

In this episode of Bench Talk, I'm joined by Claire Bradshaw from the Art Career Academy to unpack the three most common mistakes artists make — and how to avoid them. From hiding away in the studio and neglecting visibility, to overlooking the business side of art, to relying too heavily on Instagram, Tom and Claire share practical strategies and mindset shifts that can help emerging artists buil...

In this insightful episode, I sit down with Tom Adair, an artist known for his bold techniques and evocative works, to explore both his creative journey and the changing landscape of the art world. Tom opens up about his inspirations, first art sales, and dream projects. We also dive deeper into the realities of today’s art market: navigating digital platforms, understanding collectors’ evolving t...

Pricing artwork, navigating unsold pieces and deciding how many prints to release - these are questions every emerging artist faces. In this episode, hosts Tom Gerrard and Claire Bradshaw from the Art Career Academy share practical strategies and mindset shifts to help you build a sustainable art career. ------ WE COVER: ⚡️ How to price your work with confidence — and why most artists undervalue...

Can fame buy you credibility in the art world? In this episode of Bench Talk, Tom Gerrard and Wayne Lim dive into the curious world of celebrity artists. From Ed Sheeran’s abstract paintings to Jim Carrey’s expressive works, the guys ask: are these stars adding to the art world—or just playing pretend? ------ KEY TAKEAWAYS: - Why celebrity art gets so much criticism - The emulation phase all artis...

In this conversation, Drez shares his artistic journey from graffiti in Melbourne to becoming a recognized fine artist. He discusses the evolution of his work, the balance between his music and art careers, and the importance of maintaining a human touch in his creations. Drez reflects on the differences between street art and studio work, his first sales, and the momentum they created. He also ta...

Bench Talk #198 - Artsurdity. Tom Gerrard and Wayne Lim discuss some of the absurd things happening in the art world right now including Salvatore Garau, the Italian artist who sold an invisible sculpture for $18k.   HOST: Tom Gerrard ✦ IG | @artcareeracademy and @tom-gerrard ✦ Subscribe to Channel | www.youtube.com/@ArtCareerAcademy ✦ Website | artcareeracademy.com   GUEST: Wayne Lim ✦ YouTube  @...