The Great Women Artists

In Episode 09 of The Great Women Artists Podcast, Katy Hessel interviews the brilliant London-based artist, Helen Downie, who goes under the guise of UNSKILLED WORKER!  A self-taught artist who first started painting aged 48 a mere six years ago, Unskilled Worker rose to prominence after posting her work online (instagram.com/unskilledworker), amassing nearly 300,000 Instagram followers, which led to designing collections for Gucci, and exhibiting at museums all over the world. Known for her intensely vibrant and poetic dreamlike canvases full of her very personal portrayals of people – from those in her imagination, to those who feature in her past and present – Unskilled Worker draws the viewer into a highly atmospheric world of childlike innocence. In this episode we discuss the artist's lifelong fascination with people; what led her to pick up a paintbrush age 48; picking up her subjects where she left off aged 14; painting Oscar Wilde to Radclyffe Hall; and how she learnt to live life as a painter – as well as dealing with such a dominant internet presence.   It was an honour to interview the great painter, who also speaks very movingly about dealing with grief through painting – and how occasionally, those from her past who may have got lost along the way, appear on the page in front of her.   WORKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE Where's Ted https://www.instagram.com/p/BujBg5eDOqD/ Faraway Boy https://www.instagram.com/p/BzLuy_sBUrv/ The Arrival https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvb9r3ujcQP/ Self Portrait https://www.instagram.com/p/BdXY9z2DgR3/ An English Idyll 2 https://www.instagram.com/p/BaMkZjpD0V5/ Radclyffe Hall and Una – The Tiger That Lost His Stripes https://www.instagram.com/p/BXNwcaPD9ST/ Oscar and Boesie https://www.instagram.com/p/BWprTZxDlv_/ Thank you for listening!! This episode is sponsored by the National Art Pass/ @artfund: https://bit.ly/32HJVDk To receive a free tote bag with your National Art Pass, enter the code GREAT at checkout! Follow us: Katy Hessel: @thegreatwomenartists / @katy.hessel Sound editing by @_ellieclifford Artwork by @thisisaliceskinner Music by Ben Wetherfield https://www.thegreatwomenartists.com/

In Episode 08 of The Great Women Artists Podcast, Katy Hessel interviews the Director of Tate Modern, FRANCES MORRIS (!), on the mammoth American abstract painter, AGNES MARTIN!! And WOW, is it incredible to hear such a groundbreaking curator speak SO passionately and eloquently about one of the greatest abstract painters to ever live. With a career that spanned five decades, Agnes Martin was known for her square canvases and meticulously rendered grids that translated into some of the most otherworldly pieces of art. Born in 1912, she grew up in rural Canada surrounded by nature before relocating to New York, where she worked alongside the Abstract Expressionists. In 1968 she relocated back to rural life and later settled in New Mexico, where she lived in monk-like conditions, painting everyday, up until her death in 2004. We discuss Frances's first-hand experiences with Martin's work; how she feels in front of one of her sublime paintings; what led her to curate such a spectacular exhibition in 2015; and of course, what the great artist taught her – ultimately, to look. It was such a privilege to speak to Frances Morris on Agnes Martin, and to hear such a personal response to a great artist. I hope you enjoy!!   WORKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE Morning, 1965 https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/martin-morning-t01866 Friendship, 1963 https://www.moma.org/collection/works/79842 On A Clear Day, 1973 https://www.moma.org/collection/works/63682 Happy Holiday, 1999 https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/martin-happy-holiday-ar00179 Further information Frances's Tate exhibition:  https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/agnes-martin Short film by Tate:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=902YXjchQsk Mary Lance's documentary on Agnes Martin:  https://vimeo.com/ondemand/withmybacktotheworld Thank you for listening!! This episode is sponsored by the National Art Pass/ @artfund: https://bit.ly/32HJVDk To receive a free tote bag with your National Art Pass, enter the code GREAT at checkout! Follow us: Katy Hessel: @thegreatwomenartists / @katy.hessel Recorded by Joel Price Sound editing by @_ellieclifford Artwork by @thisisaliceskinner Music by Ben Wetherfield Thanks to Well Fray-Smith https://www.thegreatwomenartists.com/

