Art Problems

EP 97: Inside Netvvrk with Data Artist Laurie Frick

This week I'm launching 'Inside Netvvrk,' a new interview series with Netvvrk members. First up is Laurie Frick, a data artist and one of Netvvrk's founding members.
In this conversation, we talked about what it's really like to invest in your career when you're already mid-career. Laurie doesn't sugarcoat it: Netvvrk isn't cheap, and you need to treat your career like it's worth investing in. But she also shares what changed when she made that commitment—going from feeling stuck in public art commissions to now having four galleries and selling all the work she makes.
We talk about the small group of artists who transformed each other's fellowship applications into something extraordinary, what it takes to actually be vulnerable with other artists, and why a community on Zoom can be just as real as painters meeting in a bar.
If you've ever wondered whether coaching or community membership is worth the investment—especially if you're already established—this conversation shows what happens when you stop going it alone.

EP 96: Paddy Tells All: How Netvvrk Actually Works

This week, accountant and artist Hannah Cole interviews me. As an artist who isn't (yet) a Netvvrk member, she had a lot of questions about how it helps mid-career visual artists.
Who is it for? How does it work? What makes it different from a course? Do you really need it?
We talk about why I started Netvvrk after years of cobbling together income from adjunct teaching and speaking fees, and how those early artist statement classes revealed a bigger problem—artists needed ongoing support and community, not just one-off solutions.
I share how the membership works, from the positions module that shows you exactly where you are in your career to the accountability groups that make sure you actually do the work. We also get into member stories—like the artist who went from applying to juried shows to showing at invite-only shows all the time, and another who landed a show at a blue-chip gallery.
If you've ever felt like you're working all the time but stuck in the same place, this conversation breaks down what's possible when you have the right structure and support.

EP 95: A New Source of Opportunities: An interview with Eric Shiner of Powerhouse Arts

Eric Shiner, President of Powerhouse Arts joins the podcast to give artists the skinny on this new organization. This 170,000 square-foot nonprofit in Brooklyn's Gowanus neighborhood is fast becoming one of the most significant resources for artists in New York City.
Eric walks me through Powerhouse's seven fabrication workshops (ceramics, printmaking, textiles, wood, metal, and more), their artist subsidy program that makes these resources financially accessible, and their new artist residency program. 
We also talk about how Powerhouse is expanding into exhibitions and performing arts with affordable ticket prices, and why they're supporting Fall of Freedom—a nationwide protest defending creative expression.
If you've been struggling to find affordable fabrication space or access to specialized equipment, this conversation will give you tangible options and genuine hope.
 
Relevant Links:
Powerhouse Arts
Fall of Freedom

EP 94: When and How to Hire Help for Your Studio

One of the most common challenges artists face is knowing when—and how—to hire help for their practice. This week, I'm breaking down the practicalities of hiring: from determining if you're ready, to figuring out what you can afford to pay, to managing assistants effectively.
 
I cover the key tipping points that signal it's time to bring on help, the difference between contractors, assistants, and coaches, and why feeling overwhelmed doesn't always mean you need to hire someone. We also discuss W.A.G.E.'s fee calculator as a concrete tool for determining fair pay, why underpaying assistants creates more problems than it solves, and how Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) can make working with help much smoother.
 
Plus, I explain how coaching can bridge the gap between doing everything yourself and hiring expensive consultants—helping you work smarter before you invest in working more. If you're struggling with time management, turning down opportunities, or can't meet deadlines without help, this episode offers practical guidance for making your first hire or improving how you work with the people already supporting your practice.
 
Relevant Links:
W.A.G.E. (Working Artists and the Greater Economy)
Netvvrk.com
Loom

EP 93: The Cancer Episode with Sculptor John Powers

This week we’re talking about how health events affect the lives of artists. Sculptor John Powers joins me as we share our experiences - his traumatic hand injury and subsequent cancer diagnosis, and my own recent double mastectomy.
We dig into the specific challenges artists face when medical crises threaten the tools of our trade, how we navigate the US healthcare system, and the mental strategies that help us maintain morale when everything feels out of control. We also explore the practical realities: phantom limb pain, nerve regeneration, the importance of finding the right surgeon, and how artistic skills - like explaining complex ideas and self-entertaining in solitude - translate surprisingly well to being a patient. 
Medical crises are one of the top reasons artists in our community need to step back from their work, yet we rarely discuss how to navigate them. This podcast fills that need. 
 
Relevant Links:
John Powers
NYU Langone Health
Weill Cornell Medicine
Columbia Presbyterian

EP 92: Is the Era of Art Fair Spectacle Over?

