Who Arted: Weekly Art History for All Ages

Tyler Loftis is a contemporary artist based out of New York. Loftis developed a practice rooted that respects traditional practices like drawing and painting from observation, but also celebrating and embracing art as a dialogue with the audience's perceptions having equal weight to the artist's intention. Believing that "artists are course correctors," he is committed to democratizing the art world by removing elitism and fostering human connection. This mission has driven him to found institutions like The Fire Barn Gallery and the platform AllArtWorks, as well as philanthropic initiatives like Portraits for Purpose, all aimed at supporting artists and creating greater access to fine art outside of traditional systems. Find Tyler Loftis online: Official Website All Art Works Foundation 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

Jeff Koons, born in 1955, displayed an early interest in art. As a teenager, he called Salvador Dali's hotel and arranged to meet the artist. He was inspired by Dali and went on to study art in college. Koons supported himself with various jobs, including working at the ⁠Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago⁠, working the information desk at ⁠MoMA⁠ and as a commodities broker in New York. He gained recognition in the 1980s with his "The New" and "Equilibrium" series, and achieved international fame with his "Banality" series, which challenged notions of art and taste. Koons's work often explores themes of consumer culture, mass production, and the relationship between art and commerce. He is known for his meticulous approach, often employing skilled artisans to create his sculptures. Koons's "Pink Panther" (1988) exemplifies his exploration of popular culture and kitsch, challenging traditional notions of art and value. Related episodes: ⁠Salvador Dali | The Persistence of Memory⁠ ⁠Andy Warhol⁠ ⁠Roy Lichtenstein | Look Mickey⁠ ⁠AP Art History Cram Session⁠ playlist on Spotify 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

Le Corbusier (born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret) was a pioneer of modern architecture whose ideas reshaped our urban landscapes. A Swiss-born, French-naturalized architect, designer, and urban planner, Le Corbusier championed a new vision for living in the 20th century. His philosophy centered on the idea of a house as a "machine for living in." He envisioned a space defined by function, efficiency, and a stark, geometric beauty stripped of ornamentation. Using modern materials like reinforced concrete, he developed his seminal "Five Points of Architecture," which included lifting buildings on pilotis (columns), open floor plans, non-load-bearing facades, horizontal ribbon windows, and rooftop gardens. These principles found their ultimate expression in iconic buildings like the Villa Savoye. Beyond individual structures, Le Corbusier conceived of grand, often controversial, urban renewal projects, most famously the "Plan Voisin," which proposed demolishing the historic center of Paris to build a "Radiant City" of skyscrapers in parkland. While many of his city plans never materialized beyond paper drafts, his influence was global. 17 of his projects across seven countries are now designated as a collective UNESCO World Heritage site. From co-founding the Purism art movement to writing the influential book Toward an Architecture, Corbu's whose work provoked debate and defined the principles of modernism. 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

Medieval European architecture is defined by two major successive styles: Romanesque and Gothic. Romanesque architecture (c. 1000–1200 CE) is characterized by massive, thick walls, rounded arches, and a heavy, fortress-like appearance. In the 12th century, Gothic architecture introduced innovations like the pointed arch, the ribbed vault, and the flying buttress. These engineering advancements functioned as an external skeleton, distributing the weight of the roof. This allowed for significantly taller structures with thinner walls that could be opened up for enormous stained-glass windows. Other key facts from the period include the design of medieval castles, which were military fortresses built for defense over comfort. Gargoyles on cathedrals were not merely decorative but were functional water spouts that protected the building's masonry from water erosion. The vibrant stained-glass windows served a practical purpose as well, acting as giant picture books to teach biblical stories to a largely illiterate population. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris is a primary example of Gothic architecture; its construction began in 1163, took nearly 200 years to complete, and it was one of the first buildings to utilize flying buttresses. 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

Explore the life and work of Tarsila do Amaral, a foundational artist of Brazilian modernism and one of the most celebrated figures in Latin American art history. Born in 1886, Tarsila brought the avant-garde lessons of European Cubism back to her native Brazil, fusing them with local colors and themes to forge a completely new artistic identity for her country. This overview delves into her pivotal role in the Grupo dos Cinco (Group of Five) and the development of the Antropofagia (Cultural Cannibalism) movement, which proposed symbolically "devouring" foreign influences to create a uniquely Brazilian culture. Discover the story behind her iconic 1928 masterpiece, Abaporu, a painting that began as a private birthday gift for her husband and ended up launching a cultural revolution. The summary also highlights Tarsila's signature "caipira" color palette, inspired by the rustic landscapes of Brazil, her status as a fashion icon in 1920s Paris, and her out-of-this-world legacy as the namesake for a crater on the planet Mercury. Tarsila do Amaral's work represents a powerful declaration of cultural independence and remains a vibrant touchstone for artists today. 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

