Curating Conversation

This week's episode sees Leo in conversation with musician Bess Atwell - Bess Atwell is a British musician who has been making music for over 10 years. Her last album, 'Already Always' we met with widespread praise for her honest lyricism and beautiful songwriting. Having found a way to capture the emotions of her listeners like a few others, Bess chats with me about the build-up to this latest release and how her songwriting has changed. - During our meandering chat, we understand why Bess creates the music she does and how moments in her life have all helped her get to where she is now. And she shows no signs of slowing down. From early memories of Taylor Swift to the ongoing process of truly understanding oneself ( and her burgeoning art career...) we get into all sorts of topics across our chat and hopefully offer an insight into her as an artist and a person. Discover all this and much more in this episode of Curating Conversation. - Thank you so much to Bess for coming on the podcast. - You can find Bess on Instagram @bessatwell and their website And you can hear the music on Spotify Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

Join us in this episode of the Curating Conversation podcast as we delve into the fascinating world of the Infems Art Collective. Leo sits down with the talented directors of the Infems Art collective, Marie-Anne Mancio, Rebecca Fontaine Wolf, and Roxana Halls, to uncover the remarkable origins of Infems. Discover the captivating story behind their upcoming London exhibition, 'Lost Girls,' as we unravel the creative process and inspiration that led to its inception. But 'Lost Girls' is more than just an art exhibition; it's a powerful fundraising initiative for War Child. In this episode, we explore the vital work that War Child does, shedding light on their mission to support children affected by conflict around the world. Learn how 'Lost Girls' is making a difference by raising funds and awareness for this crucial cause. And there's more! We also discuss the exciting context of 'Lost Girls' being hosted at Flowers Gallery during Frieze week, and we delve into the superb curation of the show, learning all about how it was conceived and the key themes to be found within. This engaging conversation brings art, philanthropy, and activism together, only on the Curating Conversation podcast. Discover all this and much more in this episode of Curating Conversation. - Thank you so much to Marie-Anne, Rebecca and Roxana for coming on the podcast. - You can find Infems on Instagram @infems and their website You can view the work on Artsy Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast and helps me produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo Support the show Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with Musician Cyrano - Cyrano or James is an Edinburgh-based musician who has been making music for over a decade but only in 2021 did he start releasing tracks under his project 'Cyrano'. Described as music for the late night over-thinkers, his tracks have a percussive focus with electronic production and a personal, melancholy lyricism - During our chat, we get into how James came to music, and how he carefully crafted its releases and presentation. We talk about the intricacies of navigating the music scene as a small artist and his desire to do things differently. If you are a musician or a creative and want to learn a bit more about releasing music and how to navigate the maze of sharing your own creative endeavours, listen in, lots of value here! Discover all this and much more in this episode of Curating Conversation. - Thank you so much to James for coming on the podcast. - You can find James on Instagram @cyranomusic and their website And you can hear the music on Spotify Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with Scottish Photographer Rosie Biggar - Rosie Biggar, or rosie.sco as she is known to much of the industry thanks to her social media presence is a Glasgow-based photographer who works within the music scene. An introduction to photography via her mum's 35mm point-and-shoot film camera led her to capture much of the music scene she was immersed in on film. A lifelong fan of music and having found a sense of belonging within the scene, Rosie wanted to find a way to be part of it without being on stage...this led to photographing the music instead. From this beginning, she went on to win the Scottish Young Portrait Photographer Award in 2022 and alongside this work with a huge variety of both local and touring bands in Glasgow. - During our chat, we touch on Rosie's drive to take photos and what she thinks makes a great photo. We talk about her favourite bands to shoot and how growing her confidence made her a better photographer. Other topics we dive into are the practicalities of shooting film and working as a photographer, along with finding inspiration in admiring the work of others, along with the passion she has for Scottish talent. Discover all this and much more in this episode of Curating Conversation. - Thank you so much to Rosie for coming on the podcast. - You can find Rosie on Instagram @rosie.sco Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo Support the Podcast Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with Artist Faye Woods. Faye Woods is a Scottish artist, she is currently working out of a tiny home studio in West Yorkshire. She graduated from Greys school of art with a BA in painting. Her current work acts as a love letter to the much-loved establishment of the British pub. To Woods, the pub represents a state of emotional freedom where the act of dancing, singing and drunken debauchery transcends time itself. The pub is a representation of the