In Episode 07 of The Great Women Artists Podcast, Katy Hessel interviews the amazing Tate Britain curator, Aïcha Mehrez, on one of the GREATEST painters working today, LISA BRICE!!!! And WOW. You think you know Lisa's phenomenally stunning work filled with women in moments of down-time in their private world? Think again. There are layers upon LAYERS of art historical references that she cannily interweaves that completely DISRUPTS every painting ever seen through the lens of the male gaze. Lisa is a genius and THE painter of our time.  Re-appropriating the likes of Millais' Ophelia, or Vallotton's unnamed woman, Lisa immortalises these dismissed women from art history by giving them life, their own personality, feet to stand on, and often half nude with a cigarette in hand.  We discuss the exhibition Aïcha curated at Tate Britain last year, plus Lisa's South African heritage and ties to Trinidad through the colour blue and its many different meanings. We also fan girl her ability to lure viewers into these private worlds disguised under a thin sheet or curtain, to gaze on these incredibly seductive and surreal women in their private and domestic spaces.  DO NOT MISS the last week of Lisa's phenomenal exhibition at Stephen Friedman Gallery which ends THIS SATURDAY 9 NOVEMBER!  WORKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE No Bare Back, after Embah, 2017 – https://bit.ly/2PM4KLiBetween This And That, 2017 – https://bit.ly/36z4d5d Midday Drinking Den, after Embah I, 2017 – https://bit.ly/2NItSzFAfter Ophelia, 2018 – https://bit.ly/2PIaSUR Screen in SFG show https://www.stephenfriedman.com/exhibitions/current/lisa-brice/1569672547_brice_at_sfg_2019_1-jpg Stephen Friedman Gallery show (until 9 November) https://www.stephenfriedman.com/exhibitions/current/lisa-brice/ Lisa Brice curated by Aïcha Mehrez at Tate Britain https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/lisa-brice Further reading Aïcha Mehrez in conversation with Lisa Brice https://www.tate.org.uk/tate-etc/issue-43-summer-2018/lisa-brice-art-now-interview-aicha-mehrez Thank you for listening!! This episode is sponsored by the National Art Pass/ @artfund https://www.artfund.org/national-art-pass Follow us: Katy Hessel: @thegreatwomenartists / @katy.hessel Sound editing by @_ellieclifford Artwork by @thisisaliceskinner Music by Ben Wetherfield

In Episode 06 of The Great Women Artists Podcast, Katy Hessel interviews journalist Joanna Moorhead, the long lost cousin, biographer and world expert of one of the greatest surrealist painters ever to exist, LEONORA CARRINGTON!!! And WOW, will it shock you to find out that Joanna only found out about her long lost cousin a mere THIRTEEN years ago, by which point the great artist was 89. Determined to track her down, Joanna flew straight to Mexico to find her cousin – who was never allowed to be spoken about in her family since her dramatic exit in 1937... Born in 1917 in a large gothic mansion – that inspired many of her later paintings – Carrington had an isolated childhood. The only girl of three brothers, age 15 Carrington was sent to London be a debutant, but she resisted, only to head straight to art school where she ended up falling in love with Max Ernst, the married Surrealist painter 26 years her senior... After a huge row with her family – she never saw her father again – she headed straight for Paris. But this was 1936 and war was imminent. And it wasn't going to be easy for the young Leonora to venture out on her own. Listen now to discover how the young Leonora escaped Europe for Mexico, the country where Carrington resided until her death in 2011... I couldn't be more delighted to interview Joanna about Leonora and her fantastically surreal paintings – many of which echo her childhood – and to find out first hand about the artist's life and take on her work, and of course, their meeting in 2006. WORKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:  Self Portrait (In of the Dawn Horse), 1937–38https://www.metmuseum.org/en/art/collection/search/492697 Portrait of Max Ernst, 1939https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/164061/portrait-max-ernst Do You Know My Aunt Eliza?, 1941https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/carrington-do-you-know-my-aunt-eliza-t11911 Green Tea, 1942https://bit.ly/31N9PoY Crookhey Hall, 1947https://bit.ly/2BNPhC8 Grandma Moorhead's Aromatic Kitchen, 1975https://bit.ly/2PnZGMV Further reading –  Joanna's book: https://www.virago.co.uk/titles/joanna-moorhead/the-surreal-life-of-leonora-carrington/9780349008776/ Article on the book: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/apr/05/the-surreal-life-of-leonora-carrington-joanna-moorhead-review BBC documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxEF1bjgt5Q&t=1121s Thank you for listening!! This episode is sponsored by the Affordable Art Fair: @affordableartfairuk Follow us: Katy Hessel: @thegreatwomenartists / @katy.hessel Artwork by @thisisaliceskinner Sound editing by @_ellieclifford Music by Ben Wetherfield

