[PODCAST] ART PROBLEMS: Sales are Not a Measure of Your Self Worth
In this episode of the Art Problems Podcast, 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 tools to avoid the behaviors likely to set you back.
Sign up for early access to the Vantablack Friday offer!
Relevant links:
https://hyperallergic.com/784192/art-problems-dont-make-art-to-sell-do-i-still-belong-in-the-art-world
[PODCAST] ART PROBLEMS: Your Ultimate Artist Residency Guide
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 of Art Problems, 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 anxieties.
Have a listen and let me know what you think over Instagram!
[PODCAST] ART PROBLEMS: How to Master Technology When You Hate Technology
Artwork credit: Yael Kanarek, World of Awe, 2000, browser-based art work.
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 she needs and reports crying far less often due to the computer!
Learn how she overcame her fear of technology and how you can, too!
[PODCAST] ART PROBLEMS: How to Navigate Health and Change
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 how to invest time in seeking out good healthcare to sustain your life in the studio, as well as the importance of building an adaptable mindset.
Try different types of support.
Use what works for you.
Trust your body.
Adapt, adapt, adapt.
Learning to accept change is the key to happiness.
Relevant links:
Brad Stuhlman, Master of Change
https://www.amazon.com/Master-Change-Everything-Changing-Including/dp/006325316X
[PODCAST] ART PROBLEMS: How Four Artists Got a Chelsea Show
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 can do to get the show more exposure.
If you're an artist who either needs shows or has a show you want to get people out to see, there are a lot of practical tips in this episode to help you.
Relevant links:
https://chashama.org/event/body-mind-spirit/
https://www.marcalain.com/
https://www.laurenceellegroux.com/
https://www.natalyakochak.com/
https://www.barbaranitke.com/
[PODCAST] ART PROBLEMS: Six Ways to Get More Time in the Studio
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.
But you know what is fun? TIME IN THE STUDIO.
If they work, and they do, use these strategies.
And if you want to do a deeper dive on this, make sure you attend my free webinar on Tuesday, October 17th, on how to get more shows without transforming your personality into a content creator. Don't miss this class.
SIGN-UP HERE
[PODCAST] ART PROBLEMS: Do We Need Art Criticism?
Nicolas Party, Installation view of "Swamp", Hauser and Wirth. Image: Paddy Johnson
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 taken seriously or too negative to qualify as anything more than clickbait?
In this episode of Art Problems, Paddy Johnson summarizes the recent online discussions about criticism, focusing on Sean Tatol's "Negative Criticism" and Ben Davis's "Is Criticism Too Positive" and explains why this conversation is relevant to artists.
If you struggle to understand the media landscape, this podcast will help you understand the stakes so you can make better decisions about where to spend your time.
Professionals discussed: Jerry Saltz, Sean Tatol, Ben Davis, Jason Farago, Joanna Freeman, Jackson Arn, Josh Baer, Jeff Poe
Relevant links:
https://www.thebaerfaxtpodcast.com/e/jerry-saltz/
https://news.artnet.com/opinion/sean-tatol-negative-reviews-part-1-2353302
https://news.artnet.com/opinion/sean-tatol-negative-criticism-part-2-2353305
https://news.artnet.com/multimedia/the-art-angle-podcast-state-of-art-criticism-2358970
[PODCAST] ART PROBLEMS: Managing Self Doubt
If you want to participate in the art world at a higher level, and every opportunity that gets you closer gives you a big dose of imposter syndrome, this podcast's for you.
In this episode of Art Problems, we talk about managing self-doubt.
What are the symptoms of self-doubt?
How can simple avoidance behaviors be mitigated?
And how can more complex fear-driven avoidance be tackled?
The answers to all that and more inside today's podcast.
Listen and let me know your thoughts on Instagram. I want to hear from you!
[PODCAST] ART PROBLEMS: How to Combat The Rising Cost of Being an Artist
Inside the Museum of Modern Art. Photo credit: Paddy Johnson
In the latest episode of the Art Problems podcast, Paddy Johnson and artist William Powhida discuss the increasing cost of museums, art fairs, application fees, and travel impacting artists and how to beat them.
