The Truth In This Art

Rob Lee
  • 4.8 (166)
  • Documentary
  • Updated Semiweekly

The Truth In This Art with Rob Lee is a Baltimore-based arts and culture podcast where independent journalist Rob Lee goes beyond the highlight reel to uncover the truth behind the work—the creative process, the choices, and the stories that shape the people who make it. This podcast features thoughtful conversations with emerging and established photographers, filmmakers, designers, musicians, chefs, writers, and other creative voices. Each episode explores how artists build sustainable practices, stay connected to their communities, and create work that reflects the world around them. More than interviews, these are stories about what it takes to build a creative life—the challenges, choices, and experiences that make art matter. For makers, culture lovers, and the creatively curious

  1. 3d ago

    Actor, Author, and Artist Victoria Rowell on her MICA Exhibition 'A Woman Becomes...'

    In this episode of The Truth In This Art, accomplished actress, artist, writer, director, and New York Times bestselling author Victoria Rowell is here! About Victoria Rowell: Victoria Rowell is a multi-disciplinary creator widely known for her television roles on Diagnosis Murder and The Young and the Restless. Driven by an innate love of movement and a childhood immersed in the arts by her foster mother, she has built a dynamic creative life spanning classical ballet, acting, and independent filmmaking. She is the artistic force behind "A Woman Becomes," a solo photography exhibition at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) exploring the timeline between girlhood and womanhood, as well as the invisible strengths of the female anatomy. In my conversation, Victoria revisits how her early years on a working farm in Maine and a pivotal ballet scholarship shaped her resilience in the face of the entertainment industry's hustle. She walks through her transition from classical ballet into television — and why maintaining a diverse "bouquet of friends" is exactly what is needed to navigate the highs and lows of a creative life. Victoria gets into the experience she is crafting with "A Woman Becomes..." — expanding beyond standard photography in favor of incorporating mixed media, found street objects, and inherited items like rosary beads that honor her foster mother, Agatha. She speaks to how a chance drive past MICA led to a partnership with the institution, giving her exhibition a home that matches the artistic vision she has been building toward. Be sure to follow Victoria Rowell on Instagram at @victoriarowell to stay up with her work. For everything regarding Victoria Rowell: A Woman Becomes…, running from September 25th through October 11th, visit the Maryland Institute College of Art website and check out the show notes for more details. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

    Actor, Author, and Artist Victoria Rowell on her MICA Exhibition 'A Woman Becomes...'

  2. 6d ago

    Festival Producers Keith Dukes III and Tony Diallo on Pixal Fest 2026 DMV Short Film Festival

    In this episode of The Truth In This Art, Pixal Fest producers Keith Dukes III and Tony Diallo are back! About Keith Dukes III and Tony Diallo: Keith Dukes III is an aspiring filmmaker, storyteller, and founder of Pixal Fest Short Film Festival and Pixal Neon LLC, based in the DMV. Driven by a passion for connecting people through story, he has built Pixal Fest into a community-centered event that pushes well beyond industry standard — curating films from creators met through social media, the workforce, and personal collaboration. Tony Diallo is the marketing and operations force behind Pixal Neon and Pixal Fest, handling event promotion, graphics, and the overall experience leading up to show day. Together, they are three years into building something that is equal parts film festival, creative hub, and community movement. In our conversation, Keith and Tony revisit how Pixal Fest grew from a scrappy idea into an annual fixture in DC's creative scene, and what it means to build a space where filmmakers and appreciators alike genuinely feel welcome. Keith walks through how the festival's selection process is rooted in spotting raw genius over polished resources — and why getting to people before they go mainstream is exactly the point. Keith and Tony get into the experience they're crafting on show day — refusing the standard black-screen-between-films format in favor of something fully immersive and themed — and how a Pixal Fest magazine is keeping the community connected long after the festival ends. Tony speaks to how their relationship with the Miracle Theatre has given Pixal Fest a home that matches the vision he and Keith have been building toward. You may recall Keith and Tony's first conversation on The Truth In This Art — I encourage you to go back and check it out to witness their growth. Be sure to follow Keith Dukes III on Instagram at @500milesperhour.dukes and Tony Diallo at @Tony_Diallo_ to stay up with their work. For everything Pixal Fest, visit PixalNeonLLC.com and follow @PixalNeon across platforms. Pixal Fest returns to the Miracle Theatre on Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM at 535 8th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003. Whether you're a filmmaker, a film lover, or just curious — come pull up and be part of the community. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

  3. Sep 22

    Shakespearean Actress Renea S. Brown Explains Why Justice in ‘Measure for Measure’ Still Resonates Today

