The Professional Artist Podcast: Art Business Transformations

The Professional Artist Association
  • 4.8 (42)
  • Visual Arts
  • Updated Biweekly

If you want to make it in the art world, talent is key - but so is mastering the business side. The Professional Artist Podcast is where fine artists and commerce meet. Co-hosts Miguel L. Mayher and Cristina Demiany guide visual artists through an audio gallery, exploring how to show and sell your art, land commissions, apply for artist grants, license your art, and much more. This is where your art career begins to grow. Miguel L. Mayher is the Director of Education at the Professional Artist Association. Previously, he worked with Google Arts & Culture, striking partnerships with national museums. He is also a Global Economic Symposium Young Fellow and a One Young World Ambassador. Cristina Demiany is a Senior Art Business Coach at the Professional Artist Association. She formerly served as Senior Program Manager at Sotheby’s Institute of Art and as Executive Director of the National Children’s Chorus. The Professional Artist Association is a global organization dedicated to providing real-world education for visual artists, including painters, sculptors, and fine art photographers.

  1. 10h ago

    The One Artist Skill AI Will Never Replace

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.--- What happens when the creative industry changes faster than your career plan? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, artist, illustrator, and educator Wouter Tulp is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Over several decades, Wouter has repeatedly adapted his career as the creative industry evolved. Rather than relying on one role or income source, he built a sustainable practice through illustration, education, personal work, and professional relationships. In this deep dive, Wouter shares how artists can protect their creative voice, build multiple income streams, and stay visible as AI and new technology reshape the industry. "Instead of learning a trick you can create a vision and you can tell a story, and I think that's something AI can never do.” — Wouter Tulp Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:38 Daily Gesture Drawing Practice 03:47 Pivoting the Career 08:54 AI and the Future of Creative Work 10:45 Balancing Client Work with Personal Painting 13:24 The Jazz Painting  14:49 What AI Can Never Replace  17:40 Native American Portrait Series 19:12 Letting Go of External Validation 21:00 Final thoughts Connect with Wouter Website: https://www.woutertulp.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woutertulp/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    The One Artist Skill AI Will Never Replace

  2. Jul 7

    How to Get Curators Interested in Your Art

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.--- Do curators discover artists… or do artists create the opportunities to be discovered? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, figurative painter Alia El-Bermani is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Alia's work has been exhibited in museums and galleries across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Rather than waiting for opportunities to find her, she built a career by intentionally connecting with curators, staying in touch over time, and creating professional relationships that led to long-term collaborations. In this deep dive, Alia shares what it actually takes to get on a curator's radar, why rejection is often the beginning of new opportunities, and how thoughtful outreach can grow into long-term professional relationships that shape a career. “You need to continually find curators that will help support you and put you in places that you never even dreamed of.” — Alia El-Bermani Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:38 The Futures We Behold: Dreaming Beyond the Patriarchy 03:24 Income Streams and Studio Structure 06:38 Playing the Long Game: Career Advice to Her Younger Self 07:54 How to Get a Curator Into Your Studio 10:09 The First Outreach Email 11:10 Vessel: Grief, Loss, and the 2019 Solo Show 14:36 Applying for Grants 17:14 Hear Me: Community and Peer Support 18:27 Final Advice Connect with Alia Website: https://alia-fineart.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliapainter/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    How to Get Curators Interested in Your Art

  3. Jun 30

    Building an Art Career Without Art School (What Actually Works)

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- What if the biggest advantage in building an art career has nothing to do with art school? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, geometric artist Nima Nabavi is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Nima spent 15 years building businesses before becoming a full-time artist. Without a formal art education, he applied entrepreneurial thinking to his creative practice… ultimately building a career that includes sold-out exhibitions, museum acquisitions, and large-scale public installations. In this deep dive, Nima shares the unexpected business decision that helped launch his career, why talent alone rarely creates momentum, and how understanding business fundamentals gave him an advantage when approaching galleries and collectors. This episode offers a practical perspective on building an art career from the ground up… and why the skills that create opportunity often extend far beyond the studio. “The very beginning was the hardest part. And so if you can do anything to extend the lifespan of your career in the very beginning, I think there's a big payoff down the line.” — Nima Nabavi Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:38 Roswell 2223: Scale and Creative Freedom 04:22 From E-Commerce to Art: Finding the Practice 08:24 Posting the Work and Getting the First Show 11:02 Signal: The Museum Projection Piece 14:44 Pricing Strategy for a Sold-Out First Show 21:25 Noon : Collaborative Work with Jason Seif 24:24 Top lessons Connect with Nima Website: https://www.nimanabavi.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nimanothome/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    Building an Art Career Without Art School (What Actually Works)

