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 CubeMeek Gichugu at Red Hill Art GalleryChalenge van Rampelberg at Urban AfricansGoya’s Black Paintings in the PradoOur podcast, A brush with… Julie MehretuDetailed report on the conservation of Titian’s Assumption of the Virgin in the Basilica dei Frari, VeniceThe National Gallery, LondonVelázquez’s Immaculate Conception at the National GalleryNgũgĩ wa Thiong’oChinua Achebe article in the New Yorker Yvonne Adhiambo OwuorArticle on the Spotify playlist for this and the other episodes of the first series of A brush with… including Michael’s musical inspirationsTitian’s Pietà in the Accademia, Venice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 questions you've always wanted to: who are the artists, historical and contemporary, they most admire? Which are the museums they return to? What are the books, music and other media that most inspire them? And what is art for, anyway?Excerpts featured in the trailer are from A brush with…Doris SalcedoKehinde WileyRoni HornCharles GainesDo Ho SuhRagnar Kjartansson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.