In Episode 05 of The Great Women Artists Podcast, Katy Hessel interviews Ami Bouhassane on the life and work of her grandmother: the model turned surrealist, photographer, war correspondent and all-round 20th century artistic giant, LEE MILLER!! And WOW will this episode blow you away. Especially when you hear that Ami’s father, Antony Penrose, was unaware of his mother’s professional photographic life until after she passed away in 1977... Born in 1907, Lee Miller first entered the world of photography in New York after falling into the arms of Conde Nast on a Manhattan street. It didn't take long before she was already on her way to Paris, in particular the studio of Man Ray, with whom she created some of the most iconic surrealist photography. Fast forward to 1932 and she's back in NYC at the height of the depression where she excelled running her own commercial photographic studio. Off again, back to Paris via Egypt, and then the UK at the outbreak of World War II, where Lee quickly adopted the role of a war correspondent, photographing on the front line, but also ensuring that she was recording women’s contribution to the war. However life took a turn after witnessing some of the most horrific scenes that war was to bring. I couldn’t be more delighted to interview Ami on her grandmother who is one of the MOST remarkable artists to live, whose story needs to be told, AND whose work needs to be seen. We recorded the episode down at Farley's Farm, on the site of Miller’s former home, where where Ami and her father Antony continue to run the archive, gallery (that you can visit!), and ensure the legacy of the great Lee Miller. See more info here: https://www.farleyshouseandgallery.co.uk/ WORKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE Lee Miller's front cover for Vogue https://bit.ly/2BwRqlD Paris: Nude https://bit.ly/2pFRSuY Egypt: Portrait of Space, 1937 https://bit.ly/2P5bZgR World War II images: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/lee-millers-second-world-war Fire Masks, Hampstead: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/sep/19/lee-miller-a-womans-war-exhibition-imperial-war-museum-second-world-war-dachau-hitler#img-1 Lee Miller's cookbook: https://www.leemiller.co.uk/article/Award-winning-book-Lee-Miller-A-Life-with-Food-Friends-amp-Recipes/pJV_ykrXKJusXwM7yD3-Hg..a Further reading: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/l/lee-miller/ https://www.eiderdownbooks.com/product-page/lee-miller-by-ami-bouhassane Thank you for listening!! This episode is sponsored by the Affordable Art Fair: @affordableartfairuk Follow us: Katy Hessel: @thegreatwomenartists / @katy.hessel Artwork by @thisisaliceskinner Sound editing by @_ellieclifford / @naomiabel Music by Ben Wetherfield

