I Like Your Work: Conversations with Artists

Erika b Hess
I Like Your Work: Conversations with Artists

I Like Your Work supports artists! Each week artist Erika b Hess interviews artists, gallerists, and curators to cover topics that will help you in your art practice. From inspiring interviews from the lives of artists to business practices you will walk away ready to get in the studio.

  1. 21 FEB

    Artist Susan Lichtman: Painting Domestic Spaces, Light and Color

    Susan Lichtman is a figurative painter of domestic spaces, working out of her home studio in southeastern Massachusetts. She received her undergraduate degree from Brown University and an MFA in Painting from Yale University School of Art. Lichtman has had solo exhibitions at Steven Harvey Fine Arts Projects, NY, NY. (2017, 2024); Rose Art Museum, Waltham, MA (2024); Fahrenheit, Madrid, (2022); Gross McCleaf Gallery, Philadelphia, PA (2018) and the Wilson Museum of Hollins University, Roanoke, VA (2017.) Recent group and two person exhibitions have been at Steven Harvey Fine Arts Project, NY ,NY; Nathalie Karg Gallery, NY, NY; Wege Center for the Arts, Fairfield, IA; Chazen Gallery, Providence, RI; Page Gallery, Camden, ME; and Crosstown Arts, Memphis, TN. A recipient of a fellowship from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, she also holds awards from the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. A Fine Arts professor at Brandeis University between 1980-2024, Lichtman has also been a visiting artist at numerous universities and art programs. She was the Frances Niederer Artist-in-Residence at Hollins University in 2017, Guest Artist at JSS Civita in 2018 and a faculty member at the Chautauqua Visual Art program in 2024.   LINKS: www.Susanlichtman.com   @Lichtmansusan     Artist Shout out:  Steven Harvey Fine Arts Project, NY, NY. Page Gallery, Camden ME.; Nancy Devine Gallery, Warren, RI   I Like Your Work Links: Thank you to our sponsors:    Naomi Vladeck with Creativity Matters Coaching: Registration for The Fear Less Creator Method Intensive is NOW LIVE This transformational experience for women artists and creators begins on February 24 runs through April 7 2025. Register on https://www.creativitymatterscoaching.com/customtrainingsandtalks Or email her at naomi@creativitymatterscoaching.com to learn about her early-bird spots! Apply for a residency at Chautauqua Visual Arts: Chautauqua Visual Arts   Join the Works Membership! https://theworksmembership.com/ Watch our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ilikeyourworkpodcast Submit Your Work Check out our Catalogs! Exhibitions Studio Visit Artist Interviews I Like Your Work Podcast Say “hi” on Instagram

    55 min
  2. 14 FEB

    How Open Calls & Residencies Create Unexpected Opportunities

    Have you ever hesitated to apply for an open call or residency because of self-doubt? Or maybe you’ve wondered, Is this even worth it? In this episode of I Like Your Work, we’re flipping that narrative. Open calls and residencies aren’t just about submitting your work—they’re about creating opportunities, making connections, and getting your art seen in ways you never imagined. I’ve heard from so many artists who have had real, tangible opportunities come from being featured in the I Like Your Work Open Call catalog—things like exhibitions, representation, and new collectors. And residencies? They can be game-changers for artists looking to deepen their practice, meet incredible peers, and create work in an inspiring environment. We’ll also talk about Chautauqua Visual Arts Residencies—an incredible space for artists to grow, reflect, and push their work forward. And I’m beyond excited to introduce our guest curator for this year’s Open Call, Leah Triplett, an amazing curator and writer who brings a thoughtful and engaging eye to contemporary art.If you’ve been waiting for a sign to put yourself out there—this is it.   What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why open calls and residencies are more than just applications—they’re opportunities for transformation How artists have gained career-changing connections from the I Like Your Work Open Call  What makes Chautauqua Visual Arts Residencies such an exciting and valuable experience  Insights from guest curator Leah Triplett, a leading curator and writer shaping contemporary art The importance of believing in your work and stepping into opportunity—despite fear    Apply Today!  I Like Your Work Open Call: https://www.ilikeyourworkpodcast.com/submitwork Chautauqua Visual Arts Residency:  Chautauqua Visual Arts     Let’s Connect!  Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilikeyourworkpodcast/ Join the Artist Membership: https://www.ilikeyourworkpodcast.com/community   Leave a review & share this episode with an artist friend who needs a little encouragement! Hit play and get ready to embrace new opportunities!

