In this episode, I talk to artists Barbara Nitke, Natalya Kochak, Laurence Elle Groux (goes by Elle) to talk about how they used the Netvvrk membership to help them secure their Chelsea show Mind Body and Soul—a Chashama exhibition at 320 West 23rd Street in New York. We go through the process of how they met, how they got the show, the resources they needed to make the show, and now, what they can do to get the show more exposure. If you're an artist who either needs shows or has a show you wan...
Oct 19, 2023•34 min•Ep. 35
Let me guess. You have a million things to do to move your art career forward, but you're only one person, and you're struggling to find time in the studio, let alone do all the other tasks. You need one job, not four. In this episode of Art Problems, I discuss how to get the time you need in the studio. The solutions I have aren't sexy, and some of them aren't even that fun. But you know what is fun? TIME IN THE STUDIO. If they work, and they do, use these strategies. And if you want to do a de...
Oct 09, 2023•19 min•Ep. 34
Does anyone even read art criticism any more? For years, the prevailing wisdom told us that the art industry needs art criticism to grow. And yet, today, the industry is larger than ever; the number of professional art critics in the country is dwindling, and those writing reviews aren't having them read. So, do we need art criticism? Is art criticism itself the problem? Is it too positive to be taken seriously or too negative to qualify as anything more than clickbait? In this episode of Art Pr...
Oct 03, 2023•17 min•Ep. 33
In this podcast, Paddy Johnson discusses how you can participate in the art world at the level you want to participate when you are afraid that your work isn't at that level. What are the symptoms of self doubt? How can simple avoidance behaviors be mitigated? And how can more complex fear-driven avoidance be tackled? The answers to all that and more inside today's podcast. Relevant links: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-25-how-to-work-an-opening/id1591933339?i=1000561557530 https://pod...
Sep 26, 2023•14 min•Ep. 32
In this podcast, Paddy Johnson and artist William Powhida discuss the increasing cost of museums, art fairs, application fees, and travel impacting artists and how to beat them. You'll learn: Where to stay when visiting New York that won't cost $500 or more a night How to avoid a large fair entrance fee And how to lower the cost of museum fees
Sep 19, 2023•28 min•Ep. 31
The start of the fall season is upon us! And with all fall events, so too comes feelings of excitement, mixed with overwhelm and sometimes even dread. You might be asking yourself questions like, "How do I get my art seen when there is so little press to cover the five million shows now open across the country?" "How do I network at openings and fairs when no one wants to see my work unless I am the exhibiting artist?" "How do I attend these events without bankrupting myself in the process?" In ...
Sep 06, 2023•16 min•Ep. 30
In this episode, Paddy gives you the skinny on the Guggenheim Fellowship, one of the most prestigious awards for mid-career artists. The talk contains tips and strategies you won't find on their website, including knowing when to apply and how often. You won't find this information anywhere else, so have a listen. Even if you're not planning to apply, this episode will give you strategies for ALL grant applications. Relevant links: https://www.gf.org/...
Aug 29, 2023•12 min•Ep. 29
In this episode I talk with artist Eric LoPresti about defining success inside an industry that has few markers to gage it. LoPresti talks about his goals for his work, his approach to securing the opportunities he's gained, and a work strategy that identifies artists as either hunters or trappers. Listen to the podcast to learn more! Relevant links: http://www.ericlopresti.com/
Aug 22, 2023•39 min•Ep. 28
Welcome to the future where down is up, up is down, and email isn't just a spam storage service. In this podcast, I share the news that many artists aren't going to like—email is back, baby! In many ways, it never left us, but in this episode, I discuss the recent media shift to newsletters and why artists should be placing their focus there as well. If you haven't been building your mailing list, now is the time to start. It can transform your career. Relevant links: https://www.threads.net/@ez...
Aug 15, 2023•19 min•Ep. 27
A gallery with an incredible curatorial record, a publishing wing, a 90% sales split to the artist AND 5% resale royalties may sound like an artist's fantasy, but it exists! Enter Testudo, a new online-first gallery dedicated to inclusivity, transparency and security. In this episode of Art Problems, I speak with John Dennehy of Testudo, the gallery he co-founded with his partner Kirby Voigtman in 2021. We discuss the gallery model, its importance to artists and collectors, and the company's goa...