In Episode 04 of The Great Women Artists Podcast, Katy Hessel interviews one of the most highly regarded young artists working today, the Harlem-born painter, TSCHABALALA SELF!! A graduate of the Yale School of Art and a recent participant of the AMAZING Studio Museum Residency, the brilliant Tschabalala is known for her expressive, vibrant and dynamic works of human figure, that combines paint, printmaking, collage and sculpture. With her primary concern centred on the black female body, Self explores subjects around race, gender, and identity through powerful and bold images of women. In this episode we discuss Tschabalala's beginnings in Harlem, the place that has culturally shaped who she is today and the impact it's had on her work; the artists who continue to inspire her – from Faith Ringgold, Kehinde Wiley and Clementine Hunter; the stories behind the figures and the 'settings' she places them in; her artistic process; interests in the environment that surrounds her characters, in particular the bodega; and her previous and current exhibitions – one of which, "Thigh High" is on right now at Pilar Corrias Gallery in London. She is SO brilliant and SO interesting, and I couldn't be more honoured to interview someone right at the forefront of their career. She's killing it. ENJOY!! WORKS / EXHIBITIONS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: Bodega Run –  The Hammer, LA: https://hammer.ucla.edu/exhibitions/2019/hammer-projects-tschabalala-self/ Pila Corrias, London: https://www.pilarcorrias.com/exhibitions/tschabalala-self-bodega-run/ Thigh High –  Currently on view at Pilar Corrias, until 9 November: https://www.pilarcorrias.com/exhibitions/tschabalala-self/ Tschabalala Self – Parasol Unit, 2017: https://parasol-unit.org/whats-on/tschabalala-self/ Studio Museum Residency: https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/5086 Upcoming exhibitions: ICA Boston –  https://www.icaboston.org/exhibitions/tschabalala-self-out-body Artists discussed include: Faith Ringgold, Mickalene Thomas, Wangechi Mutu, Clementine Hunter Thank you for listening!! This episode is sponsored by the Affordable Art Fair: @affordableartfairuk Follow us: Katy Hessel: @thegreatwomenartists / @katy.hessel Artwork by @thisisaliceskinner Sound editing by @_ellieclifford / @_naomiabel Music by Ben Wetherfield

In Episode 03 of The Great Women Artists Podcast, Katy Hessel interviews one of the most exciting and brilliant photographers working today, JUNO CALYPSO!!! Known for her self portraits where she stages herself as a fictional character named ‘Joyce’ in the likes of Honeymoon Hotels in America, 70s style flats in Malta, or more recently in a kitsch underground bunker on the outskirts of Vegas, Juno’s work is always very distinctly pink and elaborate, with a lot of dark undertones. After graduating from London College of Communications in 2012, Juno has since gone on to win multiple awards for her work, including the British Journal of Photography and the Royal Photographic Society, and has had six solo exhibitions across London and Milan. In this episode we discuss Juno's career so far, how she became interested in self portraiture experimenting with digital cameras in the late 90s and early 00s; her experience at university; incredible recent photographic projects, The Honeymoon and What To Do With A Million Years; her constant and refreshing examination of female self-perception; and how she's catapulted into being one of the most recognisable and exciting photographers working today. I couldn't be more delighted to have Juno as my third guest. Not only is she amazing AND hilarious, but her unnerving stories of finding the most kitsch and insanely incredible locations (you won't believe are real) are just fantastic. She has A LOT of good stories. ENJOY!!! WORKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: Early Work – Popcorn Venus, 2012 https://www.junocalypso.com/joyce-ii/403ytame26ukmyc3nv2iy9oancorht Joyce – 12 Reasons You're Tired All The Time, 2013 https://www.junocalypso.com/joyce-ii/8oj5qrr18him0sra6i6ymi8qyxz0bv The Honeymoon –  Eternal Beauty, 2014 https://www.junocalypso.com/produce/k4d0u0w5q499ico00rkwiu973r0ee0 A Dream in Green, 2015 https://www.junocalypso.com/produce/yaorcuo0dsom4rtagq3bo6e3f6lt86 The Honeymoon Suite, 2015 https://www.junocalypso.com/produce/kd0v7lml0hi6gea393xmahjhcpuy9g Sensory Deprivation, 2016 https://www.junocalypso.com/produce/sensorydeprivation What To Do With A Million Years –  Tuesday in Eternity, 2018 https://www.junocalypso.com/2018/11/7/tuesday-in-eternity-2018 Subterrenean Kitchen, 2018 https://www.junocalypso.com/2018/11/7/2018/11/7/subterranean-kitchen-2018 Die Now Pay Later, 2018 https://www.junocalypso.com/2018/11/7/die-now-pay-later-2018 The Entrance, 2018 https://www.junocalypso.com/2018/11/7/the-entrance-2018 Thank you for listening!! This episode is sponsored by the Affordable Art Fair: @affordableartfairuk Follow us: Katy Hessel: @thegreatwomenartists / @katy.hessel Artwork by @thisisaliceskinner Sound editing by @_ellieclifford / @naomiabel Music by Ben Wetherfield

