Not Real Art

Crewest Studio

The NOT REAL ART podcast celebrates creative culture and the artists who make it. NOT REAL ART is fresh, fun and inspiring. It contains material not suitable for pretentious art snobs. Guests include the world-class artists, designers and creatives who drive the $2T creative economy. NOT REAL ART is hosted by L.A. based art world insiders Man One and Sourdough who bring their devil-may-care attitude to discussing their mutual love — and hate — for the contemporary art world, creative culture, and everything in between. If you're an an arts professional or creative culture enthusiast, NOT REAL ART is for you!

  1. 250: A Coast-to-Coast Celebration of Public Art—A Conversation with Toni Sikes, CEO of CODAworx

    1. Juli

    250: A Coast-to-Coast Celebration of Public Art—A Conversation with Toni Sikes, CEO of CODAworx

    Twelve years in, Toni Sikes shows no signs of slowing down. As founder and CEO of CODAworx—the leading platform for the public art industry—she has shepherded the ecosystem from ‘90s print directories to a global digital network representing over $13 billion in projects. For Independence Day 2026, CODAworx teamed with NOT REAL ART and nonprofit Arterial to launch 250: A Celebration of Public Art in the U.S.—an ambitious online exhibition featuring one artwork from each state, plus Puerto Rico and DC. Curated by NOT REAL ART’s Kirsten Bengtson-Lykoudis and powered by CODAworx’s extensive artist network, 250 is already live online and will remain available for all to explore indefinitely. How did this partnership come together? Toni and NOT REAL ART/Arterial founder Scott “Sourdough” Power unpack the vision behind 250, swap stories from the front lines of public art, and make the case for why murals, installations, festivals, and even giant flamingos belong at the heart of the American experience. See the 250 exhibition: Explore all 52 works online. Episode Credits Host: Scott ‘Sourdough’ Power Guest: Toni Sikes, CEO and founder of CODAworx, advocate for big art and public art’s economic power. Production: Crewest Studio, Los Angeles Theme Music: Ricky Peugeot & Desi DeLauro of Parlor Social Stay in the loop: Subscribe to NOT REAL ART for future episodes, follow us on Instagram, and tag your favorite public art using #FirstFridays250.

    50 Min.
  2. Portraits of Pride: Joan Cox on Painting Modern Love, Queer Visibility, and Finding Your Artistic Voice

    2. Juni

    Portraits of Pride: Joan Cox on Painting Modern Love, Queer Visibility, and Finding Your Artistic Voice

    Baltimore’s harbor is calm, but resident artist Joan Cox is gathering momentum. Since her last appearance with NOT REAL ART, she’s been named a finalist for the Baker Artist Award, recognized among London’s Top 100 International Artists, and seen her intimate portraits circulate through exhibitions and publications. A past NOT REAL ART grant winner (2022), Joan is known for capturing the “energy field” of love between women. Now, her work takes center stage in NOT REAL ART’s Modern Love exhibition, running online at notrealart.com this spring. In conversation with host Scott “Sourdough” Power, Joan reflects on the work of recording contemporary queer intimacy. She describes her process, from asking strangers to sit for her, to searching for the subtle charge that passes between couples, all while managing the demands of a full-time career and raising a middle-schooler. Her canvases are lush and unscripted, dense with narrative detail—bedroom Buddhas, floral wallpaper in the corner of a bar. Beneath the surface, each painting offers an act of correction, adding a page to art history where overlooked couples are seen, valued, and, at last, collected. Where to Connect & Experience See Joan Cox’s latest work in Modern Love. Follow Joan on Instagram for in-progress shots and behind-the-scenes studio news. Learn more about the NOT REAL ART Grant. Episode Credits Host: Scott ‘Sourdough’ Power Guest: Joan Cox, Baltimore-based painter focused on queer intimacy, identity, and representation; NOT REAL ART grant winner. Production: Crewest Studio, Los Angeles Theme Music: Ricky Peugeot & Desi DeLauro of Parlor Social Subscribe to NOT REAL ART for future episodes, follow us on Instagram, and join the conversation.

    58 Min.

Info

The NOT REAL ART podcast celebrates creative culture and the artists who make it. NOT REAL ART is fresh, fun and inspiring. It contains material not suitable for pretentious art snobs. Guests include the world-class artists, designers and creatives who drive the $2T creative economy. NOT REAL ART is hosted by L.A. based art world insiders Man One and Sourdough who bring their devil-may-care attitude to discussing their mutual love — and hate — for the contemporary art world, creative culture, and everything in between. If you're an an arts professional or creative culture enthusiast, NOT REAL ART is for you!