The Mortal Machine Gallery Podcast

Photographer BEEGATS joins Mortal Machine for a conversation about place, struggle, and why some cities shape artists differently. We get into Columbus, Ohio as a place to live compared to New Orleans, why New Orleans keeps pulling people in, and what makes the Crescent City feel spiritually different from almost anywhere else. We also talk about the underdog journey as its own form of art — inspi...

Chris and Gabe talk with Kyla Bernberg , owner of 812 Royal Gallery on Royal Street, about Michael Finkel’s The Art Thief , running galleries in New Orleans, the psychology of art theft, and the dangerous line between loving art and needing to possess it. Buy art from Mortal Machine here.

It's NBA Finals time! Gabe tells the story of meeting Michael Jordan, the hosts explore why basketball is the most artistic sport, and then tackle a ridiculous but fascinating question: who is the Victor Wembanyama of the arts world—a once-in-a-generation talent changing what's possible in their medium?

This week on the Mortal Machine Podcast, Chris and Gabe talk about the reality of running a creative business: managing a gallery, protecting your energy, and figuring out how to keep the work flowing without letting the work take over your life. They get into the business side of art, the pressure to constantly do more, and why getting older sometimes means learning how to do less — but better. I...

What happens when performance art, absurdity, athleticism, and internet chaos collide in the streets of New Orleans? This week we talk with Ingrid Victoria about the wild world of human horse races — the underground-feeling spectacle where people become jockeys, horses, and maniacs all at once. We get into how these races started, why people are so obsessed with them, the line between art and comp...

During the chaos, beauty, and psychic overload of Jazz Fest weekend, artist Ravi Zupa sits down with Chris and Gabe at Mortal Machine Gallery to talk about art that feels handmade, dangerous, spiritual, and alive. They get into Ravi’s instantly recognizable style — equal parts punk flyer, religious iconography, tattoo flash, revolutionary propaganda, and folk art — and why polished “content” cultu...

This week we sit down with Anya Sapozhnikova, co-founder of Devotion Studios—a reformer Pilates and aerial fitness studio tucked right into the madness of the French Quarter. Anya brings a wild mix of backgrounds: performance roots at House of Yes, a deep understanding of movement as both art and discipline, and now the very real challenge of running a business in one of the most chaotic neighborh...

Is pro wrestling just entertainment—or is it one of the most misunderstood art forms in the world? This episode dives into the storytelling, character work, and spectacle that make wrestling feel a lot closer to theater than sport. We break down whether WWE deserves a place in the art world, then shift gears into WrestleMania predictions—what should happen versus what will happen (because those ar...

What’s actually happening in the art world right now? We break down the biggest stories—from major auctions and market shifts to museum controversies, artist moves, and the trends people aren’t talking about enough. No fluff, no gatekeeping—just a fast, opinionated rundown of what matters, what’s overhyped, and what it all means if you care about art (or want to understand where it’s headed next)....

We sit down with dark surrealist painter Michelle Melcher to talk about why graveyards might be some of the most overlooked art galleries in the world—and how death, folklore, and history shape her work. From memento mori to ghost stories, Michelle breaks down the inspirations behind her latest show at Mortal Machine Gallery and how she balances classical oil painting techniques with eerie, modern...

On this episode of the Mortal Machine Podcast, Chris Trew and Gabriel Schaefer dive into the bizarre world of art auctions on cruise ships—where vacationers buy expensive paintings somewhere between the buffet and the blackjack table. We break down how these floating art markets work, why people buy art at sea, and whether any of it is actually good. Along the way, Gabe pitches one of his most rid...

In this episode of the Mortal Machine Podcast , I sit down with Cody Barber — a metal artist who’s been living and creating in Marfa since 2013  to talk about what 13 years in the desert really looks like. We get into: Moving to Marfa with a truck full of handmade chairs Getting sober after earning the nickname “Blackout Barber”  The loneliness (and safety) of small-town creative life Why quitting...

Recorded at Create Space in Alpine, Texas, Chris Trew sits down with muralist and sign painter Monte Welt — a fellow Louisiana native who traded Metairie for the wide-open desert of West Texas. Monte shares what it’s really like to move to Alpine sight unseen, build an art career from scratch, and navigate the cultural differences between Alpine and nearby Marfa. They talk Donald Judd’s minimalist...

Recorded inside her Marfa studio, this episode sits down with Alyse of Opal Rugs to talk about what it really means to live and work as an artist in one of the most mythologized art towns in America. Visit Opal Rugs: https://www.opalrugs.com/ Recorded on location in Marfa, Texas.

In this episode of Mortal Machine Podcast, we step into the creative spirit behind Mortal Machine Experiences — intimate, invitation-based moments rooted in the same energy as the gallery itself. Mortal Machine Experiences is a collection of intimate, invitation-based moments hosted in and around our French Quarter spaces. Rooted in the same spirit as the gallery, these experiences are designed fo...

Recorded at Harry's Corner in the French Quarter, this no-guest episode finds Gabriel Shaffer and Chris Trew talking shop about growth, risk, and what it actually takes to expand a creative business in New Orleans. The conversation centers on Gabe opening a brand-new Mortal Machine location literally right next door at 938 Royal—why now, what changed, and what no one tells you about scaling art sp...

Artist Arik Roper joins the Mortal Machine Podcast to talk about New Orleans as a true art city, his experiences creating iconic cover art for legendary bands like Sleep, and what actually makes a great art exhibition. We dig into how music and visual art intersect, what it’s like working with bands whose imagery matters as much as their sound, and how artists can think differently about showing w...

Artist Dan Witz joins the podcast to talk about exhibiting at SCOPE Art Show during Miami Art Week —covering large-scale installations, navigating the fair circuit, and what it takes to stand out in one of the art world’s loudest weeks. Buy Dan's work from Mortal Machine .

Iconic artist Shepard Fairey (Obey, Obama Hope poster) joins the podcast live at SCOPE Art Show during Miami Art Week to discuss the intersection of art and activism, exhibiting in a high-noise fair environment, and how message-driven work survives—and thrives—on a global stage. Buy Shepard's art at Mortal Machine .

Artist Mab Graves joins the podcast live at SCOPE Art Show during Miami Art Week to talk about her dark-whimsical universe, building a recognizable visual language, and carving out space for deeply personal work amid the chaos of the art-fair world. Buy Mab's work at Mortal Machine .

Amy Sol and Casey Weldon join Two Drink Minimum for a deep dive into their surreal, pop-infused art worlds and the evolution of contemporary lowbrow culture. We get into their creative processes, how color and emotion shape their work, balancing commercial success with personal vision, and what it means to build a lasting career in the modern art scene. From dreamy characters to neon-soaked dreams...

In this episode of Two Drink Minimum Gabe and Chris pre-game their upcoming trip to Scope Miami. 

Photographer and street documentarian Beegats joins the Mortal Machine Podcast for a deep dive into art, culture, and life behind the lens. We talk about his journey from street environments into gallery spaces, how graffiti and urban culture shaped his visual perspective, and what drives him to capture moments most people overlook. The conversation explores the crossover between photography, stre...