How to Look at Art (Slowly)

After five years and 166 episodes with listeners in 91 countries, this is the final episode of The Art Engager - for now, at least.For this last conversation, I wanted a guest who felt right not just for the occasion, but for the moment the whole sector is living through. Someone ...  Show more

In March 2026, I travelled to Atlanta for the National Convening on Art and Social Connection, a two-day event hosted by the High Museum of Art. It brought together people from the arts, public health, research, aging, social services and policy to explore one big question: how c ...  Show more

Talking about our work can be challenging. You might not know what to say - how to find the words to describe the feelings - or you might feel self-conscious, thinking others don't want to hear or that they may judge you. But, learning to talk about your art can open so many door ...  Show more

This week, we're digging into the subject of abstract and non-objective art. We consider the different types of abstraction, from its beginnings with Hilda F. Klimt through the abstract expressionists and their focus on emotion, all the way to the more conceptual modern day abstr ...  Show more

How are we taught to look at art, and why does it get everything wrong? In this episode I look at conventional ways of teaching students to look at art, and offer an alternative that allows for more intuition, experiementation, and a familiarity with the medium. 

We had a recent question from one of our listeners asking if we could do an episode dedicated to putting up artwork in your home, so today that’s what we will be talking about. When trying to figure out how to decorate your home, first think of what kind of art you like, and then ...  Show more