Who Arted: Weekly Art History for All Ages

Le Corbusier (born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret) was a pioneer of modern architecture whose ideas reshaped our urban landscapes. A Swiss-born, French-naturalized architect, designer, and urban planner, Le Corbusier championed a new vision for living in the 20th century. His philosophy centered on the idea of a house as a "machine for living in." He envisioned a space defined by function, efficiency,...

Medieval European architecture is defined by two major successive styles: Romanesque and Gothic. Romanesque architecture (c. 1000–1200 CE) is characterized by massive, thick walls, rounded arches, and a heavy, fortress-like appearance. In the 12th century, Gothic architecture introduced innovations like the pointed arch, the ribbed vault, and the flying buttress. These engineering advancements fun...

Explore the life and work of Tarsila do Amaral, a foundational artist of Brazilian modernism and one of the most celebrated figures in Latin American art history. Born in 1886, Tarsila brought the avant-garde lessons of European Cubism back to her native Brazil, fusing them with local colors and themes to forge a completely new artistic identity for her country. This overview delves into her pivot...

Illuminated manuscripts are the stunning, handcrafted books of the medieval world, created through a meticulous process in monastery workshops known as scriptoria. Scribes would copy text onto processed animal skin, or vellum, while artists known as illuminators added intricate illustrations and shimmering gold leaf. The term 'illuminated' comes from this dazzling use of gold and silver, which mad...

I am putting a special bonus episode in the feed this week to share a new podcast from Getty. If Objects Could Talk is a great family friendly podcast that gives voice to art and artifacts so listeners can explore history in a whole new way. What dangers await Athena’s brave and loyal owl at the Greek marketplace? This Athenian coin shares his take on how money was made and used in ancient Greek c...

My TLDR episodes are meant to be short and to the point with a few key facts to know about the artist and a look at one of their major works. This episode explores the life and work of Ibrahim El-Salahi, a pivotal figure in Sudanese and African modernism. Born in 1930 in Omdurman, Sudan, El-salahi's artistic journey began with the study of calligraphy under his father. After formal art training in...

My TLDR episodes give a short and sweet overview with a few interesting facts about a great artist. Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986) stands as a foundational figure of American modernism, celebrated for her revolutionary contributions to art. Rising from a Wisconsin dairy farm to the forefront of the New York art world, her unique vision was shaped by the vast landscapes of Texas and, most famously, t...

As it is back to school season, I thought I would try making a series of episodes that are short and to the point to give students and anyone else interested a quick overview of the artist. Each of my TLDR episodes will give a very brief overview of the artist, 5 interesting things to know about them and a little insight into one of their major works. Claude Monet was a central figure in the Impre...

Gerhard Richter, born in Dresden, Germany, in 1932, is a towering figure in contemporary art, whose life and work were forged by the tumultuous history of 20th-century Germany. Growing up under the Nazi regime and later living in Communist East Germany, Richter's early artistic education was in the state-sanctioned style of socialist realism. In 1961, he escaped to West Germany, where his career b...

Since it is back to school season, I thought I would make a series of episodes optimized for classrooms to give students a quick overview and a few interesting facts about an artist. I am labeling these episodes with TLDR and each of them will follow the same format. First, I will give a very quick bit of biographical information. Second I'll list 5 interesting facts about the artist. Finally I'll...

Pioneering 19th-century photographer Eadweard Muybridge is celebrated for his groundbreaking work in capturing movement, which laid the foundation for modern cinema. After immigrating to the United States and gaining fame for his stunning landscape photographs of the American West, his career took a decisive turn in 1872. Muybridge was commissioned by railroad tycoon and former California governor...

My guest this week is Mark Vernon, author of Awake! William Blake and the Power of Imagination. We discussed William Blake, the famous poet and visual artist known for his spiritually charged work. The piece we discussed was The Ancient of Days. Check out my other podcasts  Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in adver...

Today, I wanted to share an episode of my other podcast, Fun Facts Daily, with some interesting information about clay and ceramics. You'll learn what makes things blow up in the kiln and how to avoid it. The episode also covers interesting facts from ancient uses of ceramics to modern applications in smartphones and even space shuttles. Check out my other podcasts  Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | R...