You'll learn:
Where to stay when visiting New York that won't cost $500 or more a night
How to avoid a large fair entrance fee
And how to lower the cost of museum fees
Listen in, and let me know what you think. If you've got affordability hacks, I want to hear them!
ART PROBLEMS: Every Networking Tip You Need to Be Ready for the Fall Art Season
The start of the fall season is upon us!
And with all the openings and fairs this fall, it doesn't take much time to start feeling overwhelmed.
You might be asking yourself questions like,
"How do I get my art seen when there is so little press to cover the five million shows now open across the country?"
"How do I network at openings and fairs when no one wants to see my work unless I am the exhibiting artist?"
"How do I attend these events without bankrupting myself in the process?"
In this episode of the Art Problems Podcast, I provide answers.
Relevant links:
Hyperallergic art fair discounts:
https://hyperallergic.com/841510/your-a-z-guide-to-new-york-city-september-2023-art-fairs/
Two Coats of Paint:
https://twocoatsofpaint.com/2023/09/nyc-selected-gallery-guide-september-2023.html
Art Haps Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17XFl-TJwmEMvdFPAfwUDVnwSDS6W7tMvdxu94vpmV00/edit#gid=0
Gallery Platform LA
ART PROBLEMS: Your Complete Guggenheim Fellowship Guide
Are you worried the effort of completing a Guggenheim application won't pay off?
Are you worried your work and show history isn't strong enough?
These are the anxieties of ambitious mid-career artists, and I'm here to help.
In this episode of Art Problems I give you the skinny on the Guggenheim Fellowship.
All the tips you won't find in the application instructions, but you need to know—they're in this podcast.
Listen now, and subscribe.
ART PROBLEMS: Are You A Hunter or Trapper?
The hunter and trapper analogy is the best I've heard in a while
Paddy Johnson, Founder of VVrkshop (left), Artist Eric LoPresti (right)
Do you struggle to maintain optimism about your art career? If so, you're not alone. So many mid-artists suffer from burnout that's a near epidemic. But not Eric LoPresti, which is why I speak with him in this episode of Art Problems. He's the most optimistic artist I know, and he's just like you and me, chipping away at his career.
How does he do it?
Some of it may be disposition, but LoPresti also does an excellent job of defining success for himself inside an industry that has few markers to gage it. We discuss his goals for his work, his approach to securing the opportunities he's gained, and a work strategy that identifies artists as either hunters or trappers.
The hunter and trapper analogy is the best I've heard in a while, so I recommend listening to the podcast to learn more!
Relevant link:
http://www.ericlopresti.com/
ART PROBLEMS: The Future of Social Media is Email
Welcome to the future where down is up, up is down, and email isn't just a spam storage service.
In this podcast, I share the news that many artists aren't going to like—email is back, baby! In many ways, it never left us, but in this episode, I discuss the recent media shift to newsletters and why artists should be placing their focus there as well.
If you haven't been building your mailing list, now is the time to start. It can transform your career.
Relevant links:
ART PROBLEMS: The New Gallery Model Every Artist Needs to Know About
John Dennehy, co-founder of Testudo (left), Paddy Johnson, founder of VVrkshop, (right)
A gallery with an incredible curatorial record, a publishing wing, a 90% sales split to the artist AND 5% resale royalties may sound like an artist's fantasy, but it exists! Enter Testudo, a new online-first gallery dedicated to inclusivity, transparency and security.
In this episode of Art Problems, I speak with John Dennehy of Testudo, the gallery he co-founded with his partner Kirby Voigtman in 2021. We discuss the gallery model, its importance to artists and collectors, and the company's goals.
Listen to the podcast and let me know what you think on Instagram or via email. This is a gallery you need to know about.
Relevant links:
https://testudomkt.com/editorial
https://testudomkt.com/editorial/about-testudo
https://testudomkt.com/artist/courtney-puckett
https://www.vvrkshop.art/blog/is-site-specificity-relevant-to-a-generation-of-nomads-not-really
ART PROBLEMS: How Has The Art World Changed?
