The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter

Rob Lee
  • 4.8 (165)
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The Truth In This Art with Rob Lee is a Baltimore-based artist podcast connecting arts, culture, and community across the East Coast and beyond. Sharing stories that matter through conversations with emerging and established artists — photographers, filmmakers, designers, musicians, chefs, writers, and more. Guests share their studio routines, how they build sustainable creative practices, their community roots, and the ideas and choices that shape their work. Independent journalist Rob Lee goes beyond the highlight reel to explore the creative process and the story behind the artist. For makers, culture lovers, and the creatively curious. New episodes, show notes, and transcripts available here.

  1. A Conversation with Zoë Poindexter

    7h ago

    A Conversation with Zoë Poindexter

    In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Zoë Poindexter! About Zoë Poindexter: Documentary filmmaker, producer, and director based in Washington, DC. She attended journalism graduate school at Georgetown University, where she continues to work as a documentary teacher's assistant, and specializes in nonfiction storytelling. In our conversation, Poindexter walks through her journey to A Revolution Called Love, a feature documentary inspired by Black Love Day—a holiday created in DC in the nineties by Mama Ayo Handy-Kendi. After living in DC for almost ten years without ever hearing about it, she called the founder and asked to attend. She showed up in purple—the colors of Black Love Day, which happens to be her favorite color—stayed for the entire seven-hour ceremony, and came back saying, "Yes, this needs to be made into a film." The documentary is structured around the holiday's five tenets: love for the creator, love for yourself, love for family, love for community, and love for the Black diaspora. We explore how she's weaving community voices throughout—filming interviews with Black Washingtonians defining what those tenets mean to them, with select responses used as voiceover narration in the feature. She shares her commitment to telling positive stories that aren't clichés—"We have way too many clichéd stories about Black people, Black communities. I often ask myself, why do we need this again? Who is this actually being made for?" She hopes the film sparks conversation around what we think love is—a deeper dialogue about intention, community, and making work that's truly for us. This conversation came about through a shared passion for storytelling—and the belief that the stories we tell should actually be made for us. Be sure to follow the project (@blacklovedocfilm on Instagram, Black Love Documentary Film on Facebook) and visit BlackLoveDocumentary.com to learn more and support the crowdfund. Both Defining Love: Voices of Black DC (a short oral history film funded in part by Humanities DC) and A Revolution Called Love are currently in production. 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 ★

    1h 16m
  2. Paloma Vianey | Painting Through "The Most Dangerous City in the World"

    3d ago

    Paloma Vianey | Painting Through "The Most Dangerous City in the World"

    In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Paloma Vianey! About Paloma Vianey: Interdisciplinary artist from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, now based in Washington, DC. She holds an MFA from Cornell University and has created large-scale public art installations along the US-Mexico border, with work exhibited at major museums and galleries internationally. She is primarily a painter and educator, teaching at the collegiate level. In our conversation, Vianey walks through her artistic journey from beginning to paint as a teenager when Juarez was labeled "the most dangerous city in the world," using art as catharsis during years of violence. She recounts completing a groundbreaking 72-foot-wide community-funded border bridge mural in 2018, depicting a girl blowing bubbles with each bubble representing emblematic images of Juarez including a tribute to femicide victims. We dig into her signature "Chamara" paintings—labor-intensive works where she hand-sews canvas jackets with industrial zippers over oil-painted urban landscapes of Juarez, creating what she calls "portraits of the city." One painting captured a pink house she'd see every time crossing the border—until one visit when she discovered it had been painted white. "That was a little heartbreaking for me," she shares, explaining how these works archive the changing memory of her hometown through a lens of resilience and hope. She shares insights on finding community in DC after moving six times in five years, her love for the U Street corridor (particularly Taqueria Xochi for authentic Mexican food), and how DC has been generous in giving her platforms to show her work. This conversation came about after I encountered Vianey's work at Umbrella Art Fair—a chance discovery that sparked a deeper dialogue about representation, resilience, and the power of challenging negative narratives through art. Be sure to follow Paloma Vianey (@palomavianey on Instagram) and visit palomavianey.com to keep up with her work and future projects. Her exhibition "Un Mismo Cielo Entre Washington y Juarez" is on display at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, DC until July 25th. 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 ★