Aug 08, 2023•33 min•Ep. 26
In this episode, William Powhida joins Paddy Johnson to talk about the changes in the art world, since 2017. Powhida and Johnson focus on Upstate Art Weekend and a recent New Yorker profile of Larry Gagosian to examine these changes, and use Powhida's 2017 show, "After the Contemporary" at the Aldrich Museum of Art, which imagines the art world of the future, as a starting point. Relevant Links: The World According to Larry Gagosian . FT.com Upstate Art Weekend How Larry Gagosian Reshaped the Ar...
Aug 01, 2023•44 min•Ep. 25
Oh, this episode is a doozy! In it, Paddy discusses how Netvvrk artists secured nearly a million dollars in grant funding for artists in just two years. The breakdown is in this episode if you want to know what Netvvrk artists are doing to secure awards like the Guggenheim Foundation Grant, The Pollock Krasner, JMF funding, and more. The tally, currently at $755,000, represents the dedication of the artists who join Netvvrk and the strength of the membership. And if you want to know more about t...
Jul 12, 2023•22 min•Ep. 24
Does having a day job make you feel a little self-conscious about the status of your art career? If so, you're not alone. Prompted by a recent discussion on the VVrkshop Instagram, Paddy speaks with Catherine Haggarty, co-founder of NYC Crit Club, and an artist and Macon Reed, artist and Netvvrk member about the day job stigma for artists. We dive into subjects like: How class and privilege support the expectation that artists work full-time in the studio, starting in art school How acknowledgin...
Jul 03, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 23
In this episode, artist and critic William Powhida joins Paddy Johnson to discuss the context surrounding an expanded art fair cycle in New York. What once lasted a week now spans two, which, in this year's depressed market, amounted to a much longer timeline to lose money. We discuss Frieze, NADA, Future Fair, and Spring Break, and why the growing exclusiveness of the fairs hurts art. Relevant links: Hat tip to Michael Anthony Farley and Whitney Kimball for their summary of Spring Break in BMor...
Jun 05, 2023•54 min•Ep. 22
In this episode of Art Problems, I speak with Luke Blackadar lawyer, and Deputy Director of the Arts and Business Council, about the Supreme Court's Ruling against the Warhol Foundation in AWF vs Goldsmith. Amongst the areas of possible impact, we discuss appropriation artists who use screen printing, A.I. renderings using artist work, and copyright trolls. Listen up. This one's a great one. https://artsandbusinesscouncil.org/luke-blackadar/...
May 29, 2023•42 min•Ep. 21
We all talk a lot about artist statements, instagram, going to openings and getting studio visits as a means of securing shows, residencies and grants. The unspoken truth, though, is that if nobody wants to look at your art, the best artist statement in the world won't make a difference to your career. Here's the thing, though. Making better work requires research and feedback, all actions you need to take to develop all your support materials. A holistic approach to your practice will help you ...
May 05, 2023•11 min•Ep. 20
The second in my podcast series examining which support materials can get you seen in the art world and the exact process we use inside Netvvrk to create member assessments that allow you to hone those materials. In today's episode, I talk about the importance of your Instagram, and why you need to be on the platform to get your work seen. But I also talk about the social media recession we're currently experiencing and what to do about it. spoiler alert: It doesn't mean stay off social. It does...
May 04, 2023•18 min•Ep. 19
The first in my podcast series examining which support materials can get you seen in the art world and the exact process we use inside Netvvrk to create member assessments that allow you to hone those materials. In today's episode, I talk about the importance of your website, how the most common mistakes I see will keep curators and dealers from contacting you, and the simple steps you need to take to avoid those mistakes. Nothing I will discuss requires special skills or knowledge. And everythi...
May 03, 2023•17 min•Ep. 18
In today’s episode, I’m answering the question that plagues so many artists: How do you navigate all the scams and pay-to-play schemes targeting artists is not easy. They’re everywhere! And if you’re not careful, you can get sucked into something that seems fine on the surface. Today, I’m walking you through the scam taxonomy I established for these schemes, and how to identify them in any circumstance. We’re covering it all— instagram, email, pay-to-play, application fees, and publication and c...