  4. Jun 23

    How Artists Build Long-Term Gallery Careers

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.-- How do artists build gallery relationships that last not just years… but decades? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Betsy Eby is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Betsy began her career painting in her basement while working day jobs.  Today, she is represented by galleries across the United States and in London, with exhibition schedules booked years in advance. Her career has been built through long-term gallery partnerships, consistent exhibitions, and a deep commitment to her studio practice. In this deep dive Betsy shares what keeps galleries invested in an artist over the long term, why relying on a single gallery is rarely enough to build a sustainable career, and how artists can grow the business side of their practice without compromising the work itself. “ I was painting in my basement, I held various day jobs … and then a gallery picked me up in Seattle. Right now my exhibitions schedule is booked until 2029.” — Betsy Eby Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:44 Isles: Encaustic Process 05:01 Music, Health Crisis, and the Work's Evolution 10:04 Building a Career in Seattle 12:57 Sustaining Long-Term Gallery Relationships 13:53 Chromatic Frequencies: The Painting Process 16:00 Why Museums Matter 17:00 Working with Multiple Galleries 19:39 Scriabin's Mystic Chord: Grief and the Dark Palette 22:35 When to Leave the Day Job 24:39 The Red Paintings and Evolving Past Success 25:20 Final advice Connect with Betsy Website: https://www.betsyeby.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betsyeby/?hl=es-la Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    How Artists Build Long-Term Gallery Careers

  5. Jun 16

    How to Build an Art Career Without Selling Out

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- Can you build a successful art career without compromising your artistic vision? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Vincent Desiderio is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Vincent is one of the most respected figurative painters of his generation.  His work is held in major collections including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum, yet his career was never built around chasing trends, market demands, or recognition. Instead, Vincent devoted himself to a different pursuit: making the strongest work he was capable of making. In this deep dive, Vincent shares why pursuing recognition can pull artists away from their best work, how he built a career without compromising his standards, and what he learned after achieving the success that many artists spend years chasing. “Enough people every day sell themselves out. They do exactly what will make them rich. I wouldn't jeopardize my one chance to actually do the best I can be as an artist.” — Vincent Desiderio Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:50 Cockaigne: Art History as Self-Portrait 04:48 Painting Against the Culture of Speed 09:21 Dead White: When a Painting Finds Itself 11:15 Breaking Into the Art World 13:48 Advice for Artists at Any Stage 17:06 Theseus: When the Concept Evolves 19:51 Closing Thoughts Connect with Vincent Website: https://www.vincent-desiderio.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vincent_desiderio/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    How to Build an Art Career Without Selling Out

  6. Jun 9

    It Takes 10 Years to Become an Artist (No One Tells You This)

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. What happens after art school when the exhibitions, opportunities, and recognition don't arrive as quickly as you expected? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Melanie Vote is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Based in New York City, Melanie has spent more than two decades building a career through residencies, grants, exhibitions, and a sustained commitment to her studio practice. Rather than following a path of early recognition or rapid success, her career has unfolded gradually through long-term growth. In this deep dive, Melanie shares what many artists discover after graduation but rarely talk about: the uncertainty of the years that follow. She reflects on the gap between expectations and reality, how a transformative residency reshaped her understanding of success, and why comparing your timeline to others can be one of the biggest obstacles to creative growth. ”There's a lot of emphasis on you get out of grad school, and then you have to just get your work into a gallery, and if you didn't, it's over. But my story wasn't like that” — Melanie Vote Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:38 Metamorphosis 04:22 Growing Up Around Makers 06:18 First Shows and the Years After Art School 09:30 The Wash House Series 11:54 Grants, Residencies, and the 10-Year Myth 16:30 How to Apply for Residencies 19:06 Bioluminous 21:49 Final Advice for Artists Connect with Melanie Website: https://melanievote.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melanievote/ Resources Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation: https://www.elizabethgreenshieldsfoundation.ca/ Pollock-Krasner Foundation: https://www.pkf.org/ Vermont Studio Center: https://vermontstudiocenter.org/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    It Takes 10 Years to Become an Artist (No One Tells You This)