inner psyche, the room within rooms that is teetering on the edge of disaster and joy. ‘Recently my work has been very inspired by the concept of ‘the perfect pub’. To me, the whole rigmarole accompanying a night at the pub acts as the perfect metaphysical realm for my joyous albeit grotesque figures to exist. In a less obnoxious way, it’s a portal to channel all of my reprehensible behaviours and social faux pas’ into a landscape where spitting in someone's drink or passing out in a bush is encouraged. In my practice, I try to bring attention to the surreal aspects of life and the way the oddness of experience manifests within individuals and how that manifestation affects me. In my vulnerability, I crave strange moments of intimacy. I imagine drinking straight from the tap of all emotion, drinking so much of it, I take on too much and I’m sick and everything I spew out ends up in my work… But more importantly, who the hell doesn’t love a good pint?’ During our chat, we get into how Faye came to Art, her processes of inventing worlds and channelling emotions along with some of the events and encounters that led her to tell the stories she does. At the heart of her work is communication, and it is that need to tell stories via a physical medium that provokes a great deal of her work. Mixed in with the ridiculous scenes and bright colours are some real moments of honest, raw emotion and foot-stomping hilarity, you just need to look. Discover all this and much more in this episode of Curating Conversation. - Thank you so much to Faye for coming on the podcast. - You can find Faye on Instagram @eleanor.woods and their website Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo Support the show Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with Musician and Producer James Minas. - James is a Greek/Welsh Musician and Producer, who has made waves with his honest, emotional and energetic songs and performances, bouncing between hip hop, punk and rock, his music is hard to fit into a genre. Moving from Greece to Wales at a young age and with parents in the Circus, it wasn't a 'traditional' start for James. Growing up in the remote Welsh Valley's didn't necessarily scratch the creative itch he always had. At first producing instrumental music and DJ'ing before finding his feet as a writer and producer, James channels his experiences, both ups and downs into his music. Both autobiography and social commentary, his music finds a place that is inherently macho and aggressive but breaks it down to show the inner workings of why it came to be. - During our chat, we get into how James found music, (thank you Spice Girls), how it became such an outlet for him and the impact it has had on his personal and professional life. Addiction, loss and mental health all play a part in shaping the music he produces and his outlook on life. Alongside his own musical output, he works to produce tracks for number of other welsh talents. Discover all this and much more in this episode of Curating Conversation. - Thank you so much to James for coming on the podcast. - You can find James on Instagram @minassound And you can hear the music on Spotify Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo Support the show Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with Artist and Musician Michael Kay Terence, perhaps better known for his music project, Swiss Portrait. - Michael is a Scottish artist, who turned to making music in 2020 as a way to channel his creative energy. Fast forward to 2022 and he is selling out venues and playing stages all over the country with a full band. His 'dream pop' sound has made waves in the USA and at home, building a following that love the DIY approach the artist has. - During our chat, we get into how Michael came to music, and how he has managed with it developing the way it has. We talk about the importance of sustainability in music and art, along with how he has found it working with distributors and labels opposed to self releasing. If you are a musician or a creative and want to learn a bit more about making music and how to navigate the maze of sharing your own creative endeavours, listen in, lots of value here! Discover all this and much more in this episode of Curating Conversation. - Thank you so much to Michael for coming on the podcast. - You can find Swiss Portraits on Instagram @Swiss.Portrait and their website And you can hear the music on Spotify Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with contemporary Artist Joe Grieve and the Curator of his recent show, Jack Trodd - Joe Grieve is a London based contemporary artist who's work plays with themes of place, nature, Romanticism, religion and landscape. He recently graduated from City and Guilds and has just finished a solo show with Brushes with Greatness. Jack Trodd is a London based curator, and the gallerist behind Brushes with Greatness. - During our chat, we cover Joe's entry into the artworld and the processes that help him create the work he does. From here to dive into the relationship between artist and dealer, along with debating questions such as 'can you make great art without suffering?', and 'do you have to believe in art to like it?'