Apr 10, 2023•30 min•Ep. 17
In this episode, Paddy builds on her latest piece in Hyperallergic, "How to Get A Public Art Commission," by diving into the details. In this tactical podcast, you'll learn everything you need to know about how to get public art commissions, from what language to avoid to where to find calls that don't require pre-existing experience. Relevant links: https://hyperallergic.com/809184/art-problems-how-do-i-get-a-public-art-commission/...
Mar 27, 2023•22 min•Ep. 16
In this episode, I talk about five ways artists can give up networking while building a larger network than ever. Sound too good to be true? It probably is, but you'll never know unless you tune in.
Mar 13, 2023•18 min•Ep. 15
Can you grow out of self-doubt? In today’s episode, I talk with Netvvrk member Julie Peppito about the trappings of childhood precociousness and how her negative art school experiences impacted her sense of self-worth and even her participation in the art world. And we talk about how she navigated out of negative experiences into a space of greater self-acceptance and artistic fulfillment. Julie Peppito The Camp Gallery Julie Peppito Biography Julie Peppito (b.1970, Tulsa, OK) combines multiple ...
Feb 26, 2023•58 min•Ep. 14
What All the Most Visible Artists Are Doing I spent the last two months reviewing artist work, CV, Instagram, and websites and found that the most visible artists do the same four things. On this episode of Art Problems , distill what I learned from doing over 250 artist assessments into these four actions you can take too. And if you like what you hear here, you’re really going to love my free masterclass How to Get Seen in the Art World, because I do an even deeper dive into how you can build ...
Feb 05, 2023•17 min•Ep. 13
Even when the A.I. chatbot ChatGPT gets everything wrong, it still sounds right. And that's some uncanny valley right there. In this episode of Art Problems, I talk about ChatGPT and the larger A.I. field, some of the ethical issues involved, and see just how much the bot knows about the art world. Spoiler alert: it still can't write your artist statement. Boo.
Jan 30, 2023•22 min•Ep. 12
It's goal-setting time! Welcome to 2023! The biggest problem I see artists need help with when setting 2023 goals is figuring out what to do to achieve them when so many opportunities seem to come randomly from friends and connections. I'm here to tell you it's possible! Join me as I walk through my top 5 steps to creating a 2023 visibility plan and what you need to do to ensure it leads to results. Plus, I share some inside tips that I will talk about in my live intensive workshop this Thursday...
Jan 08, 2023•23 min•Ep. 11
In this episode, artist William Powhida joins Paddy Johnson to discuss changes to social media and what we expect to see in 2023. Mentioned: Bluesky - a decentralized social network protocol that allows social media networks to interact. Mastodon - A twitter alternative Emily Weiner's Instagram Peer Review - A publication of reviews for artists by artists...
Jan 03, 2023•39 min•Ep. 10
What Affected Artists Most in 2022 Looking to take stock of what happened in 2022? Let’s do it. In this podcast I talk about changes with social media, art fairs and in person networking. I also review the impact of the economic downturn, the increased sway of art stars and art advisors, and how to capitalize on opportunities you don’t yet have.
Dec 13, 2022•21 min•Ep. 9
Miami Art Week, the largest art event in the United States, takes place every year during the first week of December. In honor of this event, Paddy Johnson breaks down how these fairs operate, why most of us find them soul-crushing, and how to make the most out of them, regardless of how they make us feel. LINKS: https://www.artbasel.com/miami-beach https://untitledartfairs.com/ https://www.newartdealers.org/programs/nada-miami-2022/viewing-rooms https://www.satellite-show.com/ Artist Run Club t...
Nov 30, 2022•25 min•Ep. 8
In this episode, I talk about the relationship between art and politics and why I think we need to think critically about the things we love, so that we can better understand and advocate for their value. If we can imagine a better world, we can create it.
Nov 13, 2022•10 min•Ep. 7
Why do artists feel so much fear and self doubt around money? I sat down with artist and accountant Hannah Cole to discuss how fear of money impacts what we do and how to reframe that fear into pleasurable experiences. And no, I’m not joking—in this episode we talk about how to enjoy the act of bookkeeping! Other topics include, how a lack of tax education in this country impacts artists and what you can do to, as she says, “find more twenty dollar bills in your pocket.” If you like this podcast...
Oct 30, 2022•53 min•Ep. 6
