

Who Arted: Weekly Art History for All Ages
Kyle Wood
Who Arted is art history and art education for everyone. While most art history podcasts focus on the traditional "fine art" we see in museums around the world, Who ARTed celebrates art in all of its forms and in terms anyone can understand. Each episode tells the story of a different artist and artwork including the traditional big names like Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol along with lesser-known artists working in such diverse media as video game design, dance, the culinary arts, and more. Who Arted is written and produced by an art teacher with the goal of creating a classroom resource that makes art history fun and accessible to everyone. Whether you are cramming for your AP Art History exam, trying to learn a few facts so you can sound smart at fashionable dinner parties, or just looking to hear something with a more positive tone, we’ve got you covered with episodes every Monday and Friday.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 8, 2025 • 11min
Amrita Sher-Gil | Bride's Toilet (encore)
Amrita Sher-Gil, born in 1913 to a Sikh aristocrat and a Hungarian-Jewish opera singer, was a trailblazing artist who blended European and Indian influences. After studying art in Paris and achieving early success at the Grand Salon, she returned to India in 1934. Though initially met with resistance due to her modern style, Sher-Gil's evocative portrayals of Indian life and her unique fusion of cultural traditions ultimately garnered critical acclaim. Her paintings, like the renowned "Bride's Toilet," showcased her bold colors, expressive figures, and insightful observations. Despite her untimely death in 1941, Sher-Gil's legacy as a pioneer of modern Indian art endures, inspiring generations of artists and solidifying her place as one of India's most celebrated creative figures.
Related episodes:
Paul Cezanne | Mont Sainte-Victoire
Charuvi Agrawal | 26,000 Bells of Hanuman
Shiva Nataraja | Shiva Lord of the Dance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 4, 2025 • 16min
David Hockney | A Bigger Splash
Explore the life and work of David Hockney, one of the most influential British artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Born in Yorkshire in 1937, Hockney's rebellious spirit and prodigious talent were evident from his early days at the Royal College of Art. His move to Los Angeles in 1964 marked a pivotal moment, as he swapped the grey skies of England for the bright, constant sunlight of California. This new environment inspired his most iconic motifs, including pristine swimming pools, modernist architecture, and a vibrant, flat style perfectly captured with new acrylic paints. Hockney became celebrated for his psychologically rich double portraits, his innovative photographic collages known as "joiners," and in later years, a passionate return to painting the English landscape of his youth.
A deep dive into Hockney's 1967 masterpiece, A Bigger Splash, reveals his genius for capturing time, motion, and atmosphere. The large 8 foot by 8 foot painting juxtaposes a serene, California setting with the chaotic, fleeting explosion of water from an unseen diver. While often associated with Pop Art, Hockney's work is deeply personal, celebrating the joy of looking and challenging the conventions of perception. From paintbrushes to the iPad, Hockney has remained a relentless innovator, solidifying his status as a modern master.
Check out my other podcasts Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab
Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 1, 2025 • 11min
Edvard Munch | The Scream (encore)
As a young adult, Edvard Munch studied art. He was influenced early on by the Impressionists, but he really came into his own when he began using painting as a way of expressing his inner struggles. He is best known today for his expressionistic works like The Scream. Interestingly The Scream is not about a person screaming. The tormented figure in the painting is actually suffering an anxiety attack and overwhelmed by the din or the noise of the world around him. The specific look of the figure may have actually been based on a Peruvian mummy that was on display in the World’s Fair in Paris in 1889.
Check out my other podcasts Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab
Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 28, 2025 • 46min
I'm Not Your Muse: Uncovering the Overshadowed Brilliance of Women Artists & Visionaries
My guests this week were the author and illustrator of the fantastic book I’M NOT YOUR MUSE: Uncovering the Overshadowed Brilliance of Women Artists & Visionaries. I spoke with Lori Zimmer and Maria Krasinski about the artists they discovered and the process of creating the book. I'm Not Your Muse tells the stories of thirty-one female artists whose achievements have largely been underappreciated.
Find the book on Amazon or wherever you get your books.
Related episodes:
Frida Kahlo
Amrita Sher-Gil
The Club: Where American Women Artists Found Refuge in Belle Époque Paris
Check out my other podcasts Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab
Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 25, 2025 • 7min
Kwakwaka’wakw artist | Eagle Transformation Mask (encore)
The transformation mask is a carved and painted sculpture, a status symbol, a costume element and a simple machine all at once. Pulling the strings on the mask allows the wearer to move parts that effectively animate the mask and bring it to life in front of the gathered crowd. Kwakwaka’wakw artists created a number of different masks representing different figures.