. Discover all this and much more in this episode of Curating Conversation. - Thank you so much to Joe and Jack for coming on the podcast. - You can find Jack and Brushes with Greatness on Instagram @brushes_with_greatness and their website And find Joe on Instagram at @joebennellgrieve Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with Curator and founder of Brushes with Greatness, Jack Trodd - Jack Trodd is a London based curator, and gallerist. A lifelong lover of art and passionate creative, Jack came from a marketing background to realise his intense passion for supporting artists, giving birth to Brushes with Greatness. He works with a variety of emerging talents to produce exciting exhibitions and connect artists with collectors around the globe. - Late in 2021 Jack curated and produced a show entitled, 'Into the Cosmere', an 18 artist group show which celebrated fantastical, alien landscapes, and the world builders who create them. As a first outing, it was a triumph, and he has gone on to develop this practice to produce another exhibition which is currently on, as of January 2022 at Tap and Bottle in London Bridge. Acting as an art world conduit, Jack brings a whirlwind of energy and enthusiasm to all the projects he embarks on. - During our chat, we discussed Jack's entry into art, his initial fascination with colour and lifelong adoration of the fantastical. We delve into the biggest problems we often see artists struggling with and how best to navigate that. Also mentioned in this episode are some tales from his thespian cum heavy metal fan days and we take a look at the pieces in his collection that stand out to him. - Thank you so much to Jack for coming on the podcast. - You can find Jack and Brushes with Greatness on Instagram @brushes_with_greatness and their website Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation and The Rafiki Gallery @the_rafiki_gallery If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support, you can do so via Ko-Fi, which allows you to virtually donate the equivalent price to a cup of coffee with which to support the podcast and help me in producing more episodes and hosting interesting guests! Thank you so much. https://ko-fi.com/curatingconversation Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with painter and founder of the Clovermill Artist Residency, Jennifer Smith - Jennifer Smith is an Irish visual artist based in The Netherlands. She received a BA of Fine Art, Painting in 2005 from Limerick School of Art & Design. She creates abstract expressionist nude figurative paintings. Or so her bio would have you believe, she does much more than this. Her work touches on themes varying from the female gaze, sexuality, image, femininity and mythology, although her practice is constantly evolving. - Alongside her artistic practice, she is the founder of The Clovermill Artist Residency, which provides onsite accommodation, studio, gallery and exhibition space, located on the grounds of an old water windmill in The Netherlands. CloverMill offers opportunities to collaborate. The focus is on the work of emerging to mid-career female artists and curators. - During our chat, we discussed her entry into art, how her practice has endured throughout the changes in her life and the impact it has on her. Also mentioned in this episode are some tales from her travels, ideas about her work and of course the story of how the residency came into being. - Thank you so much to Jenniferfor coming on the podcast. - You can find Jennifer and The Clovermill Artist Residency on Instagram @Jennifer_smith_art and @clovermill_artist_residency and her website and Clovermill's site Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation and The Rafiki Gallery @the_rafiki_gallery If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support, you can do so via Ko-Fi, which allows you to virtually donate the equivalent price to a cup of coffee with which to support the podcast and help me in producing more episodes and hosting interesting guests! Thank you so much. https://ko-fi.com/curatingconversation Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with contemporary Scottish artist Jacob Littlejohn. - Jacob Littlejohn is an Edinburgh based artist. He graduated from Glasgow School of art in 2018 and since then has undertaken a residency at Leith School of Art. His work revolves around the realm of human behaviour. Tackling isolation, separation and how individuals adapt to their environments, while recognising and honouring the melancholy and the poetics found in each individual day. His process evolves round a profound interest in the interpretation of literature, exploring media, techniques, composition and colour. - Jacob's fascination with art came while at school, and what followed was a series of set backs and failures that only spurred him on. Facing rejection from Art School multiple times, led him to change direction and work on his practice, eventually landing a place at Glasgow and later graduating with first class honours. - During our chat, we discussed his entry into art, how his practice has developed into the abstracted forms he now creates. ( Let me tell you now, it wasn't a straight forward journey). We touch on what is important to him, his surrounding community, his art practice and his desire to look deeper into the work he creates. - Thank you so much to Jacob for coming on the podcast. - You can find Jacob on Instagram @jacobalittlejohn and his website Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation and The Rafiki Gallery @the_rafiki_gallery If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support, you can do so via Ko-Fi, which allows you to virtually donate the equivalent price to a cup of coffee with which to support the podcast and help me in producing more episodes and hosting interesting guests! Thank you so much. https://ko-fi.com/curatingconversation Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with contemporary British artist Adam Dix. - Adam Dix is a London based painter, who's work evolves around our collective relationship with technology, communication and ritual. He graduated from Wimbledon School of Art's MA programme in 2009 - Adam grew up with a father who was a painter and jazz musician and a mother who works in TV. This