  7. Jun 2

    Making Art With a Full-Time Job (The System That Works)

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.--- How do you build a serious art career when you have limited time to make art? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, realist painter Nancy Hollinghurst is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Based in the New York City area, Nancy is known for her vibrant still life paintings and has built an internationally recognized practice while balancing her own studio work with full-time employment in other artists’ studios. Rather than waiting for more free time, Nancy developed systems that allow her to create consistently, stay focused, and make meaningful progress toward long-term goals. Her approach is built on planning, prioritization, and understanding exactly what each day is working toward. In this deep dive, Nancy shares how she balances full-time work with a prolific studio practice, why planning your goals may matter more than planning your days, and how structuring your time intentionally can unlock creativity rather than restrict it. ”Whatever your biggest goal is, go one louder. If you're aiming for even bigger than you think you can even get, you're still going to go farther than you thought you were originally” — Nancy Hollinghurst Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:44 The Head Vase Series and Creative Process 04:36 Planning Systems and Production Schedules 05:46 Building Community Through Group Shows 06:39 A Magical Escape - Playing with Reality 08:01 Working at Jeff Koons, Amy Sherald studios and Colossal Media 11:03 Balancing Studio Work with Full-Time Employment 13:27 How to Start Planning Toward Bigger Goals 15:11 Engaging the Noose - A Self-Portrait 17:23 Student Debt and Alternative Education 19:17 Final Advice for Artists Connect with Nancy Website: https://www.nancyhollinghurst.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancyhollinghurst/ Resources Jeff Koons: https://www.jeffkoons.com/ Amy Sherald studios: https://www.hauserwirth.com/artists/11577-amy-sherald/ Colossal Media: https://www.colossalmedia.com/studios Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    Making Art With a Full-Time Job (The System That Works)

  8. May 26

    She Built a Global Art Career by Staying True to Her Style

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- How do you build a successful art business without losing the creative spark that made the work meaningful in the first place? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Belinda Nadwie is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Belinda is an Australian artist whose deeply personal paintings have attracted collectors around the world for more than a decade… while remaining completely rooted in her own voice and vision. Rather than chasing trends, she focused on developing a style that felt unmistakably hers and building a business structure that could support it long-term. In this deep dive, Belinda shares why finding your style changes everything about building an art career, how she balances commissions, galleries, and online sales without losing creative momentum, and why understanding your value is essential to sustaining your practice financially. ”If you really put your heart and soul into things, you really believe it and it's your passion, there's someone who will love it, so you don't need to worry.” — Belinda Nadwie Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:36 “Free and in Love” Intuition-Based Painting 03:41 Morning Routine and Visualization Practice 04:40 Starting Out as an Artist 06:18 Building an Online Presence 08:33 Multiple Income Streams 09:36 Managing Commissions 12:45 Business Systems and Processes 14:37 “If Only He Knew” Expanding the Practice 18:29 Gallery Relationships 19:27 “Still Life and Exuberance” painting 20:37 Key Lessons from 10 Years Connect with Belinda Website: https://belindanadwie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belindanadwieart/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    She Built a Global Art Career by Staying True to Her Style
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If you want to make it in the art world, talent is key - but so is mastering the business side. The Professional Artist Podcast is where fine artists and commerce meet. Co-hosts Miguel L. Mayher and Cristina Demiany guide visual artists through an audio gallery, exploring how to show and sell your art, land commissions, apply for artist grants, license your art, and much more. This is where your art career begins to grow. Miguel L. Mayher is the Director of Education at the Professional Artist Association. Previously, he worked with Google Arts & Culture, striking partnerships with national museums. He is also a Global Economic Symposium Young Fellow and a One Young World Ambassador. Cristina Demiany is a Senior Art Business Coach at the Professional Artist Association. She formerly served as Senior Program Manager at Sotheby’s Institute of Art and as Executive Director of the National Children’s Chorus. The Professional Artist Association is a global organization dedicated to providing real-world education for visual artists, including painters, sculptors, and fine art photographers.

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