    In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Renea S. Brown! About Renea S. Brown: Lexington, Kentucky-born multi-award-winning classical actress and Shakespearean specialist based in the DMV. A storyteller since childhood, Renea began her theatrical journey at nine years old, training at the School of the Creative and Performing Arts before building a career that spans the region's leading stages — from Folger Theater to Roundhouse Theater to Shakespeare Theater Company. She has earned three Helen Hayes Awards, co-founded the Black-led Eminent Theatre Company, and has appeared on screen in Godfather of Harlem and Law & Order. In our conversation, Renea breaks down Folger Theater's production of Measure for Measure — a Shakespeare play set in Vienna where a Duke quietly watches from the shadows as his appointed deputy, Angelo, abuses his power in the name of law and order. She walks through the play's central characters, the moral complexity at the heart of the story, and why themes of power, corruption, justice, and the silencing of women land just as hard today as they did centuries ago. She gets into what it means to perform this particular story within walking distance of Capitol Hill, why the Folger is the ideal space for it, and why live performance — people telling stories to people in real time — still matters in a world dominated by screens. Be sure to follow Renea S. Brown on Instagram and TikTok at @therealdarkLady and on Instagram at @ImminentTheatreCompany. For more visit https://imminenttc.org/  Measure For Measure, runs at Folger Theater from September 22nd through November 1st. Tickets start at $20 — go get yours. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

    Shakespearean Actress Renea S. Brown Explains Why Justice in ‘Measure for Measure’ Still Resonates Today

  4. Sep 14

    Johab Silva Issues Blunt Warning on AI Overload: “Stay Away From Technology”

    In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Johab Silva! About Johab Silva: Brazilian artist and arts educator who has lived in the Washington, D.C. region for 18 years. Based in Virginia, Silva works across AI, NFTs, VR and AR, generative media, animation, video projection, and 3D modeling to explore environmental and community issues connected to urban development. Johab reflects on how his practice shifted around 2017, after a major, material-focused exhibition at Transformer prompted him to investigate where his materials came from and how they connected to the environmental issues already present in his work. He also discusses how his education in the D.C. area, including earning the final Master of Arts in Education degree from the Corcoran before its acquisition by George Washington University, shaped his professional practice. We get into the hands-on nature of working with digital tools. Even when he is using a mouse and computer, Johab explains that he still needs to feel the work visually and remain deeply engaged with what he is making. His process can move through three or four different software programs, from sketching and 3D modeling to animation, rendering, and video projection—each stage adding another layer to the final piece. Johab also shares why he created New Media Workshop while teaching in the University of Maryland’s immersive media department. Beginning with YouTube tutorials for his students, the project grew out of his desire to make intimidating technologies more accessible to artists and people working in the humanities. Drawing from his own experience learning software independently during his MFA, he emphasizes patience, kindness, and side-by-side support as essential to helping artists enter new media. Be sure to follow Johab Silva and New Media Workshop to keep up with his work, educational resources, and future projects. Photo courtesy provided by subject The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

    Johab Silva Issues Blunt Warning on AI Overload: “Stay Away From Technology”

  5. Sep 9

    Glass Artist Dany Green on Chaos, Order, and Letting Things Break

    In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the returning guest is Dany Green! About Dany Green: Self-taught abstract glass artist based in Baltimore, Maryland. Working outside of traditional mosaic training, Green has developed an avant-garde technique she calls glass painting, building each piece shard by shard in response to light, chaos, and the intangible. Dany first joined the podcast several years ago, and in this conversation, she catches us up on where her practice and her life have taken her since then. She reintroduces her work for listeners who may have missed the first conversation, reflecting on how much she and her practice have grown. We get into the physical demands of her process, including a wrist injury from overuse, and why building in real rest has become essential to sustaining her work long term. Green also opens up about what it means to return to the DMV creative scene after time away, and the mix of excitement and uncertainty that comes with reconnecting to a community and asking whether she still belongs to that story. She also shares what's ahead, including her upcoming solo show, Cosmic Mirrors, at the Silva at the Art Island Gallery in Washington, D.C., as well as a virtual art workshop where she ships materials directly to participants so anyone can join from anywhere. Be sure to follow Dany Green on Instagram at @danyxart to keep up with her work and future projects. Photo courtesy of Mariah Miranda. Dany's Art Workshop Cosmic Mirrors Exhibition The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

    Glass Artist Dany Green on Chaos, Order, and Letting Things Break

  6. Sep 7

    DC-based photographer Farrah Skeiky on Photography, Grief, and Staying Connected to People

    In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the returning guest is Farrah Skeiky! About Farrah Skeiky: DC-area photographic artist with roughly 15 years of experience behind the camera. Her work centers on music and underground scenes, including hardcore punk and DC's alternative drag scene, alongside commercial work in restaurants and hospitality. Everything she creates, she says, is in pursuit of connection. In our conversation, Skeiky catches us up on where her work and her life have taken her since her last appearance on the podcast. She talks about her ongoing long-term project documenting grief, and how staying connected to her fellow human beings remains at the center of that work, even when the subject matter gets heavy. She also reflects on letting go of the urgency and pressure often tied to social media, encouraging artists to ask themselves what they're really trying to make and whether platforms like Instagram should have any say in that process. Be sure to follow Farrah Skeiky on Instagram at @reallyfarah to keep up with her work and future projects. Photo for image always on her mind. Photo courtesy of subject. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

    DC-based photographer Farrah Skeiky on Photography, Grief, and Staying Connected to People

  7. Aug 25

    Georgina Coka Treviño Reveals the Emotional Reason Behind Her New Newsletter: “I Cried So Much”

    In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Georgina Coka Treviño! About Coka Treviño: A cultural strategist and arts advisor originally from Monterrey, Mexico, now based in Austin, Texas. Over the past two decades, she has worked at the intersection of artists, institutions, and contemporary art, collaborating with organizations including the Texas Biennial, Zona Maco, and Untitled Art Fair. Her practice centers on language, communication, and connection, helping artists and organizations clarify how they move through the world and how they speak to the people they serve. In our conversation, Coka Treviño talks through leaving nonprofit work after a difficult stretch and taking the time to reexamine where her energy and attention truly belonged. That reflection led her toward cultural strategy and art advising, work she describes as helping make doing good, doing meaningful work more accessible, easier, and less costly for the people trying to do it. She also discusses her newsletter, Yes, Please, and Thank You, and what it was like committing early ideas to the page for the first time. She reflects on the difference between writing for information versus writing to inspire thinking, and how the newsletter has become a space for warmth, recommendations, and connection, more like running into an old friend than consuming content. Be sure to follow Georgina Coka Treviño on Instagram at @yes_pleaseandthankyou to keep up with her work, writing, and future projects.  Photo of subject courtesy of Cynthia Muñoz The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

    Georgina Coka Treviño Reveals the Emotional Reason Behind Her New Newsletter: “I Cried So Much”

  8. Aug 18

    Producer LuvJonez on Building Community Through Instrumental Hip-Hop

    In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is LuvJonez. About LuvJonez: Portland, Oregon–based instrumental hip hop producer and beat maker whose work weaves a nostalgic, down-tempo blend of musical influences drawn from his cultural roots, extensive travels, and artistic experiences. Beyond music production, he founded and runs A Beat Happening, a free, monthly, all-ages, inclusive BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+-centered music producer and DJ showcase built to connect artists across the city. In our conversation, LuvJonez talks about how time on the East Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and around Caribbean culture shaped a sound that doesn't sit neatly in one lane. He remembers going to beatmaker showcases in DC and New York before moving to Portland, watching producers just share their music with no ego and no competition — something that stuck with him long before he had any plans of his own. He talks about his approach to making beats as less about chasing a style and more about following a mood, using the process to decompress and work through his day. It's a "no style is my style" kind of thing, where the genre-blending isn't really a decision so much as a byproduct of everywhere he's lived and everything he's taken in along the way. He also gets into how A Beat Happening came together, noticing that rappers in Portland had plenty of platforms to perform, but producers and beat makers didn't really have anything built for them. The idea started small: approach a local record shop, no money involved, no tickets, just a chance for beat makers to get on stage. LuvJonez reflects on the show now reaching its nine-year anniversary, having hosted over eighty events and featured more than four hundred local Portland artists along the way. For the anniversary, he changed things up — rather than booking individual artists like usual, he invited other music collectives around the city to share one lineup. He talks about going into it unsure whether everyone would say yes, and how surprised he was when every single collective agreed, turning the night into a rare moment where the city's music community showed up for each other instead of competing. Be sure to follow LuvJonez on Instagram, Bandcamp, and YouTube to keep up with his music, and follow A Beat Happening on Instagram @abeathappening or at abeathappening.org for show archives, photos, and videos from over four hundred featured artists. Image courtesy of Subject.  The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore).  Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

    Producer LuvJonez on Building Community Through Instrumental Hip-Hop
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About

The Truth In This Art with Rob Lee is a Baltimore-based arts and culture podcast where independent journalist Rob Lee goes beyond the highlight reel to uncover the truth behind the work—the creative process, the choices, and the stories that shape the people who make it. This podcast features thoughtful conversations with emerging and established photographers, filmmakers, designers, musicians, chefs, writers, and other creative voices. Each episode explores how artists build sustainable practices, stay connected to their communities, and create work that reflects the world around them. More than interviews, these are stories about what it takes to build a creative life—the challenges, choices, and experiences that make art matter. For makers, culture lovers, and the creatively curious

Information

  • Creator
    Rob Lee
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    961
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2019 - 2026 Copyright of this audio content is owned by Contrarian Aquarian
  • Show Website
    The Truth In This Art