A brush with… Huma Bhabha

A brush with… Huma Bhabha

Author: The Art Newspaper June 4, 2025 Duration: 56:25

Ben Luke talks to Huma Bhabha about her influences—from writers to musicians, film-makers and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped her life and work. Bhabha was born in 1962 in Karachi, Pakistan, and has been based in the US since 1981—she now lives in Poughkeepsie, New York state. She has achieved a profoundly individual figurative sculptural language, exploring the rich history of her medium while also looking to the future. Informed by ancient monuments, Modernist sculpture and an array of other artforms, Huma employs various sculptural traditions—from modelling with clay, to carving, to found-object assemblage—to create figures that are monumental yet vulnerable, otherworldly yet rooted in the vicissitudes of contemporary geopolitics. Alongside her sculptures, Huma has made similarly powerful work in two-dimensions, particularly in combinations of drawing and collage. She reflects on the early and ongoing impact of Rembrandt on her work, her fascination with Pablo Picasso and Robert Smithson, the influence of the writing of Amy Goodman and Roberto Bolaño and how she has responded to the films of Jean-Luc Godard and Jean Negulesco. She also gives insight into her life in the studio and answers our usual questions, including: what is art for?


Huma Bhabha—Encounters: Giacometti, Barbican, London, until 10 Aug; Huma Bhabha: Distant Star, 13 June-26 July.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Ever wondered what really makes an artist tick? A brush with... from The Art Newspaper goes beyond the finished work to explore the daily rhythms and deep inspirations that fuel the creative process. Each episode is a quiet, focused conversation between host Ben Luke and a leading international artist, structured around a set of deceptively simple questions. You’ll hear them discuss the historical and contemporary figures they look to, the museums they find themselves drawn back to repeatedly, and the books, music, and films that shape their thinking. Crucially, Luke invites them to describe the mundane magic of the studio-what actually happens there day to day. This approach reveals the person behind the practice in a way that feels intimate and genuine. Sponsored by Bloomberg Connects, the podcast builds a rich portrait of artistic life, one thoughtful dialogue at a time. It’s for anyone curious about the web of influences and habits that culminate in a piece of art, offering a rare glimpse into the minds that shape our visual culture. Tune in for conversations that are less about interrogation and more about discovery, where the answers often surprise even the artists themselves.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 135

A brush with...
Podcast Episodes
A brush with… Christopher Wool [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:12
Christopher Wool talks to Ben Luke about his influences—from writers to musicians, film-makers and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped their lives and work. Wool, who was born in Chica…
A brush with... Suzanne Jackson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:39
Suzanne Jackson talks to Ben Luke about her influences—from writers to musicians and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped her life and work. Jackson, who was born in 1944 in St. Louis,…
A brush with… Wolfgang Tillmans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:28
Wolfgang Tillmans talks to Ben Luke about his influences—from writers to musicians, film-makers and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped his life and work. Tillmans, born in Remscheid,…
A brush with… Jeffrey Gibson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:19
Jeffrey Gibson talks to Ben Luke, welcome to A brush with… about his influences—from writers to musicians, film-makers and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped his life and work.Gibson—…
A brush with… Teresita Fernández [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:08
Teresita Fernández talks to Ben Luke about her influences—from writers to musicians, film-makers and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped her life and work. Fernández, born in 1968 in M…
A brush with… Jane and Louise Wilson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:00
Jane and Louise Wilson talk to Ben Luke about their influences—from writers to musicians, film-makers and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped their lives and work. Jane and Louise Wils…
A brush with... Tai Shani [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:57
Tai Shani talks to Ben Luke about her influences—from writers to musicians, film-makers and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped her life and work.Shani makes sculpture and installation…
A brush with... Hew Locke [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:06
Hew Locke talks to Ben Luke about his influences—from writers to musicians, film-makers and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped his life and work. Locke was born in 1959 in Edinburgh,…
A brush with... Rudolf Stingel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:33
Rudolf Stingel talks to Ben Luke about his influences—from writers to musicians, film-makers and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped his life and work. Stingel was born in 1956 in Mera…
A brush with… Lubaina Himid [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:09
Lubaina Himid talks to Ben Luke about her influences—from writers to musicians, film-makers and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped her life and work. Himid was born 1954 in Zanzibar a…