VVrkshop founder Paddy Johnson and artist William Powhida dive into their impressions of the 2025 Armory Art Fair in New York. In this episode, we explore how Frieze's new ownership has changed the fair's feel, from stricter security to the notable absence of mega galleries like Hauser & Wirth and Gagosian.
We break down the numbers - more than half of 2024's exhibitors didn't return, LA galleries dropped by 26%, and smaller works dominated booths as galleries adapted to market realities. The conversation covers standout pieces that caught our attention, from Nick Farhi's provocative glory hole installation at Europa to Nikita Gale's politically charged "Interceptor" barricade at 56 Henry.
We also dig into emerging art trends, including the rise of "art history textbook painting" where artists render historical styles in abstract brushstrokes, and discuss the troubling vacuum in art criticism. The episode touches on the political climate's impact on art-making and whether we're seeing the end of an era for large-scale art fair presentations.
Relevant Links:
The Armory Show
Tim Van Laere Gallery (Rinus Van de Velde)
Victoria Miro (Doron Langberg, Flora Yukhnovich)
Peter Blum Gallery (Marha Tuttle)
Europa (Nick Farhi)
56 Henry (Nikita Gale)
Yancey Richardson Gallery (Marilyn Minter)
Corbett vs. Dempsey (Cauleen Smith)
What If The World Gallery (Mia Chaplin)
Uffner & Lui (Talia Levitt)
Marinaro (Ever Baldwin)
Hess Flatow (Emma Safir)
Dastan Gallery (Tehran artists)
P40D Gallery (Piper Bangs)
Anton Kern Gallery (David Shrigley)
James Cohan (Simon Evans)

EP 91: Why Art Speak Persists and How to Ditch It

What exactly is "art speak" and why do artists continue to use it when we all agree it’s creates a poor reading experience? In this podcast, I break down the inflated language that clutters artist statements—from "liminal" and "corporeal" to meaningless spatial metaphors that make work sound more complex than it is. 
Drawing on Alix Rule and David Levine's landmark essay "International Art English," I explore why vague academic language emerged from 1970s French poststructuralist influence and why it's stuck around for nearly 50 years. Plus, we discuss why clarity can become your competitive advantage as AI changes how we evaluate written materials and grant competitions intensify.
RELEVANT LINKS: 
"International Art English" by Alix Rule and David Levine (2012) 
Free Masterclass: "How to Build an Art Career When Traditional Paths Fail" - July 22nd, 7:30 PM EST Netvvrk membership: [JOIN HERE]

EP 90: Three Mistakes to Avoid when Applying for a Guggenheim Fellowship

In this episode, Paddy gives you the skinny on the Guggenheim Fellowship, one of the most prestigious awards for mid-career artists. The talk contains tips and strategies you won't find on their website, including knowing when to apply and how often. You won't find this information anywhere else, so have a listen. Even if you're not planning to apply, this episode will give you strategies for ALL grant applications.
 
Relevant links:
https://www.gf.org/

EP 89: This Is Artist Time with Natalia Nakazawa

Artist Natalia Nakazawa believes this moment of extreme uncertainty is actually "artist time"—when we need to step up as visionaries and fill the voids that traditional systems are leaving behind. This is the second interview in my series on how to find hope through artistic practice. Natalia has built multiple collectives and focuses on long-term sustainability over quick wins. We discuss making culture essential infrastructure and why artists need to connect beyond their silos. This is about training yourself to dream big and recognizing that artists are needed everywhere.
RELEVANT LINKS: Natalia Nakazawa: https://www.natalianakazawa.com/Socrates Sculpture Park Fellowship: https://socratessculpturepark.org/ Hue Museum: https://huemuseum.org/ Join Netvvrk: https://www.vvrkshop.art/i-want-to-netvvrk-now

EP 88: Bravery Earns you Hope: An Interview with Julie Peppito

After feeling demoralized by Trump’s election, artist Julie Peppito researched how to resist authoritarianism and merged her studio practice with street activism—what she calls "artivism." Peppito, who is leading Saturday's No King's protest in NYC, believes artists are uniquely positioned to break through disinformation as messengers and visual communicators. 
We discuss her four-part formula for building hope: community, social proof, joy, and collaboration, plus practical advice on organizing art builds, leading protests, and turning your studio into a "hope-making machine."
RELEVANT LINKS: Julie Peppito: https://www.juliepeppito.com/ Julie Peppito Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliepeppito/ 50501: ​​https://www.fiftyfifty.one/Indivisible: https://indivisible.org/ Heather Cox Richardson Newsletter: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/ The Ink by Anand Giridharadas: https://the.ink/