A brush with... Michael Armitage

A brush with... Michael Armitage

Author: The Art Newspaper August 5, 2020 Duration: 47:32

In the inaugural episode of The Art Newspaper's podcast series of conversations with artists, host Ben Luke talks to Michael Armitage about his life and work through his cultural experiences: the artists, living and long gone, who he most admires; the art he has pinned to his studio wall; the museum that holds endless inspiration; the writers he returns to; the music he plays as he paints in the studio; the rituals of his daily practice. We learn about the unique fusion of East African and European culture at the heart of Armitage's paintings, explore the ways that the art of the past can infuse the present day; and ultimately ponder the wonderful, yet at times absurd, act of painting. This episode is sponsored by Cork Street Galleries.


Links for this episode. 


Michael Armitage at White Cube


Meek Gichugu at Red Hill Art Gallery


Chalenge van Rampelberg at Urban Africans


Goya’s Black Paintings in the Prado


Our podcast, A brush with… Julie Mehretu


Detailed report on the conservation of Titian’s Assumption of the Virgin in the Basilica dei Frari, Venice


The National Gallery, London


Velázquez’s Immaculate Conception at the National Gallery


Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o


Chinua Achebe article in the New Yorker 


Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor


Article on the Spotify playlist for this and the other episodes of the first series of A brush with… including Michael’s musical inspirations


Titian’s Pietà in the Accademia, Venice


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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
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Trailer: A brush with... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:30
Introducing A brush with... a podcast by The Art Newspaper. In each episode, the host Ben Luke has a conversation with a leading artist, exploring their life and work through their cultural experiences, asking the questi…