My guest for this episode is Kathleen Langore, author of a new book about the artist, Amalia Kussner. She was a highly successful portrait artist who specialized in miniatures. Kussner drew her subjects in a realistic but soft and flattering style that left her patrons feel like she was giving them the best version of their likeness. Her miniature portraits were a big deal as she traveled to Europ...

Explore the life and work of celebrated American artist Wayne Thiebaud, known for his vibrant and textured paintings of everyday objects. Born in 1920, Thiebaud's early experiences as a sign painter and an apprentice animator at Walt Disney Studios shaped his understanding of visual communication and iconic forms. Though often associated with the Pop Art movement of the 1960s, Thiebaud’s approach...

Man Ray was a pioneer of cameraless photography. His signature technique was the "Rayograph" created by placing objects directly onto light-sensitive paper often manipulating them during exposure. Of course, that was not his only trick. Man Ray experimented with solarisation and in his piece Ingres's Violin, he painted on a photograph, then took another picture of the manipulated image. For this e...

Amrita Sher-Gil, born in 1913 to a Sikh aristocrat and a Hungarian-Jewish opera singer, was a trailblazing artist who blended European and Indian influences. After studying art in Paris and achieving early success at the Grand Salon, she returned to India in 1934. Though initially met with resistance due to her modern style, Sher-Gil's evocative portrayals of Indian life and her unique fusion of c...

Explore the life and work of David Hockney, one of the most influential British artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Born in Yorkshire in 1937, Hockney's rebellious spirit and prodigious talent were evident from his early days at the Royal College of Art. His move to Los Angeles in 1964 marked a pivotal moment, as he swapped the grey skies of England for the bright, constant sunlight of Califor...

As a young adult, Edvard Munch studied art. He was influenced early on by the Impressionists, but he really came into his own when he began using painting as a way of expressing his inner struggles. He is best known today for his expressionistic works like The Scream. Interestingly The Scream is not about a person screaming. The tormented figure in the painting is actually suffering an anxiety att...

My guests this week were the author and illustrator of the fantastic book I’M NOT YOUR MUSE: Uncovering the Overshadowed Brilliance of Women Artists & Visionaries. I spoke with Lori Zimmer and Maria Krasinski about the artists they discovered and the process of creating the book. I'm Not Your Muse tells the stories of thirty-one female artists whose achievements have largely been underappreciated....

The transformation mask is a carved and painted sculpture, a status symbol, a costume element and a simple machine all at once. Pulling the strings on the mask allows the wearer to move parts that effectively animate the mask and bring it to life in front of the gathered crowd. Kwakwaka’wakw artists created a number of different masks representing different figures. Check out my other podcasts  Fu...

This week, I have an interview with the author and illustrtor behind a new graphic novel that tackles the story of Maria Lani who convinced over 50 prominent artists to make her portrait. Dozens of artists including Matisse, Derain, and Chagall created portraits of Lani so they could be used in a movie that was never actually produced. When Lani and the collection disappeared, many were left to wo...

Amedeo Modigliani, a rebellious Italian painter, left a lasting mark on the art world with his distinctive style and captivating portraits. Born in Livorno in 1884, his early life was marked by illness and a dramatic incident that saved his family from financial ruin. Modigliani's art, influenced by diverse sources like Cezanne, Brancusi, and African sculpture, is characterized by elongated figure...

It was a tremendous pleasure to get to interview Jennifer Dasal about her new book, The Club: Where American Women Artists Found Refuge in Belle Époque Paris. We discussed the art scene in Paris in the 19th century, particularly the experiences of American women artists. The Club: Where American Women Artists Found Refuge in Belle Époque Paris will be available at your favorite bookstores starting...

American artist Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975) was a leading figure of the Regionalist movement, known for his dynamic depictions of American life, labor, and landscapes. Born into a politically prominent Missouri family, Benton initially pursued art against his father's wishes, studying at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and later in Paris, where he engaged with avant-garde movements like Cubism and...