    54 min
  3. Miles Johnson Interview - MJ On The Wall | Engineer Turned Self-Taught Painter

    Jul 2

    Miles Johnson Interview - MJ On The Wall | Engineer Turned Self-Taught Painter

    In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Miles Johnson! About Miles Johnson: Miles Johnson is a self-described "unclassically untrained oil painter" and mechanical engineer based in the DMV area. In over 4 years—starting with over a year on iPad before transitioning to oils 3 years ago—he has created numerous pieces. His late grandmother was a painter herself who created approximately 300 pieces and inspired his creative path. Miles first painted her portrait last summer for his solo show. Growing up, Miles would run cross-country to the Smithsonian, where Thomas Cole's four-part series "Voyage of Life" gave him a revelation: "I never thought that paintings were like almost manga panels." He also draws inspiration from Little Black Goat, incorporating anime-style faces into his work. Miles applies his engineering background with painting by creating bullet-point lists and maintaining over 200 pages of documentation in Google Docs. His research process studies figures like Fannie Lou Hamer—someone who was "born into sharecropping and ended up dying with a foundation that gave a million acres of land across Mississippi." Later we discussed Miles working on Common People Ain't Common, a 2025 undertaking. He made 100 pieces dedicated to celebrating the small moments in life and of the people he has observed.  His goal was to make this art affordable for the everyday people who supported him on his art journey. His aim is that these pieces will serve as a great investment for first-time collectors.  His Instagram handle @MJonthewall pays homage to Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall" album. Connect with Miles on Instagram and TikTok at @MJonthewall or visit MJonthewall.com. 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 ★

    1h 1m
  4. Bernard Feinsod | 17 Years Behind the Scenes: Vice Media to Going Solo

    Jun 29

    Bernard Feinsod | 17 Years Behind the Scenes: Vice Media to Going Solo

    In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Bernard Feinsod! About Bernard Feinsod: Editor, producer, writer, director, sound designer, and voice actor with over 17 years of experience in comedy, documentary, news, variety entertainment, and live events. A Baltimore-raised, Brooklyn-based creative who started at NBC's Today Show at 21, spent eight years at Vice Media, and is now navigating the independent content creator landscape. In our conversation, Feinsod talks through his 17-year journey in post-production—from the NBC mail room to creative producer, working with Sony, Field and Stream, and Huckberry across television, film, and new media. He connects his Baltimore DIY roots to his New York work and digs into how transitioning from Vice staffer to freelancer reshaped his creative approach. As he puts it, "it's easy to get complacent when you have like a day job that's holding you down so well." He recalls his time at Vice Media as "the best job I ever had," shares stories from editing Bret Raybould's comedy special, and discusses heading into a new self-starting phase. We get into the realities of working from a Brooklyn apartment edit suite for six years, the mass exodus from Vice, and how the last two years as an independent have pushed him toward more passion-driven, project-based creative work. Be sure to follow Bernard Feinsod to keep up with his work and future projects. Photo credit: Dan St. Ours 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 ★

