Who Arted: Weekly Art History for All Ages

Who Arted is art history and art education for everyone. While most art history podcasts focus on the traditional "fine art" we see in museums around the world, Who ARTed celebrates art in all of its forms and in terms anyone can understand. Each episode tells the story of a different artist and artwork including the traditional big names like Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol along with lesser-known artists working in such diverse media as video game design, dance, the culinary arts, and more. Who Arted is written and produced by an art teacher with the goal of creating a classroom resource that makes art history fun and accessible to everyone. Whether you are cramming for your AP Art History exam, trying to learn a few facts so you can sound smart at fashionable dinner parties, or just looking to hear something with a more positive tone, we’ve got you covered with episodes every Monday and Friday.

  1. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe | Seagram Building

    11 HR AGO

    Ludwig Mies van der Rohe | Seagram Building

    Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a pivotal figure in 20th-century architecture, began his career in Germany, where he was deeply influenced by his early exposure to masonry and materials. Born in 1886, Mies refined his minimalist aesthetic, famously summarized by the motto "less is more," through his work in Berlin with modern design pioneers like Peter Behrens. His tenure as the director of the Bauhaus was cut short by the rise of the Nazi regime, leading to his relocation to the United States in 1937. In Chicago, Mies transformed the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) campus and solidified his influence through the International Style, which prioritized geometric simplicity, open "universal space," and the use of modern materials like steel and glass. One of Mies's most celebrated achievements is the Seagram Building in New York City, completed in 1958. Deviating from the standard skyscraper designs of the era, Mies set the building back 100 feet from the street, creating a large public plaza that signaled both corporate success and urban generosity. The building’s exterior is renowned for its use of 1,500 tons of solid bronze and meticulously designed window blinds that maintain a uniform appearance. Mies's commitment to "truth to materials" is exemplified by the non-structural bronze I-beams added to the exterior, which visually represent the building's internal steel frame while complying with local fire codes. Check out my other podcasts  Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    13 min
  2. Maria and Julian Martinez | Black on Black Pottery

    28 FEB

    Maria and Julian Martinez | Black on Black Pottery

    Maria Martinez belonged to the Tewa-speaking Pueblo people, known for their rich artistic heritage. Pottery-making was deeply rooted in Puebloan culture, serving as a means of artistic expression and a reflection of their close connection with the natural world. Maria grew up watching her family members create pottery, learning the traditional techniques. Of course, we seldom talk about those who simply carry on a tradition. Maria Martinez and her husband Julian revolutionized pottery production and shared their methods with their community. In doing so, they raised the profile of pottery as an art form while helping others understand and appreciate their cultural heritage. If you would like to learn more about modern clay production, check out the clay episode of my other podcast, Art Smart. ⁠Art Smart | Clay⁠ ⁠Art Smart | Glaze This is an encore presentation. Every January/February, I release daily episodes to refresh everyone's memory on the 64 artists and artworks that will be included in my Arts Madness Tournament held in March. While most of these daily episodes will be reruns, I will continue publishing new episodes on Mondays.  Vote in Round 1 of Arts Madness https://www.whoartedpodcast.com/arts-madness Check out my other podcasts  Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    13 min
  3. Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun

    26 FEB

    Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun

    In 1778, Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun met Marie Antoinette at the Royal palace in Versailles. The queen had heard of Le Brun’s talent and asked to paint her portrait. Marie Antoinette loved the way Le Brun painted her and from that point on, she was pretty much her official royal portrait painter. Le Brun painted 30 portraits of the queen. Almost as quickly as her star rose, her fortunes changed. In 1789, Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun was forced to flee France in a disguise and under the cover of darkness during the early stages of the French Revolution. Le Brun didn’t have the opulent life of luxury that revolutionaries despised, but she had worked her way up to become Marie Antoinette’s favorite portraitist and the French Revolution was not the ideal time and place for friends of the monarch. Be sure to vote for your favorite artists & artworks in Arts Madness 2026 ⁠⁠https://www.whoartedpodcast.com/arts-madness⁠⁠ Listen to other episodes covering AP Art History content on my ⁠Spotify Playlist: AP Art History Cram Session This is an encore presentation. Every January/February, I release daily episodes to refresh everyone's memory on the 64 artists and artworks that will be included in my Arts Madness Tournament held in March. While most of these daily episodes will be reruns, I will continue publishing new episodes on Mondays.  Check out my other podcasts  Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    8 min

About

Who Arted is art history and art education for everyone. While most art history podcasts focus on the traditional "fine art" we see in museums around the world, Who ARTed celebrates art in all of its forms and in terms anyone can understand. Each episode tells the story of a different artist and artwork including the traditional big names like Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol along with lesser-known artists working in such diverse media as video game design, dance, the culinary arts, and more. Who Arted is written and produced by an art teacher with the goal of creating a classroom resource that makes art history fun and accessible to everyone. Whether you are cramming for your AP Art History exam, trying to learn a few facts so you can sound smart at fashionable dinner parties, or just looking to hear something with a more positive tone, we’ve got you covered with episodes every Monday and Friday.

More From Airwave Media

You Might Also Like