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… Jeff Wall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:16
Jeff Wall 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.Wall—who was born in 1946 in Vancouver…
A brush with... Goshka Macuga [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:47
Goshka Macuga 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.Macuga was born in 1967 in Warsaw,…
A brush with... Sonia Boyce [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:40
Sonia Boyce 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. Boyce, a recent Golden Lion-winner…
Episode 100: A brush with... Marlene Dumas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:39
Episode 100: A brush with… Marlene DumasIn this, the 100th episode of A brush with…, Marlene Dumas talks to Ben Luke about her influences—from writers to film-makers and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experie…
A brush with… Robert Longo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:27
Robert Longo 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. Born in 1953 in Brooklyn, Longo wa…
A brush with... Rana Begum [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:01
Rana Begum 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.Begum was born in Bangladesh in 1977,…
A brush with... Arthur Jafa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:39
Arthur Jafa 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. Jafa 's work in film, sculpture and…
A brush with... Eva Rothschild [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:18
Eva Rothschild 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. Rothschild, born in Dublin in 19…
A brush with... Charline von Heyl [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:00
Charline von Heyl talks to Ben Luke about her influences—from writers to film-makers and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped her life and work. Von Heyl, born in 1960 in Mainz, Germany…
A brush with... Michael Craig-Martin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:43
Michael Craig-Martin talks to Ben Luke about his influences—from writers to film-makers and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped his life and work. Craig-Martin was born in Dublin in 19…