Check out my other podcasts Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab
Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 21, 2025 • 50min
The Woman with Fifty Faces
This week, I have an interview with the author and illustrtor behind a new graphic novel that tackles the story of Maria Lani who convinced over 50 prominent artists to make her portrait. Dozens of artists including Matisse, Derain, and Chagall created portraits of Lani so they could be used in a movie that was never actually produced. When Lani and the collection disappeared, many were left to wonder if the whole thing was an elaborate con to steal masterpieces from Paris's greatest modern artists.
Jonathan Lackman and Zachary J. Pinson created a stunning book telling this story through thousands of hand drawn panels. They were kind enough to share their insights into the history and the process of producing the book. For more information, check the links below:
https://marialani.com/
https://www.instagram.com/arkansasgreasefire/
https://jonlackman.com/
And of course, you can buy the book from Fantagraphics. It will be available at all major book sellers starting July 22.
Check out my other podcasts Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science LabWho ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 18, 2025 • 12min
Amedeo Modigliani (encore)
Amedeo Modigliani, a rebellious Italian painter, left a lasting mark on the art world with his distinctive style and captivating portraits. Born in Livorno in 1884, his early life was marked by illness and a dramatic incident that saved his family from financial ruin. Modigliani's art, influenced by diverse sources like Cezanne, Brancusi, and African sculpture, is characterized by elongated figures, long necks, and almond-shaped eyes. He moved to Paris in 1906, where he became a part of the bohemian art scene, despite struggling with poverty and rejection. His first solo exhibition in 1917 caused a scandal due to its nude paintings, but it also solidified his position as a major artistic figure. Modigliani's tragic early death at 35 cut his career short, but his legacy lives on through his unique artistic vision, capturing the essence of human emotion and form in his timeless works.
Related Episodes:
Henri Matisse
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Pablo Picasso
Paul Cezanne
Check out my other podcasts Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab
Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 14, 2025 • 43min
The Club: Where American Women Artists Found Refuge in Belle Époque Paris
It was a tremendous pleasure to get to interview Jennifer Dasal about her new book, The Club: Where American Women Artists Found Refuge in Belle Époque Paris. We discussed the art scene in Paris in the 19th century, particularly the experiences of American women artists.
The Club: Where American Women Artists Found Refuge in Belle Époque Paris will be available at your favorite bookstores starting July 15. You can order a copy now from Amazon
Listen to Jennifer on ArtCurious wherever you get your podcasts.
In this episode, we mentioned other artists. Use the links below if you want to learn more about them:
Edmonia Lewis
Auguste Rodin
Mary Cassatt
Check out my other podcasts Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab
Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 11, 2025 • 10min
Thomas Hart Benton
American artist Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975) was a leading figure of the Regionalist movement, known for his dynamic depictions of American life, labor, and landscapes. Born into a politically prominent Missouri family, Benton initially pursued art against his father's wishes, studying at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and later in Paris, where he engaged with avant-garde movements like Cubism and Synchromism. However, he eventually rejected European modernism, advocating for a distinctly American art form that captured the realities of the nation. His signature "muscular realism" is characterized by swirling forms and vibrant colors, often seen in his prolific murals in public buildings such as the Missouri State Capitol.
Benton's monumental mural cycle, America Today, completed in 1931, stands as a prime example of American Regionalism. Executed in egg tempera on linen, these ten panels offer a panoramic view of American life during the Great Depression, featuring scenes of bustling cities, industrial activity, and rural labor. The mural, originally commissioned by The New School for Social Research, showcases figures like steelworkers, farmers, and jazz musicians, with Benton subtly including himself and his family within the work. America Today is a powerful visual narrative that celebrates the resilience of ordinary Americans and critiques the challenges of the era, solidifying Benton's legacy as a chronicler of American history and culture. The mural is now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Check out my other podcasts Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab
Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 7, 2025 • 43min
Louise-Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun Portrait of an Artist
Louise-Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun is best known as Marie Antoinette's favorite portrait painter. In this episode, I spoke with Judith Lissauer Cromwell, author of a new biography of Vigée Le Brun.
Louise-Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun first studied art with her father. Sadly, he passed away while Vigée Le Brun was just a child. Her mother helped her to gain access to artworks, to gain inspiration and continue developing her talent. By the time Vigée Le Brun was a young adult, she gained a reputation for painting beautiful portraits of the French aristocracy. Marie Antoinette spent years trying to find a painter who could create a portrait that would satisfy her mother. Vigée Le Brun painted a beautiful portrait and quickly became the queen's favorite artist, but being so closely associated with the queen became perilous during the French Revolution.
Buy the book on Amazon or wherever you get your books.
Check out my other podcasts Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab
Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices