Jo's Art History Podcast

Jo McLaughlin
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Visual Arts
  • Updated Biweekly

Join art historian Jo McLaughlin as she delves into the wonderful world of art history in a fun and accessible way Jo’s aim is to begin breaking down the elitism which surrounds the subject of art history and believes in order to do so, it’s important to create a space where everyone from all walks of life have the opportunity to talk about art that is meaningful to them; as let’s face it, if you are passionate about something, you are going to be good at talking about it! Painting, sculpture, architecture, jewellery, ceramics, design – no subject is off-limits on Jo’s Art History Podcast.

  1. Sep 21

    Born To. Episode Five - Kas Williams

    Hello and welcome back to Jo’s Art History Podcast. This episode is part of a special five part series, produced in collaboration with British Art Fair and PensionBee, celebrating five artists who’ve found a second act in life through their creative practice. Their work will be shown as part of the Born To exhibition at British Art Fair this September. The Artist Kas Williams drew and painted constantly as a child, but was written off academically in the school system of the 1960s, and spent years in what she calls mundane office jobs. A chance conversation in her mid-twenties prompted her to try art college, something she describes as the first time she chose creativity over safety. Four years studying textiles changed her life, and in between periods of study she worked across an extraordinary range of jobs to keep her art alive. At 63 she returned to education to complete a Masters in Textiles, and now in her seventies, she describes her creative drive as as strong as ever. Featured works: The Random Flight of Bees and Gothic Bloom Website: www.kaswilliams.com Instagram: @kaswilliams PensionBee This episode’s PensionBee segment asks: why do we need to know about the gender pension gap? Thank you to our partner PensionBee, a leading online pension provider on a mission to build pension confidence so that everyone can enjoy a happy retirement. PensionBee’s exciting campaign ‘Born to Retire’ highlights how retirement isn’t the end of your life, it’s just the beginning. In celebration of this campaign, PensionBee is holding a feature exhibition ‘Born To’ at British Art Fair, showcasing what becomes possible when financial security gives people the freedom to pursue their passions. Curated by me, Jo McLaughlin, presenter of Jo’s Art History, the artists featured are all aged 50 and over, with practices that reflect longevity, reinvention, or sustained creative ambition. Discover the exhibition from 24 to 27 September at the Saatchi Gallery, London. PensionBee’s monthly podcast, The Pension Confident Podcast, aims to help listeners better understand the world of personal finance and pensions. Listen or watch the full episodes on YouTube. Their website and award-winning app help savers understand pensions with helpful tools like their Pension Calculator, blogs, and videos. With PensionBee, you can manage your pension savings online with ease and can combine and contribute from one place. Self-employed pension savers can even open a flexible pension plan, contributing as often or as little as they like. Take control of your retirement today with PensionBee. When investing, your money is at risk. Thank you for listening to Jo's Art History Podcast.

