Love art? Want to know more about the history behind some of the world’s greatest painters, but don’t know where to start? Sometimes the world of canvases and sculptures can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve rounded up the best art podcasts where the experts reveal all there is to know about great women artists, art history and more. 

Whether you’re an avid art nerd or are keen to learn more about the art world, these art podcasts are worth a listen.

The best art podcasts

ArtCurious

ArtCurious is a podcast for those who are into the history of art. From Picasso to da Vinci, Kahlo to Turner, it’ll take you on a journey through the ages to explore the stories of some of the world’s greatest artists and their work.

Art history may have a reputation for being a bit stuffy and boring, but host Jennifer Dasal proves that it need not be. The show also looks at different eras of art, and often episodes aim to ask burning questions and correct misconceptions: did Van Gogh only ever sell one painting? Was the Middle Ages an artistic wasteland? What’s the backstory behind the Mona Lisa? All this and more is answered throughout over 200 episodes (and counting).

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Talk Art

You recognise him from roles in shows like Being Human, Doctor Who and Years and Years, but actor Russell Tovey also hosts an art podcast: Talk Art, co-hosted with gallerist Robert Diament, does what it says on the tin.

The two hosts chat with some of the leading artists and curators in the world about art and what it means to them and to us. With a conversational nature that keeps things casual yet informative, the interviews guests like Ai Weiwei, Tracey Emin and Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova, as well as occasional non-artist celebrity interviews with stars like Pedro Pascal, Sharon Stone and Pierce Brosnan. It’s one of the most accessible art podcasts out there and already has 17 seasons worth of episodes to check out.

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

The Sculptor’s Funeral

The Sculptor’s Funeral podcast is all about, you guessed it, sculptors and the art of wielding a chisel. Hosted by American sculptor Jason Arkles, the show is “the only podcast dedicated to figurative sculptors living and working today”, and explores both the contemporary art of sculpting and its long and fascinating history.

It goes into the different forms of sculpting, like clay, plaster or wood, and some of history’s most famous sculptors, like Donatello, Michelangelo and Bartolini. Some episodes are dedicated to one specific work, like The Parthenon in Athens or the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, and every episode aims to connect these historical triumphs to modern art.

Listen on spotify and apple podcasts

The Art Newspaper

Art journal The Art Newspaper runs its own podcasts that talk all things art, with its flagship, The Week In Art, aiming to keep you in the loop about all the current happenings and trends in the art world.

Looking at contemporary issues in the art world like censorship, conservation and how the industry is recovering post covid, the pod offers fascinating insights into how art is constantly evolving and where it might be heading next. The show often goes in-depth into specific stories like the ownership of the Parthenon Marbles and how art is being protected in Ukraine, letting you grow your artistic knowledge.

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

The Lonely Palette

Award winner The Lonely Palette is another art history podcast, hosted by lecturer Tamar Avishai, and every episode centres on one, single piece of art. Avishai explores the context and history behind the piece in question, and why it remains significant to this day.

Works by Rothko, Warhol, Pollock, van Gogh, Rembrandt and many more are featured and discussed, and one of the best parts of the show are the snippets of off-the-cuff interviews with visitors to the Museum of Fine Arts as they react to each piece. The show has 50 episodes to peruse, and a few bonus eps interviewing some special guests.

Listen on spotify and apple podcasts

Savvy Painter

Being an artist is often thought of as someone slashing away with paint in their studio for hours on end before their masterpiece is spotted and sold or put into a museum. The Savvy Painter podcast goes into the business of art, and how modern artists work to gain an income from their artistic endeavours. Episodes go into the process of creating an ideal studio to work in, how paintings are marketed and sold, the ways that artists connect to and work with each other and other pieces of art business advice.

While the show’s mission statement is to help out artists in need of advice, Savvy Painter still makes fascinating listening even if you’re not looking to become the next genius painter.

listen on spotify and apple podcasts

The Great Women Artists

Art history can often be dominated by men, and The Great Women Artists podcast aims to give a spotlight to the best female artists who are living and working today.

Each episode features an interview with a guest female artist, as they chat to host Katy Hessell about their work, their passions and their art influences. The podcast grew from the @thegreatwomenartists, an Instagram account dedicated to shining a light on women in contemporary art. There are often artists featured who are largely unheard of outside of the art sphere, as well as world-famous figures like Tracey Emin. It’s a fascinating way to meet some of the best artistic minds of the 21st century.

listen on spotify and apple podcasts

Tate Podcasts

The Tate galleries showcase some of the finest modern art in Britain and are always on the cutting edge of artistic trends. It’s lucky for us that the institution runs its own podcast series, that covers different eras, genres and artists in the art world. Some episodes explore different themes, like “The Art of Love” and “The Art of Comedy”, raising thought-provoking questions about how art is made and consumed, and how art can arise from protests and hardship.

Other episodes have angles you probably wouldn’t have thought of, like how the idea of time has led to artistic inspiration, or how French artists have been creatively inspired by London. They’re great to listen to if you want to think more about art and what it means to you.

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