    1h 17m
  5. Jacob Ming-Trent

    Jun 27

    Jacob Ming-Trent

    In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Jacob Ming-Trent! About Jacob Ming-Trent: Acclaimed performer, playwright, and one of American Theater's people to watch. A celebrated artist bringing his solo play, How Shakespeare Saved My Life, to Washington, DC's Folger Theater, and later to The Public Theater in New York with Red Bull producing. In our conversation, Ming-Trent walks through his journey from a rough childhood in an abusive home to moving to New York at seventeen—having been homeless the previous year and recently dropped out of high school. He recalls the pivotal moment Shakespeare entered his life: at six years old, his father, an English major, mentioned the Bard alongside Amiri Baraka. Years later, he accidentally walked into the wrong classroom and was asked to read a Shakespeare speech. "It felt like home to me," he says. "The words were big enough to give context to my emotions that were inside." He digs into the origins of How Shakespeare Saved My Life, a play that poured out of him unexpectedly while working on a different project. The solo show follows a kid with a tough childhood who discovers Shakespeare and tries to use it to navigate his world—sometimes it works, sometimes it fails. "It's a raucous ride, it's outrageous, it's funny, it's sad, and in the end we experience some black joy," Ming-Trent shares. We discuss his decision to leave theater at 35 after feeling treated like "an affirmative action hire," his pivot to television in LA, and how a call from director Saheem Ali brought him back to the stage to lead Shakespeare in the Park in Merry Wives—which ultimately led to writing this play. He reflects on the influence of figures like Biggie, Tupac, James Baldwin, and Basquiat—all artists trying to save their lives through their work. He also talks about audience interaction, the differences between performing in Berkeley and DC, and why vulnerability and fear are necessary parts of telling personal stories. Be sure to follow Jacob Ming-Trent and catch How Shakespeare Saved My Life, running until July 5th at Folger Theater (201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC). Tickets start at $20. The play is also published by Bloomsbury Publishing. After DC, the show heads to The Public Theater in New York. 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 ★

    52 min
  6. Solana Rostick

    Jun 25

    Solana Rostick

    In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Solana Rostick! About Solana Rostick: Registrar and Collections Manager at Clark Atlanta University Art Museum. An emerging museum professional dedicated to ensuring underrepresented groups are reflected within institutional collection holdings. Born in Atlanta, raised in Tampa, Florida, and recently completed her Master's in Museum Studies from the University of Florida. In our conversation, Rostick walks through her journey into the museum world—from early childhood memories of making art with shaving cream on windows at age three to being inspired by her father, one of the few Black professional photographers in the Tampa area. She recalls a pivotal museum visit where seeing Mickalene Thomas's " Ain't I a Woman " became a moment of revelation: "for the first time, I'm seeing myself represented in art." That moment sparked her decision to pursue art history and museum work. She digs into her graduate thesis on Gallery 32, a groundbreaking Black-owned art space run by Suzanne Jackson in 1960s Los Angeles during the Black Arts Movement. We discuss her first six months as Registrar at Clark Atlanta University Art Museum, the challenges of transitioning from "internship mode" to being the person colleagues turn to for direction, and practical steps for diversifying museum collections. As she puts it, representation matters: "whose voices are we missing from this collection?" She shares insights on podcast listening habits, the Atlanta art scene, the importance of in-person connections over social media, and why she believes real conversations—not just memes—build community. Be sure to follow Solana Rostick and Clark Atlanta University Art Museum (@CAUArtMuseum on Instagram) to keep up with her work and future projects. 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 ★

    57 min
  7. Artist Tyreek Morrison Discusses Fatherhood, Generational Legacy, and the Art of Collage

    Jun 21

    Artist Tyreek Morrison Discusses Fatherhood, Generational Legacy, and the Art of Collage

