Art Problems

Bonus Episode: From Treading Water to Landing Commissions in One Year with Yuko Oda

What does it feel like to work professionally as an artist for 23 years but still feel like you're treading water?
In this episode of Art Problems, I speak with Boston-based artist Yuko Oda about joining Netvvrk just over a year ago after graduating from RISD in 2002 and spending two decades feeling confused about her trajectory. She was saying yes to everything, spreading herself too thin, and missing opportunities she should have seized—like a group show in Tokyo where she wasn't happy with the work she submitted.
In just over a year, Yuko sold her first major piece directly to a collector, secured a three-piece commission for a downtown Boston high-rise, exhibited work in Rome that she calls her best art experience ever, and learned to set boundaries that protect her momentum. We talk about overcoming hesitation to invest in yourself, how accountability groups helped navigate everything from invoices to artist-consultant contract splits, and what it feels like to finally know where you are on your career path instead of floating like a bubble.
Free Info Session: How to Become a Biennial Artist - Wednesday, February 25th at 7pm EST Register here. 
Yuko Oda: Website: https://www.yukooda.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yukooda75
Education:
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): https://www.risd.edu
Institutions Mentioned:
UMass Lowell: https://www.uml.edu
Harvard Entomology Club: https://hmnh.harvard.edu
New York Institute of Technology: https://www.nyit.edu
Grants & Programs:
Guggenheim Fellowship: https://www.gf.org
Artists Mentioned (Commission Advice):
Laura Fayer: https://www.laurafayer.com/
Adria Arch: https://www.adriaarch.com/
John Laustsen: https://www.jonlaustsen.com/
Mary Lynn Burke: https://www.marylynnburke.com/
Kristin Cronic: https://www.kristinraecronic.com/

Bonus Episode: How to Transform Your Grant Applications with Kimberlee Koym-Murteira

What does it take to level up your documentation and grant applications when you're deeply insecure about your writing?
 
In this episode of Art Problems, I speak with Bay Area artist Kimberlee Koym-Murteira about joining Netvvrk three years ago, knowing she needed support to win more grants. She'd seen firsthand that when she had help, she was successful—but she didn't know how to get that consistently. Through constant feedback, mentorship from members, and building relationships in accountability groups, Kimberlee transformed her applications so dramatically that she won many and went from avoiding certain opportunities to applying for the Guggenheim.
 
This conversation breaks down what it looks like to use a creative community—getting feedback within hours when you need it, why AI tools help but can't replace human editors, and how focusing on your own path instead of competing locally creates sustained hopefulness even when six major galleries in your region close. If you've ever wondered what the practical day-to-day of career growth looks like, the details are all in this podcast.
 
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Free Info Session: How to Become a Biennial Artist - Wednesday, February 25th at 7pm EST. Register here.
Kimberlee Koym-Murteira: Website: https://www.kimberleekm.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberleekm/
Tools & Resources Mentioned:
Grammarly: https://www.grammarly.com
ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com
Bay Area Context:
California College of the Arts (CCA): https://www.cca.edu

Bonus Episode: How to Re-Enter the Art World After 25 Years

What does it feel like to return to your art practice after a 25-year break?
In this episode of Art Problems, I speak with visual artist Shae Nadine about navigating an art world that had completely transformed in her absence. When Shae joined Netvvrk two years ago, she was figuring out basics like digital documentation and artist statements. But through accountability groups and community support, she went from feeling lost to landing a NYSCA grant, a SuCasa residency, and curating a four-month public art exhibition in Chicago.
This conversation gets into the unglamorous parts of building an art career—like why Shae's accountability group toasts their rejections, how to know when you're actually ready to apply for major grants, and why sometimes the best thing you can do for your relationship is stop asking your partner to read your artist statement. If you've ever felt like an outsider in the art world, I recommend listening to Shae’s story.
 
Links:
Free Info Session: How to Become a Biennial Artist - Wednesday, February 25th at 7pm EST Register here.
Shae Nadine || SubtleFlux: Website, Instagram
Grants & Programs Mentioned:
NYSCA (New York State Council on the Arts): https://arts.ny.gov
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC): https://lmcc.net
Sukasa Grant: https://www.skowhegan.org/sukasa
Manhattan Graphics Center: https://www.manhattangraphicscenter.org
Pollack-Krasner Foundation: https://pkf.org
Guggenheim Fellowship: https://www.gf.org
Resources:
Powerhouse Arts (mentioned in episode): https://powerhousearts.org
Westbeth Artists Housing: https://westbeth.org

EP 106: Going from “I Can’t Do This” to “I Can Do This” with Artist Maggie Hinders

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information out there to help artists? In this episode of Art Problems Netvvrk member Maggie Hinders shares how the Netvvrk Navigator assessment transformed her artistic experience of this reality from "I can't do this" to "I can do this."
Maggie talks about moving from using Netvvrk primarily for community connection to finally tackling the curriculum with clarity. We discuss how the assessment organizes information into a clear path forward, why understanding what different career levels actually look like matters, and how developing an artistic narrative helps you communicate about abstract work.
If you've ever felt like your brain works like a web and you need help pulling out that first thread, this conversation is for you.