In Episode 02 of The Great Women Artists Podcast, Katy Hessel interviews the sensational artist and stage designer, ES DEVLIN!! Known for creating some of the most memorable sets and stages the world has ever seen – including for the likes of Beyonce, Adele and Kanye West – Es is also world-renowned for her theatre and opera sets for The National Theatre to the Royal Opera House. Revolutionising the stage with her iconic and memorable sculptures, projections and cubes, Es also embarks on her own artworks including her Mirror Mazes, AI-generated poetry sculptures, and Memory Palaces, the latter of which is currently on view at Pitzhanger Manor. See more here: https://www.pitzhanger.org.uk/whats-on/current-events-exhibitions/ In this episode we discuss Es’s role to impact the collective memory of 100,000 people at one time; bringing words and music to life through sculpture and sets; her upbringing in Rye and influences as a child; as well as going through her PHENOMENAL works that I really find to be some of the most emotional I've ever witnessed. She's amazing. Have a listen! WORKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: Mirror Maze at Copeland Park (2016) www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMbLlN_6AD8 Hamlet at Barbican (2015) esdevlin.com/work/hamlet-barbican Lehman Trilogy at National Theatre (2018/19) www.wallpaper.com/design/es-devlin…ilogy-sam-mendes Beyonce's Formation Tour (2016) esdevlin.com/work/beyonce Kanye West x Jay Z Tour (2013) www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/20…w-for-kanye-west Adele World Arena Tour (2016) esdevlin.com/work/adele-world-tour Camen at Bregenz Festival (2018) esdevlin.com/work/carmen-bregenz UK Pavilion – Dubai Expo (2020) esdevlin.com/work/uk-pavillion Please Feed The Lions (2018) esdevlin.com/work/lions Memory Palace at Pitzhanger (2019) www.pitzhanger.org.uk/whats-on/curre…s-exhibitions/ This is the Rye model! https://www.ryeheritage.co.uk/rye-town-model/ Thank you for listening!! This episode is sponsored by the Affordable Art Fair. Follow us: Katy Hessel: @thegreatwomenartists / @katy.hessel Artwork by @thisisaliceskinner Sound editing by @_ellieclifford / @naomiabel Music by Ben Wetherfield

In episode 01 of The Great Women Artists Podcast, Katy Hessel interviews the exceptional curator, Eleanor Nairne, about the Abstract Expressionist sensation, LEE KRASNER!! Born in 1908 Brooklyn to a Jewish family, Krasner was known as one of the greatest painters of the 20th century. Nairne, who recently curated “Lee Krasner: Living Colour” at London's Barbican Centre, catapulted her into the spotlight after decades of the artist often being overshadowed by her former husband, Jackson Pollock. Whether you’re a die-hard Krasner fan (like me), or have never even heard of her at all, TUNE IN to here us discussing her incredible career. We cover Krasner’s Brooklyn childhood, the moment “The Modern” opens in 1929 (aka MoMA), her education at the all-women’s Washington Irving School and later Cooper Union in NYC, her formidable determination to become one of the greatest artists of all time, seminal works and of course her very interesting (and at times heartbreaking!) life story. WORKS DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: Another storm (1963) Mural (1943–7 by Jackson Pollock)  Self Portrait (1928) Prophecy (1956)  Little images (1946–50)  Mosaic Table (1947)  Night series: The Eye is the First Circle (1960) Further information about Eleanor's fantastic exhibition: https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2019/event/lee-krasner-living-colour Thank you for listening!! This episode is sponsored by the Affordable Art Fair. Produced and presented by Katy Hessel Sound editing by Ellie Clifford/ Naomi Abel-Hirsch Follow us: Katy Hessel: @thegreatwomenartists / @katy.hessel Artwork by @thisisaliceskinner @_ellieclifford / @naomiabel Music by Ben Wetherfield

Welcome to The Great Women Artists Podcast! Created off the back of @thegreatwomenartists Instagram, this podcast is all about celebrating women artists from a variety of backgrounds and histories. Presented by art historian and curator, Katy Hessel, each episode will interview artists on their career, or curators, writers, or general art lovers, on the female artist who means the most to them. First episode out TUESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER! Get in touch: thegreatwomenartists@gmail.com