    In this episode of The Truth In This Art, I sit down with Tyreek Morrison! About Tyreek Morrison: Tyreek Morrison is an Atlanta-based collage artist who describes himself as "dad first, collage artist second." Born in New Jersey and raised in Atlanta, Morrison uses collage, found materials, paper, paint, and drawing to explore Black American life through memory, identity, and everyday experiences. His daughter just turned one, and this episode was recorded right before his first Father's Day. His father is an oil and acrylic painter, and Morrison grew up watching him work through the night blasting Wu-Tang Clan—those early memories shaped his understanding of what it means to be a working artist. We talk about how becoming a parent has completely transformed his relationship with time and work. On days with his daughter, he's fully present—no phone, no studio. But when she's not with him, his work schedule becomes insanely focused. He doesn't leave the studio. Even when he's not actively creating, he's studying. Morrison discusses the three-generation legacy of creativity in his family and how his work ethic was reinforced when he toured with Lil Wayne after high school, witnessing firsthand how relentless dedication translates to success. Morrison explains his philosophy that collage is parallel to Black American traditions of making something from scraps—whether soul food in the kitchen or sampling in hip-hop. He talks about his influences, including Barkley Hendricks and the artist behind Gorillaz, and how skateboarding played the biggest role in his creative thinking.  We also talk about the expectations placed on Black artists to constantly discuss identity and trauma, the competitive-yet-supportive creative energy between him and his father, why he views Instagram as "a big buffet of artists you could bite off of," and his upcoming projects including Atlanta Fine Art Fair with Mason Fine Art, Scope Miami, a solo exhibition in New York City in spring 2027, and his Future Fair baseball piece incorporating real dirt. Follow Tyreek Morrison on Instagram at money team to see his work. 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 ★

    1h 11m
  8. Maurice Scarlett III, Baltimore-Based Visual Artist, on Using Pain as Power and Re-Imagining Black Representation in Art

    Jun 18

    Maurice Scarlett III, Baltimore-Based Visual Artist, on Using Pain as Power and Re-Imagining Black Representation in Art

    In this episode of The Truth In This Art, I sit down with Maurice Scarlett III! About Maurice Scarlett III: Maurice Scarlett III is a Baltimore-based visual artist and multi-disciplinary creative named after his father from West Baltimore. He is of Jamaican heritage and specializes in figurative art characterized by darker, alluring tones that capture the essence of Black figures. His journey began in 2010 with photography—documenting friends who were musicians, DJs, and clothing designers right after graduating high school. In 2017, fashion designer Kirby Jean-Raymond of Pyer Moss discovered him on Instagram and invited him to collaborate for New York Fashion Week, a pivotal moment that pushed him to take painting seriously. We talk about his evolution from photography to painting and how his work has become more grounded, immersive, and soulful—"more of his essence in it." Scarlett discusses his use of dark tones rooted in life experiences, grief, and learning to use pain as power. He explains his philosophy of embracing imperfections, quoting Miles Davis: "If you mess up on a key, keep that because that can make the song better." Scarlett describes his approach to portraying Black people in a "re-imagined way"—highlighting them beyond repetitive narratives of politics, slavery, and trauma. He shares how Baltimore shows up in his work subconsciously, with subtle cues that come naturally from growing up in the city. He introduces the word he associates with Baltimore art: grit—the do-it-yourself mentality of creatives who carved their own lane without waiting for platforms. His advice for artists: "Find your own lane, carve your own lane and stay within it, but at the same time experiment and stay curious—doing what's true to you." We also talk about the importance of living life to create soulful work, the danger of comparing yourself to other artists on social media, learning to pace yourself as a creator, his studio on North Avenue, and why Baltimore is a "cool melting pot" slowly getting its recognition. Follow Maurice Scarlett III on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mauricescarlett to see his work, including recent pieces "Smokey" (2024), "The Scene" (2025), and "Wu-tang Is For The Children" (2025). 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 ★

    1h 1m
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The Truth In This Art with Rob Lee is a Baltimore-based artist podcast connecting arts, culture, and community across the East Coast and beyond. Sharing stories that matter through conversations with emerging and established artists — photographers, filmmakers, designers, musicians, chefs, writers, and more. Guests share their studio routines, how they build sustainable creative practices, their community roots, and the ideas and choices that shape their work. Independent journalist Rob Lee goes beyond the highlight reel to explore the creative process and the story behind the artist. For makers, culture lovers, and the creatively curious. New episodes, show notes, and transcripts available here.

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