  2. Sep 14

    Born To. Episode Four - Richard Wilshire

    Hello and welcome back to Jo’s Art History Podcast. This episode is part of a special five part series, produced in collaboration with British Art Fair and PensionBee, celebrating five artists who’ve found a second act in life through their creative practice. Their work will be shown as part of the Born To exhibition at British Art Fair this September. The Artist Richard Wilshire studied Art and Design at university in the 1990s, but found himself pulled into the early digital media industry, designing websites, and gradually moving away from making into management and strategy. By the early 2020s he felt something was missing, and began making again quietly in his garden garage, working with offcuts of wood and found objects. This year Richard was shortlisted for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, a significant milestone for a practice that, until now, has existed mostly on his website and Instagram. This will be his first public showing. Featured works: Nature vs Nurture, Waveform, Autumn Oak & Four Letter Word Website: www.richardwilshire.com Instagram: @richardwilshire PensionBee This episode’s PensionBee segment asks: why do women need to engage with their pensions even more? Thank you to our partner PensionBee, a leading online pension provider on a mission to build pension confidence so that everyone can enjoy a happy retirement. PensionBee’s exciting campaign ‘Born to Retire’ highlights how retirement isn’t the end of your life, it’s just the beginning. In celebration of this campaign, PensionBee is holding a feature exhibition ‘Born To’ at British Art Fair, showcasing what becomes possible when financial security gives people the freedom to pursue their passions. Curated by me, Jo McLaughlin, presenter of Jo’s Art History, the artists featured are all aged 50 and over, with practices that reflect longevity, reinvention, or sustained creative ambition. Discover the exhibition from 24 to 27 September at the Saatchi Gallery, London. PensionBee’s monthly podcast, The Pension Confident Podcast, aims to help listeners better understand the world of personal finance and pensions. Listen or watch the full episodes on YouTube. Their website and award-winning app help savers understand pensions with helpful tools like their Pension Calculator, blogs, and videos. With PensionBee, you can manage your pension savings online with ease and can combine and contribute from one place. Self-employed pension savers can even open a flexible pension plan, contributing as often or as little as they like. Visit PensionBee to feel inspired. When investing, your money is at risk. Thank you for listening to Jo's Art History Podcast.

  3. Sep 7

    Born To. Episode Three - Myrna Mitchell

    Hello and welcome back to Jo’s Art History Podcast. This episode is part of a special five part series, produced in collaboration with British Art Fair and PensionBee, celebrating five artists who’ve found a second act in life through their creative practice. Their work will be shown as part of the Born To exhibition at British Art Fair this September in London. The artist Myrna Mitchell, who works under the name Myrna Tracy Ceramics, spent 20 years living in the UAE, returning to the UK in 2011 with a young family. A pottery class she joined as a hobby soon became a life changing new direction. In 2019 she returned to education as a mature student, completing an Art Foundation and then a Creative Arts Practice degree at Bath Spa University, graduating with First Class Honours in 2022 and receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award. Since then she’s been selected for the British Ceramics Biennial Fresh, the John Ruskin Prize, Sotheby’s Secret Ceramics, and London Craft Week. Her work explores identity, belonging, and the stories objects carry, rooted in her own experience of displacement and return. Featured works: Kiss and Dancing for Joy Website: www.myrnatracyceramics.com Instagram: @myrnatracyceramics This episode’s PensionBee segment asks: why do the self-employed need to get their pension game sorted? Thank you to our partner PensionBee, a leading online pension provider on a mission to build pension confidence so that everyone can enjoy a happy retirement. PensionBee’s exciting campaign ‘Born to Retire’ highlights how retirement isn’t the end of your life, it’s just the beginning. In celebration of this campaign, PensionBee is holding a feature exhibition ‘Born To’ at British Art Fair, showcasing what becomes possible when financial security gives people the freedom to pursue their passions. Curated by me, Jo McLaughlin, presenter of Jo’s Art History, the artists featured are all aged 50 and over, with practices that reflect longevity, reinvention, or sustained creative ambition. Discover the exhibition from 24 to 27 September at the Saatchi Gallery, London. PensionBee’s monthly podcast, The Pension Confident Podcast, aims to help listeners better understand the world of personal finance and pensions. Listen or watch the full episodes on YouTube. Their website and award-winning app help savers understand pensions with helpful tools like their Pension Calculator, blogs, and videos. With PensionBee, you can manage your pension savings online with ease and can combine and contribute from one place. Self-employed pension savers can even open a flexible pension plan, contributing as often or as little as they like. Take control of your retirement today with PensionBee. When investing, your money is at risk.