EP 105: How to Do Fewer Things

80% of artists struggle with the same problem: getting seen by curators, gallerists, and collectors. And solving this problem is like slaying a multiheaded Hydra—the tasks are endless.In this episode, we talk about how to conquer the Hydra. I break down the reasons artists get stuck, even when they're working hard. You'll learn why the order you tackle things matters more than the tasks themselves, and how one overwhelmed member went from "30 things to do, doing none of them" to making real progress in six months.I'm also announcing the Netvvrk Navigator—a new assessment tool I built with artist William Powhida that shows you exactly where you are in your career and what to work on next. Plus, a special offer for the first 10 annual members that's only available once.If you've been working hard without seeing results, this episode will show you exactly what to do next.

EP 104: Predictions for 2026 with William Powhida

We're kicking off 2026 with artist William Powhida, whose 2017 work After the Contemporary predicted the future of art with unsettling accuracy. From the NEA closure to resource wars to Miami flooding, his satirical timeline keeps proving prescient. We discuss what he got right, what he missed (AI, influencers), and his predictions for 2026—including the rise of the "haute garde," the gambling-ification of culture, and why flexible pricing models might finally give artists more agency.
 
Relevant links:
William Powhida's After the Contemporary at the Aldrich Museum (2017)
Zero Art Fair
New Visions Report 2025
The Art Angle Podcast - Ben Davis interviews Nadia Asparouhova on Antimemetics

EP 103: Meet the Business Reporter With Data-Driven Insights into Your Career

In this episode, Paddy talks with art market analyst Tim Schneider about the New Visions Report 2025, a survey of over 1,000 visual artists about their working conditions. They discuss why even successful artists struggle with money, what separates artists who advance in their careers from those who don't, and the business practices that matter most. Tim shares insights from two decades covering the art market about networking, professional systems, and why the infrastructure around your art practice is just as important as the work itself.

EP 102: Taxes for Humans: A Conversation with Hannah Cole

Artist and accountant Hannah Cole talks about her new book "Taxes for Humans"—your not-boring guide to taxation for self-employed artists. We discuss why tax education is deliberately kept from us, how to fix a messy tax situation without shame, and Hannah's secret agenda to turn artists into activists. Plus: tax-advantaged accounts, disaster relief benefits, and why it's worth investing in your professional development before the year ends.Related links:Taxes for Humans

EP 101: How to Get Studio Visits Without Reading Minds

This week I'm extending a conversation I started in my revived Hyperallergic column: do you need a proper studio space to get studio visits? The answer is no—if you handle it properly.
But the real question isn't about your space. It's how to network effectively so visits actually happen. I break down the exact timing strategy for outreach, why most networking fails in the follow-through, and how to structure emails that make it easy for people to say yes.
The biggest reason artist emails don't get responses isn't disinterest—it's that the email didn't make it easy to respond. I cover four principles that change that and walk through a real scenario showing how to think strategically about follow-up.
Want the exact framework? Join me for my free webinar Monday, November 24th at 7 PM EST.
RELEVANT LINKS: 
Hyperallergic: Do I Need a Studio? 
Free Webinar Sign Up: How to Get Studio Visits Without Reading Minds

EP 100: Inside Netvvrk with Painter Chris Moss

This week on the Art Problems podcast interview series "Inside Netvvrk", I'm wrapping up the series with Chris Moss, a painter and the artist advisor who leads all of Netvvrk's studio critiques.
Chris has been with Netvvrk for years. He shares what it's like to go from being completely stuck to organizing a neighborhood studio crawl that brought hundreds of people through his door. We talk about why COVID isolation finally pushed him to find a solution, how he went from zero shows to curating exhibitions with himself in them, and why self-worth is one of the biggest intangible benefits of investing in your career.
Chris also gets into why regular critique with other artists matters more than almost anything else for making better work.
If you've been feeling stuck or isolated in your practice, Chris's focus on community and taking action—even when it feels uncomfortable—might be exactly what you need to hear.