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Tom Wesselmann
Dive into the world of Tom Wesselmann - both a defining figure in American Pop Art and an outlier within it.Known for his bold, humorous, and unabashedly sexual work, Wesselmann explored desire through iconic series like Great American Nudes, his close-up depictions of female mouths, his larger-than-life still lifes, and his lesser known but no less striking penis paintings. First exhibited in New York in the 1970s, these works push his signature flat, abstract style into deeply personal territory. They also invite reflection on the male gaze, eroticism, and how his art is perceived today.Joining host Danielle Radojcin to discuss Wesselmann’s legacy is Jeffrey Sturges, director of The Estate of Tom Wesselmann. Having worked closely with the artist in his studio and home during the 1980s, Sturges offers a rare, firsthand perspective—not just on Wesselmann’s work, but on the man himself.Recorded at Almine Rech gallery in London, where Wesselmann’s penis paintings and other works are on view until 12 April 2025, this conversation unpacks the wit, provocation, and enduring impact of this fascinating artist. Photo: Portrait of Tom Wesselmann, 1969 (detail)© 2024 The Estate of Tom Wesselmann / ArtistsRights Society (ARS), New York - Courtesy of the Estate and Almine Rech. Photo: Jack Mitchell
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Carla Sozzani: art, fashion, and the power of creative integrity
Host Danielle Radojcin chats to Carla Sozzani, a revered figurehead in the worlds of art and fashion. Known as a pioneering fashion editor, visionary gallerist, and the founder of 10 Corso Como and the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa, Carla has spent decades shaping the creative landscape.From her early days as a magazine editor in Milan during the late '60s and '70s to launching Italian Elle in 1987, Carla’s career has always been driven by an unwavering commitment to creative integrity, even when it came at the cost of her own career. Along with her late sister, the legendary Italian Vogue editor Franca Sozzani, she has shaped the lives of some of the most important fashion designers and photographers of the past 50 years, and created some of the most memorable imagery, working with photographers like Paolo Roversi, Peter Lindbergh and Steven Meisel. Throughout her career, Carla has been a mentor to independent designers, offering friendship, guidance and resources. She shares heartfelt memories of her great friend, the late Azzedine Alaïa, whom she helped save from bankruptcy, ultimately founding the Alaïa Foundation to preserve his legacy.In this episode, Carla talks about fashion designers today, from the independent designer she most rates, to her thoughts on incoming Chanel creative director Matthieu Blazy, as well as discussing what makes print magazines relevant, and why you can't rely on AI to replace individual human creativity. Carla is the founder of 10 Corso Como, the groundbreaking concept store she opened in Milan in 1990. Long before spaces like Dover Street Market or Colette existed, 10 Corso Como redefined the shopping experience, becoming a pilgrimage site for fashion lovers worldwide. She is also the founder of Fondazione Sozzani, which aims to support new generations of creative talent. Carla’s new book, Carla Sozzani: Art, Life, Fashion by Louise Baring, offers an intimate look at her life and contributions to the worlds of fashion, art, and design.Resources:Carla Sozzani: Art, Life, Fashion by Louise Baring (2024, Thames & Hudson)Fondation Azzedine Alaïa10 Corso ComoFondazione Sozzani
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Joline Kwakkenbos at Tracey Emin Foundation
This episode features guest host, Simon Chilvers. Simon travelled to the seaside town of Margate in the UK, where he visited the TKE studios, part of the remarkable Tracey Emin Foundation to speak with Dutch artist Joline Kwakkenbos.Known for her evocative self-portraits, Joline's work delves into themes of identity, memory, queerness, and the fluidity of the self. The current exhibition, 'Shape Shifters', curated by Dame Tracey Emin, offers a deeply personal yet universally resonant exploration of self-representation by Kwakkenbos alongside the beautiful photographic work of Elissa Cray.Born in 1997 in the Netherlands, Joline grew up in a small Dutch village where her creativity was nurtured from an early age. Her parents’ hands-on, creative approach to life sparked her fascination with making and inspired her journey into the arts. Initially trained in fashion design, she graduated in 2019 and discovered a love for painting as a medium for expressing her unique visual language. Over the years, her work has evolved to include a collection of garments that reflect the diverse personas and narratives within her self-portraits.In this episode, Simon and Joline discuss her path from fashion to fine art, the transformative power of self-portraiture, and how her work challenges traditional notions of identity, representation, and history. https://www.traceyeminfoundation.com/joline-kwakkenboshttps://jolinekwakkenbos.nl/https://www.instagram.com/joline_kwakkenbos/
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47:26
Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum
Danielle meets Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum, a multidisciplinary artist whose work transcends borders, time, and genres.Originally from Botswana and now based in the Netherlands, Pamela's practice encompasses drawing, painting, and installation. She intricately weaves together mythology, science, and narrative storytelling. This episode delves into her latest exhibition, "It Will End In Tears," her debut solo show at a prominent UK institution, the Barbican’s Curve Gallery, running until early 2025. This site-specific installation plunges viewers into a world inspired by film noir, crime fiction, and her distinctive alter-ego characters.During the conversation, Pamela explores her influences and inspirations, including the writings of Bessie Head; Alfred Hitchcock's meticulous approach to film-making; and the aesthetics and drama of film noir. She shares insights into her concept of "world building," discussing how her extensive collection of vintage clothing informs the characters that inhabit her creations.Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum is represented by Goodman Gallery.Goodman GalleryBarbicanPhoto: Lotte van Uitterst
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Phoebe Cummings: between nature and design
In this episode, Danielle Radojcin visits the Sid Motion Gallery in South East London to talk to the British artist Phoebe Cummings, known for her extraordinary sculptures made from unfired clay. Phoebe’s work challenges traditional views of ceramics, focusing on the beauty of impermanence as her pieces dissolve over time. They evoke themes of nature, transience, and the fragile relationship between humanity and the natural world. Phoebe was born in Staffordshire, the heart of the British ceramics industry. She studied Three-Dimensional Design at the University of Brighton before completing an MA in Ceramics & Glass at the Royal College of Art in London. A lack of funds to pay for a kiln forced her to begin working with unfired clay, and over the years, Phoebe has carved a unique path in the art world, becoming known for her ephemeral sculptures crafted entirely from the material.Her work is a reflection of nature’s transient beauty and the passing of time, often exploring themes of growth, decay, and the fragile relationship between humanity and the natural world. Phoebe’s pieces, which dissolve or disintegrate over time, challenge the traditional expectations of ceramics as a durable, permanent medium, and are more of a performance than static art piece, to be cherished as a memory rather displayed forever in a museum. In 2011, she won the prestigious British Ceramics Biennial Award, and her installations have been exhibited in notable institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum and York Art Gallery.Join Danielle and Phoebe as they explore Phoebe's creative journey, the influence of nature in her art, and her upcoming exhibition at the Sid Motion Gallery curated by Tom Cole, where her work will be shown alongside that of Robert Mapplethorpe and Magdalena Abakanowicz.https://www.phoebecummings.com/https://sidmotiongallery.co.uk/
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