A brush with... Rashid Johnson

A brush with... Rashid Johnson

Author: The Art Newspaper August 26, 2020 Duration: 59:05
Ben Luke talks to Rashid Johnson about the cultural experiences that have had an impact on his life and work. They discuss his beginnings as a photographer, but how he quickly occupied a "post-medium space", working in everything from film to sculpture, installation and, as with the other artists in the first series, in painting. Rashid talks about his use of materials like black soap and shea butter, the role of books in his work, and the personal and political background to his recent body of Anxious works, culminating in the new Anxious Red paintings. Through the conversation, Rashid reveals the influence of cultural figures as diverse as the hip-hop star Rakim, writers including Toni Morrison and Paul Beatty, and artists as diverse as Roy DeCarava, Franz Kline, Jean Dubuffet and David Hammons. He also answers our regular questions about studio rituals, the one artwork he would choose to live with, and, finally, what is art for? This episode is sponsored by Cork Street Galleries.

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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
A brush with... Lorna Simpson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:17
Lorna Simpson 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. Simpson was born in Brooklyn, New…
A brush with... Danh Vo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:36
Danh Vo 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. Vo was born in 1975 in Bà Rja, Vietnam…
A brush with... Veronica Ryan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:17
Veronica Ryan 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.Ryan was born in 1956 in Plymouth on the Caribb…
A brush with... Catherine Opie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:11
Catherine Opie 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. Over more than three decades, Op…
A brush with... Louis Fratino [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:08
Louis Fratino 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. Fratino was born in 1993 in Annap…
A brush with... Olafur Eliasson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:59
Olafur Eliasson 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. Eliasson was born in 1967 in Co…
A brush with... Luc Tuymans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:05
Luc Tuymans 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. Tuymans, who was born in 1958 in Mo…
A brush with… Kader Attia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:45
Kader Attia 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. Attia was born in 1970 in Dugny, Fr…
A brush with... Mary Kelly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:54
Mary Kelly 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.Kelly was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, U…
A brush with... Peter Doig [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:59
Peter Doig 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. Doig, who was born in Edinburgh in 1…