  4. Aug 31

    Born To. Episode Two: Mike Kelly

    Hello and welcome back to Jo’s Art History Podcast. This episode is part of a special five part series, produced in collaboration with British Art Fair and PensionBee, celebrating five artists who’ve found a second act in life through their creative practice. Their work will be shown as part of the Born To exhibition at British Art Fair this September. The Artist Mike Kelly spent a long career in corporate consulting, with photography always running in the background. After seeing his daughter fall in love with her time studying at Manchester Metropolitan University, Mike enrolled in the same MA in Photography, starting the course the same year she finished it. He went in without expectations, and has since been amazed by how warm and inclusive he’s found the environment despite his age. In a short space of time he’s picked up awards, commissions including a large scale piece for Manchester School of Art, solo exhibitions, and a show at the Mall Galleries in London. He even sold his first piece of artwork to a curator during the application process for this very exhibition. Featured works Threshold V & Threshold II, both UV cured photographic prints on GF Smith Pike Website: www.mikeakelly.com Instagram: @mikeakelly.work PensionBee This episode’s PensionBee segment asks: Why do you need to consolidate your old pensions? Thank you to our partner PensionBee, a leading online pension provider on a mission to build pension confidence so that everyone can enjoy a happy retirement. PensionBee’s exciting campaign ‘Born to Retire’ highlights how retirement isn’t the end of your life, it’s just the beginning. In celebration of this campaign, PensionBee is holding a feature exhibition ‘Born To’ at British Art Fair, showcasing what becomes possible when financial security gives people the freedom to pursue their passions. Curated by me, Jo McLaughlin, presenter of Jo’s Art History, the artists featured are all aged 50 and over, with practices that reflect longevity, reinvention, or sustained creative ambition. Discover the exhibition from 24 to 27 September at the Saatchi Gallery, London. PensionBee’s monthly podcast, The Pension Confident Podcast, aims to help listeners better understand the world of personal finance and pensions. Listen or watch the full episodes on YouTube. Their website and award-winning app help savers understand pensions with helpful tools like their Pension Calculator, blogs, and videos. With PensionBee, you can manage your pension savings online with ease and can combine and contribute from one place. Self-employed pension savers can even open a flexible pension plan, contributing as often or as little as they like. Find out how PensionBee can help you retire well. When investing, your money is at risk. Thank you for listening & supporting Jo's Art History Podcast

  5. Aug 24

    Born To. Episode One: Annie Luke Turner

    Hello and welcome back to Jo’s Art History Podcast! This episode is part of a special five part series, produced in collaboration with British Art Fair and PensionBee, celebrating five artists who’ve found a second act in life through their creative practice. Their work will be shown as part of the Born To exhibition at British Art Fair this September. The Artist: Annie Luke Turner trained as a nurse and spent years juggling work with raising three neurodiverse children. She started an Art Foundation when her youngest was just three, but it wasn’t until she left her marriage at 52, and later left her job after Covid, that she was able to focus fully on her own art. She describes the last six years as everything finally coming together, and she now paints every day. Annie recently won the Abstract Women in Art Prize, has a solo show coming up at Hampstead School of Art, and a residency lined up. This will be her first time showing her work in London. Featured works: 'Staffa' and 'Corryvreckan 1' Connect with the Artist: www.annieluketurnerartist.com | Instagram: @annieluketurnerartist PensionBee This episode’s PensionBee segment asks: Why do I need a pension? Thank you to our partner PensionBee, a leading online pension provider on a mission to build pension confidence so that everyone can enjoy a happy retirement. PensionBee’s exciting campaign ‘Born to Retire’ highlights how retirement isn’t the end of your life, it’s just the beginning. In celebration of this campaign, PensionBee is holding a feature exhibition ‘Born To’ at British Art Fair, showcasing what becomes possible when financial security gives people the freedom to pursue their passions. Curated by me, Jo McLaughlin, presenter of Jo’s Art History, the artists featured are all aged 50 and over, with practices that reflect longevity, reinvention, or sustained creative ambition. Discover the exhibition from 24 to 27 September at the Saatchi Gallery, London. PensionBee’s monthly podcast, The Pension Confident Podcast, aims to help listeners better understand the world of personal finance and pensions. Listen or watch the full episodes on YouTube. Their website and award-winning app help savers understand pensions with helpful tools like their Pension Calculator, blogs, and videos. With PensionBee, you can manage your pension savings online with ease and can combine and contribute from one place. Self-employed pension savers can even open a flexible pension plan, contributing as often or as little as they like. Find out how PensionBee can help you retire well. When investing, your money is at risk. Thank you for listening to Jo's Art History Podcast

