Top 10 Essential Art Podcasts

The art world can sometimes feel inaccessible or overly academic. However, the rise of audio storytelling has democratized art education, bringing the voices of curators, critics, and the artists themselves directly to your ears.

Whether you are a creator looking for inspiration or an enthusiast wanting to learn the stories behind the canvas, these ten podcasts represent the best of the audio art world.

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1. Talk Art (visit site)

Hosted by actor Russell Tovey and gallerist Robert Diament, this is perhaps the most culturally pervasive art podcast today. It is energetic, accessible, and often hilarious.

• Format: Conversational interviews (approx. 60 mins).
• Why listen: They bridge the gap between pop culture and high art, featuring guests ranging from Sir Elton John and Radiohead’s Thom Yorke to leading contemporary painters.

2. The Great Women Artists (visit site)

Presented by art historian Katy Hessel, this podcast was born from an Instagram account questioning the lack of female representation in museums. It has become a vital archive of art history.

• Format: Deep-dive interviews and historical retrospectives.
• Why listen: It actively rewrites the canon of art history, introducing you to brilliant female artists who were overlooked by textbooks.

3. ArtCurious (visit site)

Jennifer Dasal creates a show for people who "don't like art history." She focuses on the strange, the funny, and the mysterious stories behind famous works.

• Format: Narrative storytelling.
• Why listen: Instead of dry lectures on brushstrokes, you get episodes about murders, rivalries, and whether the CIA used Abstract Expressionism as a weapon during the Cold War.

4. The Lonely Palette (visit site)

Creator Tamar Avishai picks one object per episode, interviews unsuspecting museum-goers about what they see, and then dives deep into the history and context of the piece.

• Format: Object-focused storytelling / Audio essay.
• Why listen: It mimics the experience of standing in a museum with a very knowledgeable friend. The sound design is immersive and beautiful.

5. The Week in Art (visit site)

Produced by The Art Newspaper, this is the industry standard for staying up to date. It covers exhibitions, auctions, and museum controversies.

• Format: News digest and interviews.
• Why listen: Essential for professionals. If a major painting is sold or a museum director is fired, you will hear the analysis here first.

6. A Brush With... (visit site)

Also from The Art Newspaper and hosted by Ben Luke, this show focuses entirely on the artist's process and their cultural influences.

• Format: Structured interview.
• Why listen: The guests are top-tier (e.g., Anish Kapoor, Tracey Emin). The "ultimate questions" segment reveals what music artists listen to while they work.

7. Dialogues: The David Zwirner Podcast (visit site)

Produced by the mega-gallery David Zwirner, this show pairs two creative minds—often an artist and a filmmaker, musician, or writer—for an unscripted conversation.

• Format: Paired conversation.
• Why listen: The pairings are often unexpected (like Jeff Koons talking to Luke Syson), resulting in spontaneous moments that standard interviews rarely capture.

8. Recording Artists (visit site)

A production of the Getty, this podcast utilizes their massive archives to play rare audio of historical artists, with commentary from contemporary creators.

• Format: Documentary / Archival.
• Why listen: It is rare to hear the actual voices of 20th-century legends. Season 1 focuses on feminism and art, while Season 2 explores intimacy and the avant-garde.

9. The Modern Art Notes Podcast (visit site)

Hosted by historian Tyler Green, this is a long-running, serious program that serves as a weekly archive of the most important artists and curators working today.

• Format: In-depth academic interview.
• Why listen: If you are researching a specific contemporary artist, there is a good chance Tyler Green has conducted the definitive interview with them.

10. Art History Babes (visit site)

Four friends with Master's degrees in Art History drink wine and discuss visual culture. It is informal, sometimes rowdy, but always educational.

• Format: Casual roundtable discussion.
• Why listen: It breaks down the pretension of the art world. It feels like discussing a lecture at the pub with your classmates.

The next time you are in the studio or on the train, plug in one of these shows. You might just find the spark for your next masterpiece.