Illuminated manuscripts are the stunning, handcrafted books of the medieval world, created through a meticulous process in monastery workshops known as scriptoria. Scribes would copy text onto processed animal skin, or vellum, while artists known as illuminators added intricate illustrations and shimmering gold leaf. The term 'illuminated' comes from this dazzling use of gold and silver, which made the pages glitter like sacred objects. While gold provided the glimmer, the most precious material was often the brilliant blue pigment ultramarine, ground from lapis lazuli imported from Afghanistan. In addition to the sacred text, the margins of these books often contained whimsical and bizarre doodles, known as marginalia, featuring everything from knights battling snails to musical monkeys. A pinnacle of this art form is the Book of Kells, a masterpiece of Insular art created by Celtic monks around 800 CE. It is celebrated for its dense, complex Celtic knotwork and vibrant illustrations, most famously on its renowned Chi-Rho page (Folio 34r), a dizzying and meditative work of art that transforms the name of Christ into a sacred image filled with hidden figures and profound symbolism. 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

I am putting a special bonus episode in the feed this week to share a new podcast from Getty. If Objects Could Talk is a great family friendly podcast that gives voice to art and artifacts so listeners can explore history in a whole new way. What dangers await Athena’s brave and loyal owl at the Greek marketplace? This Athenian coin shares his take on how money was made and used in ancient Greek city states—and how different states had different rules around the agora, or marketplace, that could sometimes get you into trouble! Find If Objects Could Talk on your favorite podcast platform: https://pod.link/1833978909?view=apps&sort=popularity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My TLDR episodes are meant to be short and to the point with a few key facts to know about the artist and a look at one of their major works. This episode explores the life and work of Ibrahim El-Salahi, a pivotal figure in Sudanese and African modernism. Born in 1930 in Omdurman, Sudan, El-salahi's artistic journey began with the study of calligraphy under his father. After formal art training in Khartoum and at London's Slade School of Fine Art, he developed a unique visual language that blended Western modernist styles like Cubism and Surrealism with his Islamic and African heritage. This innovative approach, which often incorporated calligraphic forms and earthy tones inspired by the Sudanese landscape, was central to the modernist art movement known as the Khartoum School. His wrongful imprisonment in 1975 profoundly influenced his work, leading to the creation of his "Prison Notebook." His significant contributions to the art world are highlighted by his 2013 retrospective at the Tate Modern, the first for an African artist, and the acquisition of his monumental work, "The Genealogies of Trees," by New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). The Inevitable is a large-scale black and white work, created during a period of personal grief and political turmoil in Sudan. The piece showcases his signature style, combining the fractured forms of Cubism, the dreamlike qualities of Surrealism, and the expressive lines of Arabic calligraphy to create a dense, chaotic, and emotionally charged composition. The Inevitable stands as a testament to El-salahi's ability to transform personal and national trauma into a universal statement on the enduring resilience of the human spirit. Related Episode: Max Beckmann | Night 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

My TLDR episodes give a short and sweet overview with a few interesting facts about a great artist. Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986) stands as a foundational figure of American modernism, celebrated for her revolutionary contributions to art. Rising from a Wisconsin dairy farm to the forefront of the New York art world, her unique vision was shaped by the vast landscapes of Texas and, most famously, the American Southwest. O'Keeffe's relationship with photographer and gallerist Alfred Stieglitz, whom she later married, was pivotal in launching her career after he exhibited her abstract charcoal drawings in 1916. While she is renowned for her large-scale, sensual flower paintings, her body of work is vast, capturing the stark beauty of New Mexico's architecture, rolling hills, and sun-bleached desert bones. Discover the fascinating stories behind the artist, from her clever use of a Model A Ford as a mobile studio to paint in the remote desert to her distinct, self-made wardrobe that mirrored the clean, modern lines of her artwork. Learn about the time she was commissioned by the Hawaiian Pineapple Company (now Dole) in 1939 and returned with twenty paintings of the islands' lush scenery—but famously forgot the pineapple. Even after macular degeneration robbed her of her sight in the 1970s, O'Keeffe’s creative spirit endured as she turned to sculpture. Her monumental late-career masterpiece, Sky Above Clouds IV (1965), an enormous 24-foot-wide canvas inspired by her views from an airplane, showcases an artist who never stopped expanding her vision and finding the sublime in the world around her. 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

As it is back to school season, I thought I would try making a series of episodes that are short and to the point to give students and anyone else interested a quick overview of the artist. Each of my TLDR episodes will give a very brief overview of the artist, 5 interesting things to know about them and a little insight into one of their major works. Claude Monet was a central figure in the Impressionist movement. His childhood in the coastal town of Le Havre shaped his lifelong fascination with light and water, leading him and his contemporaries to leave the studio and paint en plein air. This new approach, focused on capturing the fleeting sensory experience of a moment rather than a detailed representation, was initially mocked. The movement itself earned its name from a critic's dismissive review of Monet's painting, Impression, Sunrise. Delve deeper into the obsessive genius of the artist, from his custom-built floating studio on the Seine River to the world-famous garden he cultivated at his home in Giverny. This garden, and particularly its water lily pond, became the sole subject of his work for the last three decades of his life, resulting in approximately 250 oil paintings. Discover fascinating details about Monet's life, including his passion for gourmet food, his perfectionism that led him to destroy hundreds of his own canvases, and the remarkable story of how cataract surgery in his later years allowed him to perceive ultraviolet light, profoundly changing the colors in his final masterpieces. 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