combination meant he was exposed to both creative and technological stimuli from a young age. Rather than going straight into Fine Art, Adam instead chose to become an illustrator before finally deciding to give in to his desires and attend art school to explore his artistic talents. - Forever interested in by tech and sci-fi, Adam's favourite books and films often fall into these categories, in turn inspiring his artistic output. Influenced by how society's methods of communication have adapted as times have changed, there are often scenes of rituals and vestiges of forgotten monuments of communication in his paintings. His painterly process is long and laborious, with layers and glazes added to built up his soft, hazy images. - During our chat, we discussed Adam's introduction to the world of television and technology, his route to becoming an artist, how Paolozzi inspired him to persevere and how his work relates to the world we live in. His art seems ahead of its time, yet is made up of images inspired by an imagined past and invented future. - Thank you so much to Adam for coming on the podcast. - You can find Adam on Instagram @adammdix and his website Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation and The Rafiki Gallery @the_rafiki_gallery If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support, you can do so via Ko-Fi, which allows you to virtually donate the equivalent price to a cup of coffee with which to support the podcast and help me in producing more episodes and hosting interesting guests! Thank you so much. https://ko-fi.com/curatingconversation Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with the fabulous duo Anna Choutova and Flora Bradwell, the team behind Bad Art Presents. - Anna Choutova is a visual artist and curator working and studying in London. She is currently studying for an MFA in Painting at Slade School of Fine Art, after graduating with a First Class Honours with a BA in Painting from Brighton University in 2015 - Flora Bradwell is an artist and curator whose playful, generously grotesque practice encompasses painting, sculpture, installation, performance and moving image. Flora has exhibited internationally and collaborated in curating site responsive projects, performance events and exhibitions across the UK. She undertook a BA in Fine Art painting at City & Guilds of London Art School, from 2007 - 2009 and is currently undertaking a further MFA in Fine Art at Slade School of Art. - Bad Art is a curatorial project founded in 2016 by Anna, with Flora latterly joining as co-director. With an aim to challenge the contemporary art world through transgressive exhibitions that offer a different way of interacting with art. Their shows are a reaction & protest against the hushed silence, white-walled gallery experience. - During our chat, we discussed the backgrounds to each of their artistic practices, along with how the two crossed paths and their friendship developed. Topics discussed include the role of text in art spaces, the importance of understanding why artists create and their joint desires to create spaces that remove the stale air from art. I dubbed the project a 'multi-sensory, art fuelled wonderland of fantasma'. We even got a glimpse into their new Berlin project, 'Hot Air', which will be happening later in 2021. - Thank you so much to Anna and Flora for coming on the podcast. - You can find Anna and Flora on Instagram @Annachoutova1 @florabradwellart and Bad Art @Badartpresents Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation and The Rafiki Gallery @the_rafiki_gallery If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support, you can do so via Ko-Fi, which allows you to virtually donate the equivalent price to a cup of coffee with which to support the podcast and help me in producing more episodes and hosting interesting guests! Thank you so much. https://ko-fi.com/curatingconversation Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with artist and collector Aubrey Higgin - Aubrey Higgin is an artist and collector based between London and the West Midlands. He completed his BA studies in Art and History of Art at The University of Reading, graduating in 2017. - Aubrey was first introduced to art from his Grandmother, who would routinely sit him down to paint with watercolours alongside her. It seems this early foray into art stuck with him as he pursued art throughout school and on to University. Aubrey's journey hasn't been smooth sailing, illness struck while at University and he was left bedbound for over a year. Art took on a healing and restorative role for him, something that imbues his paintings with a joy and life-affirming positivity that is wonderful to behold. - Forever fascinated by nature, Aubrey's work often depicts waterlilies and waves. Far from his watercolour beginnings, his work is now completed in hugely thick strokes of impasto oil paint, with his work regularly being inches thick. His most recent body of work has been pressing into a more abstract corner, fuelled by his desire to distil the landscape onto the canvas. - During our chat, we discussed Aubrey's artistic practice, from drawing cats for dates in the playground to being influenced by Gerhard Richter and showing work in multiple galleries nationwide. We also got onto Aubrey's role as a collector, mulling over the important role collectors play in the fabric of the arts and even which artists he thinks you should be collecting too! - Thank you so much to Aubrey for coming on the podcast. - You can find Aubrey on Instagram @aubreyhiggin_art Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation and The Rafiki Gallery @the_rafiki_gallery If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support, you can do so via