    17 min
  3. 7 FEB

    Color and Searching with Artist Neil Callander

    Neil Callander is an artist and an educator. Born in Louisville KY, Neil earned a BFA from Indiana University (2003) and an MFA from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University (2006). In 2005 he received a full fellowship to be a resident at Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. After graduate school Neil worked as a painter for the artist Jeff Koons in his New York studio. In 2007 Neil and family left New York City to pursue careers as artists and academics. This decision has offered a tour of the South with time spent in Louisville KY, Starkville MS, and Tuscaloosa AL. Neil and his wife Adrienne are currently professors of Art at the University of Arkansas and live in a household of makers, dogs, and sheep on three acres in Fayetteville AR. Neil has exhibited widely including solo exhibitions at Goose Barnacle (Brooklyn NY), Studio Break Gallery (West Chicago IL), Bowling Green State University (OH), MANIFEST Gallery and Drawing Center (Cincinnati OH), Elon University (NC) and The Kentucky School of Art (Louisville). Group exhibitions include MANIFEST Gallery and Drawing Center (Cincinnati OH), The Huntsville Museum of Art (AL), The Mississippi Museum of Art (Jackson), The New Gallery of Modern Art (Charlotte NC), First Street Gallery (NYC), Washington Art Association (CT) and many others. He has presented on his work and practice at institutes of higher learning including Boston University, UMass Dartmouth, Arkansas State University, and the University of Mississippi. He is a member of ZEUXIS (an association of still life painters based in NYC), and SECAC whose conferences he regularly attends. Recent creative endeavors include participation in Art Week (July 2022) at the fabled family home of painter Fairfield Porter on Great Spruce Head Island in Maine. Neil returned to the island in 2024 and will again in 2025 to facilitate a painting retreat he developed. "Cinema is the king of story-telling. Photography is a much more efficient form of documentation. Music is superior at catharsis. Television and the Internet own propaganda. That leaves painting the domains of materiality and ambiguity. I pack a painting with cultural and personal references and work toward an image that is provocative yet conceptually flexible. As more is added the compositions grow thicker, tighter, and more refined over time – like the tangle of a garden in late summer. The act of viewing my paintings is an unlocking of these internal relationships. Experiencing dense paintings that slowly reveal their nature can help us contend with the pervasiveness of fast-talking, slick images. In a media-riddled world, painting is a stabilizing force." LINKS: neilcallander.com   @neil_callander   Artist Shout out:  2024 Great Spruce Head Island Painting Retreat participants: Gabbe Grodin @gabbegrodin https://gabbegrodin.com Amanda Millis @amandacmillis http://www.amandacasemillis.com Elise Schweitzer @eliseschweitzer https://easchweitzer.com Aaron Thompson @paintlanguage http://www.aaronmichaelthompson.com Kimberly Trowbridge @Kimberly_trowbridge https://www.kimberlytrowbridge.com   I Like Your Work Links: Thank you to our sponsors:    Naomi Vladeck with Creativity Matters Coaching: Registration for The Fear Less Creator Method Intensive is NOW LIVE This transformational experience for women artists and creators begins on February 24 runs through April 7 2025. Register on https://www.creativitymatterscoaching.com/customtrainingsandtalks Or email her at naomi@creativitymatterscoaching.com to learn about her early-bird spots! Apply for a residency at Chautauqua Visual Arts: Chautauqua Visual Arts   Join the Works Membership! https://theworksmembership.com/ Watch our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ilikeyourworkpodcast Submit Your Work Check out our Catalogs! Exhibitions Studio Visit Artist Interviews I Like Your Work Podcast Say “hi” on Instagram

    1h 3m
  4. 31 JAN

    Dealing with Criticism as an Artist: What to Take In and What to Ignore

    Criticism is an inevitable part of being an artist—but not all feedback is worth your energy. In this episode, we dive into the different types of criticism artists receive and how to discern what’s constructive, what’s just opinion, and what should be ignored altogether. You’ll learn: How to tell the difference between valuable feedback and unhelpful noise When to embrace critique and when to let it roll off your back Practical ways to respond to criticism (or not respond at all) How to build confidence in your artistic vision while remaining open to growth Whether you're facing tough critiques from professors, gallery directors, collectors, or the dreaded comment section on social media, this episode will help you develop a strong filter—so you can take in what serves your work and let go of the rest. I Like Your Work Links: Thank you to our sponsors:    Naomi Vladeck with Creativity Matters Coaching: Join the Artist Accelerator    Create Magazine: https://www.createmagazine.co/call-for-art Deadline is February 1   https://www.ilikeyourworkpodcast.com/community   Apply for a residency at Chautauqua Visual Arts: Chautauqua Visual Arts   Join the Works Membership! https://theworksmembership.com/ Watch our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ilikeyourworkpodcast Submit Your Work Check out our Catalogs! Exhibitions Studio Visit Artist Interviews I Like Your Work Podcast Say “hi” on Instagram

