Clean Break with Matt Gondek

Welcome to the new and improved Clean Break Podcast! For our first episode back, we're laser focusing on one particular topic - How to price your artwork and make your very first sales. Gondek is joined by Patrick of AlwaysArt, our podcast partner.  Please visit CleanBreakPodcast.com for free resources, tips, and guides to grow your artistic career. 

Simone Legno is the creative director and founder of TokiDoki - an internationally recognized and iconic lifestyle brand. Dharni is a Singaporeon Beatboxer whose traveled the world competing. We interviewed them both recently during the Culture Cartel Expo in Singapore. Clean Break will return for our new season Mid-January 2023. For now, enjoy this bonus episode.

Artists Sage Barnes and Julia Mercanti Bonus episode! Clean Break returns January 2023. For now, enjoy the episode with artists Sage and Julia recorded Live during Yorkville Mural Festival in Toronto Canada in collaboration with Stock X

Tal Cooperman - Executive Creative Director for Station Casinos and Business Owner From getting his start at Tribal Streetwear and gifting product to bands like Linkin Park, starting successful companies like ResQWater and luxury hot sauce brand TRUFF, to the entertainment and casino business - where Tal helped revitalize PALMS casino by placing artwork from Damien Hirst, Murakami, KAWS, etc. We c...

Gregory Siff - Artist Child actor turned contemporary artist, Gregory describes how using visual art helped deal with emotions of bad auditions and losing a loved one. We discuss his origins in street art, finding help to push out his message, and the importance of mental health.  IG @GregorySiff

Dalek - Artist We cover a lot of ground in this extensive look at Dalek's long and varied career. The origins of his iconic Space Monkey character, moving from the New York art scene to North Carolina, changing artistic styles in the middle of his career, working with commercial brands, and more. Dalek has done it all.  IG @Dalek2020

Craola - Artist Craola has made a name for himself through his hyper detailed  paintings that blend pop culture, the surreal, and his ever growing world. We get into how his career began, how he's still pushing to improve his work, and other facets of his legendary career.   IG @Craola

Avery Andon - Gallery Owner and Artist Manager Avery is known for a variety of ventures - most notably his gallery ArtLife (which sells Blue Chip artwork online) and managing his brother and artist Alec Monopoly. Finding success in both, he now has turned his attention to NFT's, and his new platform ArtGrails.   IG @AveryAndon

OG Slick - Artist With a 30+ year career in graffiti, fine art, sculpture, and now NFT's - OG Slick is a legend in the art community. We discuss the origin of the LA hands - his iconic piece, and lots of other stories from his careers in streetwear, painting the world, and working with celebrities like DeadMaus.  IG @OG_Slick

ThankYouX - Artist ThankYouX is an artist who isn't afraid to completely charge their style and practice when things get stale. We discuss his recent exhibition "Convergence" which melds the physical world with digital, his thought process behind creating bodies of work, and using the clubhouse app to find likeminded people. IG @ThankYouX

Luke Chueh - Fine Artist A living legend - Luke discusses the origins of his widely known Bear character, overcoming addiction, the different generations of "Low Brow" artists, his recent exhibition "Intensive Purposes" and tons more.   IG @LukeChueh

Superplastic has produced and sold millions of dollars in limited-edition designer toys and apparel since launching in 2018. Owner Paul Budnitz (founder of Kid Robot) and Executive Creative Director Galen McKamy stop by to discuss building the brand, and Superplastic's new collaboration with Clean Break's host - Gondek   IG @superplastic

Slime Sunday - Digital Collage Artist Slime Sunday, AKA Mike Parisella, talks about moving from commercial projects to fine art via NFT's, how his work is produced, and the future of creative freelance. IG @SlimeSunday

HOODASS - Artist Hoodass stops by to discuss how he became one of the most followed 3D artists in the world, how he created his "Pop Culture Dystopia" series, and the jobs he worked before transitioning to fine art. IG @hoodass

Mad Dog Jones - Artist   Mad Dog's style of colorful and hyper detailed illustrations have earned him a spot among the most well respected artists in the recent NFT scene. We speak about transitioning to art from being a touring musician, growing his social media following, and general advice for artists.   IG @mad.dog.jones

Episode 131 - Beeple Beeple has created and posted one new piece of artwork daily online for the last 13 years. His recent NFT release brought tons of new attention and wealth.   IG @Beeple_Crap

Whisbe - Fine Artist and Sculptor We discuss Whisbe's sculpture and installation work and the process of creating them. IG- @Whisbe

Jason stops by to discuss his new book Live Life Colorfully.   We also discuss his transition from commercial to fine art.   IG: @JasonNaylor

David Horvath - Creator of UglyDolls We speak to David about taking his idea, Ugly Dolls , and turning into a worldwide brand that covers Toys, Books, Network television shows, and a Hollywood Movie.

Andrew Hosner of Thinkspace Gallery is back on the podcast to discuss their new location and shares tons of tips for aspiring artists. We cover every aspect of how to properly conduct an exhibition, from approaching a gallery, the proper amount of work, marketing the show, and when you'll get paid.   IG @ThinkspaceGallery

Dave Kinsey - Artist Dave got his start in the skate industry working with illustration and design in the early nineties in Atlanta before moving to Southern California in '94. A few years later he moved on to found BLK/MRKT design studio and gallery, ultimately leaving his commercial career behind in 2009 to focus on his fine art. We speak with Dave about his 30 year + career and how to stay insp...

Philip Colbert - The Lobster We speak w/ Philip, whose been called the Godson of Andy Warhol, about this work and the significance of the Lobster character. We also discuss his recent exhibition and how he's stayed busy creating during the pandemic. @philipcolbert

Crocodile Jackson and Wizard Of Barge We talk about the duo's recent exhibition "The Good Saloon" in Los Angeles California, working during the pandemic, and how the pair got their names @CrocodileJackson @WizardofBarge

Neil Wright - Head of Collaborations and Experimental for Complex   Neil stops by to discuss ComplexLand - an open world shopping destination opening December 7th. Matt's new book, American Terror, will be available during Complexland.

Lindsay Hearts - owner of the fashion brands FoxBlood, My Violet, and BlackWell Los Angeles Lindsay shares what it takes to start and run a successful fashion brand. We also learn the reasons most brands fail from the start, and what you can do to avoid that.