Ko-Fi, which allows you to virtually donate the equivalent price to a cup of coffee with which to support the podcast and help me in producing more episodes and hosting interesting guests! Thank you so much. https://ko-fi.com/curatingconversation Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with artist and arts facilitator Caroline Gormley - Caroline Gormley is a Scottish artist, based in Paisley. She studied art at Glasgow Kelvin College, obtaining a 1st class degree, before starting up Made In Paisley alongside artist Alexander Guy. - Caroline's route into art was not a direct one, having been a carer from the age of 12 she has spent most of her life looking after others and only at the age of 40 did she decide to apply for art school. Her journey since then has been one of positivity and community, sparked by her meeting Alexander Guy. - Made In Paisley is an arts studio that offers art classes to children and adults. Through learning how to handle paint, it offers the opportunity for many people to encounter creativity, form a community and take a break from the stress of the outside world. Paisley is known for its industrial heritage as much as for the textile production of the same name, but within this is a beating heart of creativity that can be seen alive and well within Caroline and Alexander's community. - During our chat, we discussed Caroline's early years and how she eventually followed the artistic calling that was always there. We talked about the hardships and pains of painting, alongside the joy and freedom it can bring. Within all this we considered the motives behind her own personal artistic style and the importance of being true to oneself. - Thank you so much to Caroline for coming on the podcast. - You can find Caroline and Made in Paisley on Instagram at @caroline_gormley and @made_in_paisley Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation and The Rafiki Gallery @the_rafiki_gallery If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support, you can do so via Ko-Fi, which allows you to virtually donate the equivalent price to a cup of coffee with which to support the podcast and help me in producing more episodes and hosting interesting guests! Thank you so much. https://ko-fi.com/curatingconversation Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with contemporary artist David Iain Brown - David Iain Brown is a Scottish artist, hailing from Ayrshire and now based in Glasgow. He attended Gray's School of Art at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. - David originally trained as a print maker, and while he has now developed into a painter, his practice still maintains many printerly elements, namely large blocks of colour. David's route to becoming an artist was hardly obvious, growing up it was more normal to follow into the job of a local trade, but after receiving a lecture from a tutor at Gray's, he was inspired to take the leap and attend art school. - Since graduating from Gray's in 2018 with a masters in Fine Art, David has been busy exhibiting all over the globe and working hard to build a network of artists and collectors, alongside his time spent in the studio creating his art. - During our chat, we discuss his time growing up and the impact that being in nature had on him, the time he had at art school, his painterly process and studio habits. The role of an artist in this new digital age is an evolving one and David explains how making the most of this growing latticework of creatives is vital to developing. So listen in to learn a bit about David and perhaps pick up some useful tips for navigating the art sphere. - A huge thanks to David for coming on the podcast. - You can find David on Instagram at @davidiainbrown and his website Davidiainbrown Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation and The Rafiki Gallery @the_rafiki_gallery If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support, you can do so via Ko-Fi, which allows you to virtually donate the equivalent price to a cup of coffee with which to support the podcast and help me in producing more episodes and hosting interesting guests! Thank you so much. https://ko-fi.com/curatingconversation Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with contemporary artist Jonathan Freemantle - Jonathan Freemantle is a South African born, Edinburgh based artist, gallery director and entrepreneur. - Jonathan's art should be regarded in a similar vein to the works of the Romantic era, they are created with a deep sense of awe and respect for the process and subject they are inspired by . A recurring theme in much of his work is the mountain, and with this there is a deeper meaning than simply its physical form. Proximity to nature and an almost ritualistic creative process of discovery and creation can be seen in his work. Alongside this personal style, Jonathan carries out a select number of portrait commissions, with one of the most recent being featured in the Scottish Portrait Awards. - Alongside his painting Jonathan also co-founded the Edinburgh International Fashion Festival and HAZARD gallery in Johannesburg. In 2002 he set up and directed the painting department of The Art Academy in London. His work has been widely exhibited and featured in publications worldwide since 2007, following on from his intensive traditional study at St Oswald's Academy in London and years teaching. - In our chat today we delved into the creative process behind Jonathan's work, looking into what inspires him, and how certain experiences have affected his views and styles. Spreading his time between South Africa and Edinburgh has led to a rich tapestry of tales and opportunities; some of which we delve into, taking time to see how these experiences affect him and in turn his work. - A huge thanks to Jonathan for coming on the podcast. - You can find Jonathan on Instagram at @jonathanfreemantle and his website jonathanfreemantle.com Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation and The Rafiki Gallery @the_rafiki_gallery If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support, you can do so via Ko-Fi, which allows you to virtually donate the equivalent price to a cup of coffee with which to support the podcast and help me in producing more episodes and hosting interesting guests! Thank you so much. https://ko-fi.com/curatingconversation Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with contemporary artist Michelle Hamer - Michelle is an Australian visual artist with over 24 solo shows to date and work in 5 permanent national collections. 