  6. Season 5 Trailer

    Announcing: Born to — A Special Series in Collaboration with British Art Fair & PensionBee

    WE ARE BACK and this time Jo's Art History Podcast is teaming up with British Art Fair and PensionBee for a special five part series, running weekly from August 25th, in the lead up to British Art Fair 2026. This series shines a light on second acts. Earlier this year, an open call went out and received over 500 entries from people who'd come to their creative practice later in life, whether after raising a family, after a completely different career, or simply once time finally allowed it. Five artists were shortlisted from those entries, and across this series, host Jo McLaughlin sits down with each of them to hear their story in their own words. Their work will be shown as part of Born To, an exhibition at British Art Fair, running 24 to 27 September 2026 at Saatchi Gallery, London, alongside a selection of established modern and contemporary British artists. Each episode also features a special sponsored segment with Maike Currie, VP Personal Finance at PensionBee, as part of their Born to Retire campaign, helping demystify pensions along the way. New episodes drop weekly, so follow or subscribe to Jo's Art History Podcast to catch every conversation. In this series: Five artists. Five second acts. One exhibition proving it's never too late to begin. Presented in collaboration with British Art Fair and PensionBee. PensionBee Thank you to our partner ⁠PensionBee⁠, a leading online pension provider on a mission to build pension confidence so that everyone can enjoy a happy retirement. PensionBee’s exciting campaign ‘Born to Retire’ highlights how retirement isn’t the end of your life, it’s just the beginning. In celebration of this campaign, PensionBee is holding a feature exhibition ‘Born To’ at ⁠British Art Fair⁠, showcasing what becomes possible when financial security gives people the freedom to pursue their passions. Curated by me, Jo McLaughlin, presenter of Jo’s Art History, the artists featured are all aged 50 and over, with practices that reflect longevity, reinvention, or sustained creative ambition. Discover ⁠the exhibition⁠ from 24 to 27 September at the Saatchi Gallery, London. ⁠PensionBee⁠’s monthly podcast, ⁠The Pension Confident Podcast⁠, aims to help listeners better understand the world of personal finance and pensions. ⁠Listen⁠ or ⁠watch the full episodes⁠ on YouTube. Their website and award-winning app help savers understand pensions with helpful tools like their ⁠Pension Calculator⁠, ⁠blogs⁠, and ⁠videos⁠. With ⁠PensionBee⁠, you can manage your pension savings online with ease and can combine and contribute from one place. ⁠Self-employed⁠ pension savers can even open a flexible pension plan, contributing as often or as little as they like. Find out how ⁠PensionBee⁠ can help you retire well. When investing, your money is at risk. Thank you for listening to Jo's Art History Podcast

  7. 10/28/2025

    The History of Art (In One Sentence) with Verity Babbs

    In this episode of Jo’s Art History Podcast, Jo McLaughlin is thrilled to welcome back to the podcast art historian, writer and comedian Verity Babbs, who is here to talk to me about her brand-new book, The History of Art (In One Sentence). The book’s synopsis is as follows: What’s so special about Dutch paintings of cheese? When does Art Nouveau become Art Deco? Why were the Pre-Raphaelites obsessed with gingers? Who thought it was a good idea to put a big dead shark on display? In this book, comedian and art historian Verity Babbs journeys through 50 key art movements across history, answering 10 questions for each in just one sentence. Within these fascinating, and sometimes hilarious, nuggets of art wisdom, Verity covers everything from who inspired the movement and its impact on history, to the key artists and artworks for each. Spanning 500 years – from the Renaissance to the Young British Artists – this wonderfully illustrated book is for anyone who wants to learn more about art and also have a little giggle along the way. Guest Details: Verity Babbs - UK-based  Find Verity online: Website: https://www.veritybabbs.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veritybabbsart Host Details: Jo McLaughlin is the creator and host of Jo’s Art History Podcast, an art historian, writer, and passionate storyteller dedicated to making art history accessible and engaging for all. Find Jo online: Website: ⁠www.josarthistory.com⁠ Instagram: @josarthistory LinkedIn: Jo McLaughlin Resources & References: You can purchase the book from all good retailers.  Support the Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and rating on whatever platform you are listening on. Your support helps us reach more art lovers! Follow Jo’s Art History Podcast for more episodes on Itunes, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. Let’s keep the conversation going!  Share your thoughts on social media using #JoArtHistoryPod and tag us @josarthistory. If you would like to purchase a book from my Amazon wish list as a gift to say thank you and support a future episode, please do so here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/FZ1XZKILJJCJ?ref_=wl_share Thanks for listening! 🎨✨

