Of course we're talking about the recent theft at the Louvre Museum in Paris, which occurred on October 19th and promptly made news headlines worldwide. Four masked and hooded thieves took more than $100 in jewels before exiting the museum (in broad daylight) and speeding away on motor scooters. Amid the many articles and written reports concerning this theft that appeared just after it happened, one piece that caught out eyes was "The Louvre Heist Was a Colonial Wake-Up Call" (from Hyperallergic, the arts/cultural website). Our guest on Museum Confidential is the author of this piece, Dr. Emiline Smith, a Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Glasgow, Scotland (UK).
Museum Confidential
Ever wonder what really happens after the museum doors close for the night? Museum Confidential, hosted by Jeff Martin, pulls back the velvet rope to explore the hidden stories, unexpected challenges, and fascinating people that make museums tick. This isn't a dry lecture on art history; it's a candid conversation from the heart of the institution itself. Produced by the Philbrook Museum of Art in partnership with Public Radio Tulsa, each episode feels like a private tour, revealing the complex decisions behind exhibitions, the peculiarities of caring for priceless objects, and the ongoing debates about what museums are and who they serve. You'll hear from curators, conservators, registrars, and even security staff-the voices often unheard by the public. The result is a surprisingly human and sometimes humorous look at the effort to preserve and present culture. Tune in every other week for this unique podcast that demystifies the inner workings of these cultural cornerstones, proving there's always more to the story than what's hanging on the wall.
Podcast Episodes
Barbara Kruger: It's Not a Retrospective
Barbara Kruger's images and texts have been a consistent source of cultural commentary for decades. Her new exhibition, THINKING OF YOU. I MEAN ME. I MEAN YOU, dominates several spaces in the Art Institute of Chicago. On…
Van Gogh: The Fanboy
Few artists have work as instantly recognizable as Vincent van Gogh. But as original and unique as it seems, the work stands on the shoulders of many others. That's exactly what Pulitzer Prize-winning author and acclaime…
Beyond the "Bad Art Friend"
We hear the word "viral" all the time. But very few things actually go viral. A recent exception is "Who Is the Bad Art Friend?," a nearly ten-thousand-word feature in The New York Times by Robert Kolker. The story ident…
Judy Chicago
On the occasion of her first career retrospective, we sit down with legendary artist/feminist Judy Chicago. The exhibition , now on view at San Francisco's de Young Museum, includes approximately 130 paintings, prints, d…
John Lurie
Many people have been incorrectly hailed as a "Renaissance Man," but it perfectly describes Mr. John Lurie. Music, acting, painting, writing, he's done it all. With a long-gestating memoir just out and a second season of…
The Smithsonian Goes Hip-Hop
The long-awaited Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap just dropped. The set includes 129 tracks on 9 discs and a hefty 300–page book with original design by Cey Adams, acclaimed artist and founding creative director…
The Outsiders?
What is an "outsider artist?" Do we even call them that anymore? In recent years the term shifted to "self-taught artist." Sounds different. But does it mean the same thing? On this episode we chat with Dr. Katherine Jen…
Teaser: "It's Confidential"
The secret's out! Season 6 of Museum Confidential starts Friday 9/3! Enjoy this early listen to our new season theme song performed by Oklahoma's own Broncho. Written by Broncho's Ryan Lindsey and MC Host Jeff Martin.
Greenwood Rising
On the season finale of Museum Confidential 2021 we sit down with Philbrook President/CEO Scott Stulen and Phil Armstrong, Project Director for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission. Phil has been leading th…
The Legacy of Survival
Through the use of artificial intelligence and augmented reality, the new exhibit, THE LEGACY OF SURVIVAL, allows anyone to interact with and interview the centenarian survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. This epis…