'We all know the billboards, graffiti and instructional signage in our neighbourhoods but have you ever really stopped to think about what its all telling you about society? Michelle Hamer’s hand-stitched and drawn works force us to confront this language of our fears, beliefs & aspirations. - Michelle’s work literally connects to a unique moment in time yet as the world changes the works take on new meaning and speak to us in new ways. The messages and scenes captured are pointed and personal. They are the moment, sign, scratch of graffiti that hits us directly - irreverently encapsulating life and memorialising an everyday instance while allowing us the time and space to be present, reflect and then laugh at what life presents us.' - In our chat we covered her route to creating hand stitched works of art, starting from her earliest experiences with her mother through to, situations that have led to her creating the work she does, whether it be world leaders tweeting during a pandemic or abuse shouted on the streets. We discuss the realities of being an exhibiting visual artist during a pandemic, and her experience having works bought for national collections along with much more. Michelle's journey to where she is now is a path hard fought, and something that really resonates is her desire to not let setbacks and difficulties stop her. - A huge thanks to Michelle for coming on the podcast. - You can find Michelle on Instagram at @michelle_hamer or her website Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation and The Rafiki Gallery @the_rafiki_gallery Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

This week's episode see's Leo in conversation with contemporary artist and Art Gallery Co-Director Benjamin Murphy. - He holds both a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, specialising in Contemporary Fine Art, along with being the co-founder and co-director of Delphian Gallery. He is also an associate lecturer at the University of the Arts London. - Benjamin's artwork tends to be monochromatic and focus on themes of time, memory, death and nature. Most recently his work has taken the form of charcoal on canvas, reflecting his instant and direct way of thinking. Alongside his art, he writes both for print and online; his latest endeavour with Nick JS Thompson took the form of a handbook for emerging artists titled, 'Navigating the Art World – Professional Practice for the Early Career Artist'. - In our chat we covered his earliest experiences of art and his route to the London art scene, alongside this we delved into the topics of censorship, public sculpture, his most inspiring exhibitions and a light touch on art theory. To finish with we discussed 'the Delphian Saga', covering how he and Nick JS Thompson came to start the gallery, along with a brief look into the play he wrote in 2018, titled ' Flowering Desolation' that I insisted we talk about as I took the time to read it... - A huge thanks to Benjamin for coming on the podcast. - You can find Benjamin and Delphian on Instagram at @benjaminmurphy_ @DelphianGallery Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation and The Rafiki Gallery @the_rafiki_gallery Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo

In this week's episode, Leo chat's to contemporary artist and curator Anna Woodward. - Our chat covers her artistic beginnings, and the support she had to be creative in her youth, through to her time at City and Guilds ( that she calls Hogwarts for artists) and her current experiences working at The White Cube along with being a practising artist and curator in a pandemic stricken 2020. - We discussed her art in depth, discovering where her abstract style and mythological subjects come from along with the difficulties of dyslexia. She mentioned her admiration for artists such as Flora Yukhnovich and Hieronymus Bosch and how their work informs her own. - We spoke about the year she spent putting on exhibitions in a wine cellar alongside studying, and the learning curves that came with that. On a different note we also debated on the role of digital media in the art world, and the things we have learned ourselves, such as the importance of making real world connections and making the most of opportunities. - We finally got onto the topic of her new podcast 'The Artists Contemporary Podcast' and all the exciting things yet to come. - Find Anna and The Artists Contemporary on Instagram at @anna_s_woodward @the_artists_contemporary Keep up to date with the podcast at: @curatingconversation and find me and the gallery at @the_rafiki_gallery Thanks for listening! Support the show Find all images discussed @Curatingconversation If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support it, you can do so via Patreon which allows you to become a patron of the podcast which helps me to produce more episodes and host interesting guests! www.patreon.com/curatingconversation Thank you so much. Leo