  8. 10/13/2025

    Labyrinths in Art History with Rebecca Odessa

    In this episode of Jo’s Art History Podcast, Jo McLaughlin is joined by Rebecca Odessa, to discuss the artist Labyrinths in Art History. Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a history buff, or just curious about the stories behind the masterpieces of the past, this episode is packed with fascinating discussions and fresh perspectives. Guest Details: Rebecca Odessa - Artist based on the Isle of Man Find Rebecca online: Website: http://www.rebeccaodessa.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaodessa Host Details: Jo McLaughlin is the creator and host of Jo’s Art History Podcast, an art historian, writer, and passionate storyteller dedicated to making art history accessible and engaging for all. Find Jo online: Website: www.josarthistory.com Instagram: @josarthistory LinkedIn: Jo McLaughlin Resources & References: Chartres Cathedral https://www.cathedrale-chartres.org/en/cathedrale/monument/the-labyrinth/   Richard Long https://teaching.ellenmueller.com/walking/2022/04/03/richard-long-connemara-sculpture-1971/ Mark Wallinger  http://art.tfl.gov.uk/labyrinth/about/ https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=d5be2ea9143ccd98&sxsrf=AHTn8zrbft7LV9-w76Q7fgPfGaTykD5-DQ:1740228694670&q=labyrinth+in+art+history&udm=7&fbs=ABzOT_CWdhQLP1FcmU5B0fn3xuWpA-dk4wpBWOGsoR7DG5zJBmQC-et4UnwhHFEfTDjtrGg-xS-t736QShNPCBz-Y1jy5zM-6m-dNEt6mgM5KncKVyeorK3o4Z5JjHDOV1aCn6qJ51ZX5jNkVsPw8INJ0sdYjPu1AEJVpIIgUVbVsQZQlk749FqdM1eg8ROI4Wm1Vig0DRFm&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwilyLGJqdeLAxVDWkEAHR7rARAQtKgLegQIEBAB&biw=1041&bih=920&dpr=1.6#fpstate=ive&ip=1&vld=cid:c40c7db0,vid:NFsski0UyJk,st:0 Support the Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review and rating on whatever platform you are listening on. Your support helps us reach more art lovers! Follow Jo’s Art History Podcast for more episodes on Itunes, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. Let’s keep the conversation going! Share your thoughts on social media using #JoArtHistoryPod and tag us @josarthistory. If you would like to purchase a book from my Amazon wish list as a gift to say thank you and support a future episode, please do so here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/FZ1XZKILJJCJ?ref_=wl_share Thanks for listening! 🎨✨

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About

Join art historian Jo McLaughlin as she delves into the wonderful world of art history in a fun and accessible way Jo’s aim is to begin breaking down the elitism which surrounds the subject of art history and believes in order to do so, it’s important to create a space where everyone from all walks of life have the opportunity to talk about art that is meaningful to them; as let’s face it, if you are passionate about something, you are going to be good at talking about it! Painting, sculpture, architecture, jewellery, ceramics, design – no subject is off-limits on Jo’s Art History Podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    Jo McLaughlin
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    126
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jo McLaughlin
  • Show Website
    Jo's Art History Podcast