Art Problems

EP 26: 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:
https://www.threads.net/@ezraklein/post/CvlcRaWuO21?hl=en
https://substack.com/
https://convertkit.com/

EP 25: The New Gallery Model Every Artist Needs to Know About

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.
 
Relevant links:
https://testudomkt.com/
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

EP 24: 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
Upstate Art Weekend
How Larry Gagosian Reshaped the Art World. The New Yorker
After the Contemporary -The Aldrich Museum of Art

EP 23: How Netvvrk Helped Secure Close to a Million Dollars in Grant Funding For Artists

Oh, this episode is a doozy! In it, Paddy discusses how Netvvrk artists secured nearly a million dollars in grant funding for artists in just two years. The breakdown is in this episode if you want to know what Netvvrk artists are doing to secure awards like the Guggenheim Foundation Grant, The Pollock Krasner, JMF funding, and more. 
The tally, currently at $755,000, represents the dedication of the artists who join Netvvrk and the strength of the membership. And if you want to know more about the membership, I'll talk about it live Tuesday, July 18th, at 7:30 PM EST. 
Register Here  

EP 22: Demolishing The Day Job Stigma for Artists

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, 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:
https://www.nyccritclub.com/
https://www.camsummer.org/
https://www.catherinehaggarty.com/
https://www.maconreed.com/
https://www.bearcoaches.com/m4w

EP 21: Fairs for the Rich

In this episode, 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 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

EP 20: How Does the Supreme Court Warhol Foundation Ruling Affect Artists?

In this episode of Art Problems, I speak 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.
 
https://artsandbusinesscouncil.org/luke-blackadar/

EP 19: Where 80 Percent of Your Opportunities Come From — And It’s Not What You Think.

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.
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.
 
Free live masterclass, How to Get Seen in the Art World, Tuesday, May 9th, 7:30 PM EST

EP 18: How to Get Shows and Sales from Instagram

The second in my podcast series examining which support materials can get you seen in the art world and the exact process we use inside Netvvrk to create member assessments that allow you to hone those materials.
In today's episode, I talk about the importance of your Instagram, and why you need to be on the platform to get your work seen. But I also talk about the social media recession we're currently experiencing and what to do about it.
spoiler alert: It doesn't mean stay off social. It does mean, though, that you need to be more intentional in your use.
And that's exactly what I talk about in this podcast.
Have a listen!
 
Free live masterclass, How to Get Seen in the Art World, Tuesday, May 9th, 7:30 PM EST

EP 17: The Mistakes That Keep Curators and Dealers From Contacting You

The first in my podcast series examining which support materials can get you seen in the art world and the exact process we use inside Netvvrk to create member assessments that allow you to hone those materials.
In today's episode, I talk about the importance of your website, how the most common mistakes I see will keep curators and dealers from contacting you, and the simple steps you need to take to avoid those mistakes.
Nothing I will discuss requires special skills or knowledge.
And everything I talk about is part of the personalized assessment process we follow on Netvvrk, that gives our annual members specific feedback on the areas of their practice that will get them connections and show opportunities the quickest.
 
Free live masterclass, How to Get Seen in the Art World, Tuesday, May 9th, 7:30 PM EST