In this episode, William Powhida joins Paddy Johnson to talk about the changes in the art world, since 2017. Powhida and Johnson focus on Upstate Art Weekend and a recent New Yorker profile of Larry Gagosian to examine these changes, and use Powhida's 2017 show, "After the Contemporary" at the Aldrich Museum of Art, which imagines the art world of the future, as a starting point.
Relevant Links:
The World According to Larry Gagosian. FT.com
How Larry Gagosian Reshaped the Art World. The New Yorker
After the Contemporary -The Aldrich Museum of Art
ART PROBLEMS: How Netvvrk Helped Secure Close to a Million Dollars in Grant Funding For Artists
Okay, this episode of Art Problems is a doozy! In it, I discuss how Netvvrk artists secured nearly a million dollars in grant funding for artists in just two years. If you want to know what Netvvrk artists did to secure awards like the Guggenheim Foundation Grant, The Pollock Krasner, and JMF funding, this episode is where I break it down.
In this podcast, you'll hear what support materials matter more to artists in different parts of the industry and what you need to do to make them work for you.
Free Masterclass: How to Get Seen in the Art World
Live, Tuesday, July 18th, at 7:30 PM EST
ART PROBLEMS: Demolishing The Day Job Stigma for Artists
Image: Macon Reed (left), Catherine Haggarty (Right)
Does having a day job make you feel a little self-conscious about the status of your art career? If so, you're not alone.
Prompted by a recent discussion on the VVrkshop Instagram, Paddy speaks with Catherine Haggarty, Founder of The Canopy Program, co-founder of NYC Crit Club, and an artist and Macon Reed, artist, and Netvvrk member about the day job stigma for artists.
We dive into subjects like:
How class and privilege support the expectation that artists work full-time in the studio, starting in art school
How acknowledging that you didn't come from privilege, can feel like you're breaking an unspoken set of rules.
The importance of defining success for yourself rather than letting an industry set those terms for you.
Plus, Catherine coins the term "Art Math" for us and breaks down her formulas.
Relevant links:
ART PROBLEMS: Fairs For the Rich
Installation view at Frieze New York, hosted by The Shed - lead image
In this episode of Art Problems, artist and critic William Powhida joins Paddy Johnson to discuss the context surrounding an expanded art fair cycle in New York. What once lasted a week now spans two, which, in this year's depressed market, amounted to a much longer timeline for dealers to lose money.
We discuss Frieze, NADA, Future Fair, and Spring Break, and why the growing exclusiveness of the fairs hurts art.
Relevant links:
Hat tip to Michael Anthony Farley and Whitney Kimball for their summary of Spring Break in BMore Art.
https://bmoreart.com/2023/05/cigarettes-ceramics-and-curatorial-chaos-spring-breaks-secret-show.html
ART PROBLEMS: How Does the Supreme Court Warhol Foundation Ruling Affect Artists?
In this episode of Art Problems, Paddy speaks with Luke Blackadar lawyer, and Deputy Director of the Arts and Business Council, about the Supreme Court's Ruling against the Warhol Foundation in AWF vs Goldsmith. Amongst the areas of possible impact, we discuss appropriation artists who use screen printing, A.I. renderings using artist work, and copyright trolls.
Listen up. This one's a great one.
ART PROBLEMS: Where 80 Percent of Your Opportunities Come From — And It's Not What You Think.
Photo: E Brady Robinson
We all talk a lot about artist statements, instagram, going to openings and getting studio visits as a means of securing shows, residencies and grants.
The unspoken truth, though, is that if nobody wants to look at your art, the best artist statement in the world won't make a difference to your career.
So, the art world actually is about the art.
Here's the thing, though. Making better work requires research and feedback, all actions you need to take to develop all your support materials. A holistic approach to your practice will help you realize your full artistic potential.
In this episode, we dive into what a holistic practice looks like and why goal setting is key to your success.
Listen to the podcast and let me know what you think!