14 MAY 2024 · A conversation with the legendary art critic, Roberta Smith. For nearly five decades, Roberta has been a guiding force in the art world, shaping conversations and perceptions with her incisive critiques and unparalleled insights. From her early days working alongside Donald Judd to her illustrious tenure at The New York Times, Roberta's journey through the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary art offers a unique perspective on the intersection of creativity, criticism, and culture. In the conversation, we delve into Roberta's remarkable career, exploring the challenges and triumphs of navigating the art world's intricacies, as well as gathering insights into how she crafts her acclaimed reviews and essays. In addition, we'll explore the dynamic interplay between art and life, as Roberta shares her experiences as a partner to fellow art critic Jerry Saltz. Together, they form a powerhouse couple whose passion for art reverberates through their personal and professional lives. https://www.instagram.com/robertasmithnyc/ https://www.nytimes.com/by/roberta-smith

7 MAY 2024 · A conversation with the iconic Jeffrey Deitch regarding an exciting 2022 exhibition at Deitch’s Los Angeles gallery that has been synthesized into a new book titled "Luncheons on the Grass," available now from Rizzoli Electa. The innovative exhibition revisited and reimagined Édouard Manet’s seminal work, Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe, a painting that shocked the 1863 Parisian art scene and is often heralded as the first modern painting. Our conversation explores how Deitch convinced over thirty of today’s most acclaimed painters (including Cecily Brown, Jeff Koons and Christina Quarles) to respond to Manet's painting by creating works that dialogue with this historic piece, each bringing contemporary perspectives to themes of modernism, realism, and societal depiction. The result not only reconsiders Manet’s impact on modern art but also examines the intersections of historical reverence and contemporary creativity. Jeffrey and I are also joined for the conversation by Viola Angiolini, Director of Research and Curatorial Projects at Jeffrey Deitch Gallery. https://www.rizzoliusa.com/book/9780847899876/ https://deitch.com/los-angeles/exhibitions/luncheon-on-the-grass

4 MAY 2024 · A conversation with artist Tara Donovan. Donovan is renowned for transforming everyday objects into breathtaking, organic installations. Through her meticulous accumulations of materials such as plastic cups, straws, and toothpicks, Donovan continues to delve into areas of transcendence and transformation by making the mundane magnificent. Her sculptures and installations not only invite viewers to reconsider the materials that populate their daily lives but also explore the complex interplay between natural forms and manufactured elements.  https://www.pacegallery.com/exhibitions/tara-donovan-stratagems/ https://www.pacegallery.com/artists/tara-donovan/

23 APR 2024 · A conversation with artist Tony Cragg. Known for his dynamic, often swirling forms that push the boundaries of material and movement, Cragg’s work is a testament to the endless possibilities of sculpture. His innovative use of materials, including bronze, steel, plywood, glass and a variety of synthetic compounds, allows him to explore and express complex forms that make reference to nature, science, and the intrinsic properties of the objects that surround us. The conversation touches on a variety of topics, including process, materials and inspirations. https://www.tony-cragg.com/ https://www.mariangoodman.com/artists/37-tony-cragg/

16 APR 2024 · A conversation with artist Rick Lowe. Renowned for his pioneering work with Project Row Houses in Houston, Lowe's creative endeavors have reshaped the landscape of contemporary art and in 2014 earned him a MacArthur Fellowship. In our conversation, we explore the concept of social sculpture and its ability to transcend traditional art boundaries to catalyze societal transformation. We also explore Lowe's personal evolution, including his celebrated return to painting and his current exhibit in Venice. https://www.ricklowe.com/ https://gagosian.com/artists/rick-lowe/ https://gagosian.com/news/museum-exhibitions/rick-lowe-the-arch-within-the-arc-museo-di-palazzo-grimani-venice/ https://projectrowhouses.org/ https://www.macfound.org/fellows/class-of-2014/rick-lowe

26 MAR 2024 · A conversation with author Mark Polizzotti about his new book Why Surrealism Matters which chronicles the philosophies and milestones of the iconic 20th century movement. In the conversation, Mark describes the lasting impact that the Surrealists’ world view has had on societies worldwide, as well as its ability to transform minds still today. https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300257090/why-surrealism-matters/ https://www.amazon.com/Why-Surrealism-Matters-ebook/dp/B0CRHDFF1R

19 MAR 2024 · A conversation with Katarina Feder, Vice President and Director Of Business Development at Artists Rights Society, an organization which has spent more than 35 years guiding artists through the often obscure realm of copyright and intellectual property matters by providing licensing expertise, legal support, advocacy, and educational outreach. ARS works on behalf of artists to manage the licensing of works of art for editorial and commercial purposes with museums, auction houses, scholars, publishers, galleries, ad agencies, production companies, and other educational and commercial entities. In addition to her role at ARS, Katarina is also Co-Founder and CEO of ARSNL which focuses on artist licensing for the blockchain. https://arsny.com/ https://arsnl.art/

12 MAR 2024 · A conversation with Lissa McClure, Executive Director of the Woodman Family Foundation about the life and work of Francesca Woodman and her organization’s new partnership with Gagosian Gallery to represent Woodman’s work beginning with an exhibition at Gagosian’s 555 West 24th Street location in New York which opens March 13. In the conversation, Lissa discusses Woodman’s prodigious work, her fondness for allegory, her fascination with surrealism, and the legacy that the organization is focused on preserving and growing. https://woodmanfoundation.org/ https://gagosian.com/exhibitions/2024/francesca-woodman/

8 MAR 2024 · A conversation with Frances Beatty, Managing Director of the Ray Johnson Estate. Known for his masterful use of collage, Johnson was a key figure in the ‘50s Pop Art scene, as well as a pioneer in the areas of conceptualism, performance art and mail art. Beatty takes time to discuss Ray Johnson’s colorful life and the impact that he had on the art icons and everyday people in his social network. No longer overlooked, Johnson has become a popular subject of academic research whose stature in the canon of 20th Century art history continues to grow.

27 FEB 2024 · A conversation with British artist Sarah Ball on the eve of her first solo show in New York at Stephen Friedman Gallery. The conversation explores the evolution of her images, the growing scale of her work, her refined surfaces and the inspirations for her ambiguously complicated portraits. The new exhibition, titled “Tilted”, features large scale paintings which explore notions of dandyism in the 21st century. https://www.stephenfriedman.com/exhibitions/184-sarah-ball-tilted-new-york/ https://www.sarah-ball.co.uk/