    14 min
  5. 17 JAN

    Transforming Materials with Artist Sachiko Akiyama

    Sachiko Akiyama received her MFA in sculpture at Boston University and continued her studies at Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Akiyama lives and works in Portsmouth, NH. Akiyama has had solo exhibitions at Brattleboro Museum (Brattleboro, VT) and Tracey Morgan Gallery (Asheville, NC) and group exhibitions at Dunes Gallery (Portland, ME), Night Gallery (Los Angeles, CA), and Center for Maine Contemporary Art (Rockland, ME). Among numerous honors, Akiyama was awarded a Joan Mitchell Fellowship, an Artist Resource Trust Grant, and residencies at Millay Arts and Ucross. Akiyama’s work is represented by Tracey Morgan Gallery.   LINKS: sachikoakiyama.com   https://www.instagram.com/woodchip47/ Tree at my Window exhibition at Mrs. Gallery in NYC, NY January 18 through March 8     Artist Shout out:  Jennifer Caine: https://www.jlcaine.com/ Don Voisine: http://donvoisine.com/   I Like Your Work Links: Sign up for the free class, Do It Afraid - Planning Your Creative 2025: https://theworksmembership.com/freeclass-register-q1/ Thank you to our sponsors:    Naomi Vladeck with Creativity Matters Coaching: Join the Artist Accelerator    Create Magazine: https://www.createmagazine.co/call-for-art Deadline is February 1   https://www.ilikeyourworkpodcast.com/community   Apply for a residency at Chautauqua Visual Arts: Chautauqua Visual Arts   Join the Works Membership! https://theworksmembership.com/ Watch our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ilikeyourworkpodcast Submit Your Work Check out our Catalogs! Exhibitions Studio Visit Artist Interviews I Like Your Work Podcast Say “hi” on Instagram

    37 min
  6. 10 JAN

    Contemporary Curation with Leah Triplett

    Leah Triplett is a curator and writer, currently serving as the Director of Exhibitions and Contemporary Curatorial Initiatives at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA). Her writing has appeared in ArtAsiaPacific, ArtNet News, Sculpture, Public Art Dialogue, Flash Art, Hyperallergic, The Brooklyn Rail, and others. As an independent curator, she has organized projects for Abigail Ogilvy Gallery, Boston University Art Galleries, Praise Shadows Art Gallery, and others. She taught critical writing in the painting and sculpture MFA programs at Boston University from 2021 to 2023. She is the 2024 Mary Ann Unger Estate Fellow, researching the artist’s late 1970s and early 1980s works.   "As a curator and writer, I consider the convergence of craft, performance, new media, materiality, and globalism, using Feminist theory as a framework for my exhibition-making and publishing projects."     LINKS:   www.instagram.com/leah_triplett         I Like Your Work Links: Sign up for the free class, Do It Afraid - Planning Your Creative 2025: https://theworksmembership.com/freeclass-register-q1/ Thank you to our sponsors:    Doubworks: https://www.doubworks.com/ Use code LIKE for 20% off of any order of Belgian Linen by the yard.    NYC Crit Club Canopy Program:  https://www.nyccritclub.com/  Applications for the Canopy Program close January 12   Create Magazine: https://www.createmagazine.co/call-for-art Deadline is February 1   https://www.ilikeyourworkpodcast.com/community   Apply for a residency at Chautauqua Visual Arts: Chautauqua Visual Arts   Join the Works Membership! https://theworksmembership.com/ Watch our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ilikeyourworkpodcast Submit Your Work Check out our Catalogs! Exhibitions Studio Visit Artist Interviews I Like Your Work Podcast Say “hi” on Instagram

    43 min
  7. 3 JAN

    Your Bravest Year Yet- Embracing Fear and Moving Forward in Your Creative Practice

    Welcome to a brand-new year of creativity, inspiration, and fearless action! In this episode, I dive into the transformative power of “doing it afraid.” Whether you’re starting a new project, setting ambitious creative goals, or facing the ever-present inner critic, this episode will guide you toward embracing fear as a motivator rather than a barrier. I share actionable tips to help you kickstart your creative year with clarity, momentum, and confidence—even if fear is along for the ride. Plus, don’t miss the sneak peek into my upcoming free class, Do It Afraid - Planning Your Creative 2025, happening January 22! Learn how to plan meaningful, courageous goals for the year and create a personalized action plan to achieve them. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How to reframe fear as a sign that your work matters. The power of small, consistent actions to build momentum. How to identify and break down creative goals that stretch and excite you. Details about Erika’s free class on January 22 to help you plan your most creative year yet. Links and Resources Mentioned:  Sign up for the free class, Do It Afraid - Planning Your Creative 2025: https://theworksmembership.com/freeclass-register-q1/  Follow Erika on Instagram for more creative inspiration: @ilikeyourworkpodcast and @erikabhess Quick Action for Listeners: Write down one creative goal for 2025 and the smallest possible step you can take toward it. Share it with Erika on Instagram or during the class on January 22 for a chance to connect and celebrate your progress together! Follow and Subscribe: Never miss an episode of I Like Your Work! Follow the show and leave a review to support fellow creatives!

    13 min

Ratings & Reviews

4.2
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

I Like Your Work supports artists! Each week artist Erika b Hess interviews artists, gallerists, and curators to cover topics that will help you in your art practice. From inspiring interviews from the lives of artists to business practices you will walk away ready to get in the studio.

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