Art Problems

Paddy Johnson
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The VVrkshop podcast for ambitious artists who want more shows, bigger grants, and better residencies.

  1. 14 JUL

    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]

    13 min

  2. 27 JUN

    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/

    12 min

  3. 20 JUN

    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

    39 min

  4. 13 JUN

    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/

    44 min

  5. 6 JUN

    EP 87: What to Do When There Are No Answers

    When external pressures feel overwhelming and traditional solutions fall short, how do artists move forward? From The Whitney pausing its Independent Study Program to AI threatening brand partnerships, the challenges facing artists today often don't have clear fixes.  Art Coach Paddy Johnson explores why believing every threat is already reality can paralyze us, how social media platforms prioritize reach over genuine connection, and why the art world's scrappy resilience might be our greatest asset. Plus, an announcement about an upcoming series designed to bring hope and courage to the creative community.   RELEVANT LINKS: Whitney Museum Suspends Independent Study Program - Hyperallergic  Do Artists Need Galleries - artnet Art Market Minute podcast Trump Said He Fired the National Portrait Gallery Director. She’s Still There. - Bloomberg Netvvrk membership

    8 min

  6. 30 MAY

    EP 86: What It Looks Like to Trust Your Instincts

    At the end of 2024, artist Amy Kligman left her executive director role to create her own opportunities by identifying gaps in the Kansas City arts ecosystem. She launched Special Effects gallery to make local artists more nationally visible and the Salon for Possible Futures, an artwork that doubles as a community gathering space. We discuss how Amy navigates risk and uncertainty, measures success in experimental projects, and uses art to build empathy and human connection during politically volatile times.   RELEVANT LINKS:  Amy Kligman: https://www.amykligman.com/ Amy Kligman Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amykligman/ Special Effects Gallery: https://www.instagram.com/specialfxgallery The Salon for Possible Futures: https://www.nermanmuseum.org/exhibitions/2025-03-28-amy-kligman.html

    40 min

  7. 21 MAY

    EP 85: What is Killing the New York Fairs, Part Two

    In this second part of our two-part series on New York Art Fair Week, William Powhida and Paddy Johnson discuss the standout artworks from Independent, NADA, and Spring Break. Despite the thin crowds and economic challenges explored in Part 1, there were notable works worth celebrating. The conversation highlights vintage game boards at Independent, playful Nancy Drew-inspired paintings at Spring Break, and meticulously detailed highway landscapes at NADA. Most significantly, we explore how the most politically relevant work happened outside the fairs, with an extended conversation of Mitchell Chan's "Insert Coins" – a deceptively simple video game installation that reveals itself as a devastating commentary on capitalism, cryptocurrency, and rigged systems. This piece, along with Open Collective's Ukrainian war karaoke installation, connected to the anxieties of the real world, in a way that seemed largely absent from the commercial fair venues. Relevant Links: Artists & Galleries Mentioned: Lisa Sanditz at Alexandre Gallery Ricco Maresca Gallery (vintage game boards) Eleanor Aldrich at Field Projects Eve Sussman and Simon Lee William Pope.L at Mitchell-Innes & Nash Namwon Choi at Pentimenti Gallery Megan Dominescu at Anca Poterasu Gallery Mitchell Chan's "Insert Coins" at Nguyen Wahed Guy Richard Smith at A Hug From The Art World Duke Riley & Jean Shin at In Praise of Shadows Lucia Hierro at Swivel David Molesky (banana paintings) Sophia  Lapres at Towards Gallery Ernesto Solana at NADA guadalajara90210 Julia Garcia at Hair + Nails Lars Korff-Lofthus at Entree Gallery Bill Abdale Magda Sawon, Postmasters Venues: Independent Art Fair NADA Fair (at Star-Lehigh Building) Spring Break Art Show 601 Artist Space (Open Collective exhibition) American Folk Art Museum

    40 min

  8. 16 MAY

    EP 85: What is Killing the New York Art Fairs, Part One

    Is New York Art Fair Week losing its momentum? This week, artist and critic William Powhida and I spent time at Independent, NADA, and Spring Break—and the energy felt deflated across all three. In this first part of our two-part series, we dig into what went wrong. Thin crowds. Dealers complaining about slow sales. International collectors staying away due to political uncertainty and travel concerns. The overall market recession. But is it just market fatigue, or something deeper? We explore whether New York has simply become too expensive for emerging galleries to self-subsidize, whether political anxiety is creating a chilling effect on both artists and collectors, and why even the best new venues (NADA's stunning Star-Lehigh building) couldn't energize the crowds. From The Shed's "art prison" atmosphere to Spring Break's maturation away from experimental energy, we examine whether these fairs are losing their essential character—or if broader economic and political forces are reshaping the entire ecosystem. Next week in Part 2: We'll walk through the specific artwork that caught our attention at each fair and discuss why we had to leave the fairs entirely to find art that truly captured this political moment.   Relevant Links: William Powhida: Jilian Steinhauer for the New York Times on Spring Break https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/08/arts/design/spring-break-art-fair-review.html# NADA Fair: https://newartdealers.org/ Independent Art Fair: https://independent-art.org/ Spring Break Art Show: https://springbreakartshow.com/

    33 min
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About

The VVrkshop podcast for ambitious artists who want more shows, bigger grants, and better residencies.

Information

  • Creator
    Paddy Johnson
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    96
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Art Problems

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