The Installation Art Podcast

Hosted by Anastasia Parmson

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May 2026

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A new resource for all things installation art is here! Join host Anastasia Parmson – an artist herself — as she uncovers stories, challenges, and lessons from behind the scenes. The show brings you in-depth conversations with internationally renowned artists and arts professionals who have exhibited installation art on the global stage. In each episode, you will hear about the creative process and the personal journeys of these exceptional artists. We will gain insights into the unique joys and challenges; as well as the logistical and financial aspects of working with installation art. Join us every fortnight as we shine a light on this underserved field, helping artists feel less alone in their studios and providing a platform for community building and knowledge sharing. Subscribe to The Installation Art Podcast on your favourite podcast app and follow us on Instagram @installationartpodcast to stay updated and connect with fellow enthusiasts. Website: https://installationartpodcast.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/installationartpodcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/installationartsociety/

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May 26, 20261 hr 31 min

Architectural Installation Pioneer: Donna Dennis on Scale, Space & Feminism

I made a 3-minute listener survey to help shape the podcast's future. Your feedback genuinely matters.Fill out here: https://forms.gle/qqHJrMXpsC9UYu2m7Leave a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/installationartpodcastBuy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/installationartpodcastDonna Dennis is one of the contemporary art pioneers who pushed sculpture toward the domain of architecture in the early 1970s. Her complex sculptural installations draw from overlooked fragments of American vernacular architecture.This conversation dives into five decades of art-making in New York's evolving art world. We discuss how she taught herself carpentry, pipe bending and electrical work to build pieces based on her body's scale. How Virginia Woolf's "Shakespeare's sister" gave her the drive to make work even if no one ever saw it. How feminism shaped her False Front Hotels as self-portraits when she decided "women's lives were worthy of study." And why she refuses to use the word "practice" to describe her work.Donna's work is held in collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the Walker Art Center, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.Key moments from this episode:• From failing at abstract painting in Paris to her first steps toward installation• SoHo in the 1970s: how big raw loft spaces made it possible for artists to think bigThe Holly Solomon Gallery story: from studio visit ("we're buying a country house") to "I'm starting a gallery and I want you to be in it"—then Whitney Biennial within two yearsVenice Biennale 1982: realizing in April the show is in June, not 1984—quit your job, six assistants, work doubling in size• A car roll into the river in slow motion, with Donna’s belongings inside – and how that inspired a public artwork that also suffered a tragic end• ”A woman made this!?" The comment that captures why size matteredDonna Dennis is based in Germantown, New York. You can learn more about her work and subscribe to her newsletter on her website: https://www.donnadennisart.comAnd follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donnadennisstudio03:00 Hudson Valley Roots04:07 Rapid Fire Warmup05:06 Virginia Woolf Feminist Purpose07:28 Night Studio Rituals09:40 Early Art Calling12:36 From Painting to Installations47:28 Storage Risks49:58 Hidden Vistas51:19 Meaning And Mystery54:34 Audience Boundaries57:09 Vandalism Tale01:04:01 Funding Choices and Final ReflectionsBooks mentioned:Writing Toward Dawn: Journals 1969-1982: https://www.donnadennisart.com/publications/writing-toward-dawnDonna Dennis: A Poet in Three Dimensions: https://www.donnadennisart.com/publications/donna-dennis-poet-in-three-dimensionsAlso mentioned in this episode:Petah Coyne: https://www.petahcoyne.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/petahcoyne/Episode with Petah Coyne: https://installationartpodcast.com/petah-coyne-032Robert Fulton: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_FultonVirginia Woolf: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Room_of_One's_OwnGustave Doré: https://www.wikiart.org/en/gustave-doreBen Shahn “The Shape of Content”: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/284780.The_Shape_of_ContentArt Students League: https://www.artstudentsleague.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/aslnyc/ | @ArtStudentsLeagueNYMartha Diamond: https://marthadiamondtrust.org/ |Carleton College: https://www.carleton.edu/ | https://www.instagram.com/carletoncollege | @CarletonCollegeClaes Oldenburg: https://www.wikiart.org/en/claes-oldenburgJane Bowles “Two Serious Ladies”: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/215262.Two_Serious_LadiesDeafman Glance by Robert Wilson: https://robertwilson.com/deafman-glanceHistory of Art by Horst Waldemar Janson: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/2693801-history-of-artPeter Schjeldahl: https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/peter-schjeldahlThe New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/newyorkermag/ | @newyorkerThe Poetry Project: https://www.poetryproject.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/poetry_project | @ThePoetryProjectHolly Solomon: https://bonhams.shorthandstories.com/the-collection-of-holly-solomon/Andy Warhol: https://www.wikiart.org/en/andy-warholDenise Green: https://www.denisegreen.net/ |Judy Pfaff: https://www.judypfaffstudio.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/judy.pfaff/Whitney Biennial: https://whitney.org/exhibitions/the-biennial | https://www.instagram.com/whitneymuseum/ | @whitney_museumVenice Biennale: https://www.labiennale.org/en | https://www.instagram.com/labiennale/ | @BiennaleChannelO’Flaherty’s: https://www.donnadennisart.com/exhibitions/houses-and-hotels | https://www.instagram.com/oflahertys.nyc/The Installation Art Podcast is a show about people who love and work with the contemporary art medium of installation. The host Anastasia Parmson, an artist herself, interviews internationally renowned artists and arts workers about the intricacies and behind-the-scenes stories of creating and showing work that is site-specific, ephemeral, large scale or immersive.🔔 Hit subscribe or follow wherever you’re listening to never miss a new episode.📢 Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/installationartpodcast/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@installationartpodcast📚 More information about the show and previous episodes: www.installationartpodcast.comYour host Anastasia Parmson:

May 12, 202637 min

Bonus: Biennale of Sydney 2026 – What Worked, What Didn't & Why It Matters

I made a 3-minute listener survey to help shape the podcast's future. Your feedback genuinely matters.Fill out here: https://forms.gle/qqHJrMXpsC9UYu2m7Leave a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/installationartpodcastA candid review of the 25th Biennale of Sydney, spanning five venues across Greater Sydney: from a regional gallery that got everything right to an old Power Station full of missed opportunities.I spent 10 hours at the media preview visiting all five venues: Lewers Penrith Regional Gallery, Chau Chak Wing Museum, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Art Gallery of New South Wales and White Bay Power Station. This isn't a comprehensive report, it’s my personal takeaway on what works (and what fails) when it comes to installation art at an international exhibition.The 25th Biennale of Sydney, titled Rememory and curated by Hoor Al-Qasimi, demonstrates something that's come up again and again on this podcast: you can have prestigious artists, important topics and historic venues, but if the lighting is wrong, if there's nowhere to sit, if the space outshines the art… it doesn't work.What I cover:• Why Lewers: Penrith Regional Gallery was the standout venue• Some highlighted works from each venue• The 11-minute sound installation no one experiences beyond 15 seconds – and other accessibility challenges• Documentation vs art – where is the line?• A moment of comparison: do island Biennales create better experiences?00:32 Biennale of Sydney Facts02:57 Penrith Gallery Highlight05:32 Everyone’s Favorite Installation08:06 Chau Chak Wing Museum10:31 Campbelltown Art Centre - Documentary Debate13:21 Art Gallery of NSW Picks17:12 White Bay Venue Challenges22:26 Video Overload Critique26:32 Installation Missteps32:48 Final TakeawaysBiennale of Sydney 2026: Rememory is on view until 14 June 2026, free entryMore info: https://www.biennaleofsydney.art/Review by art critic Christopher Allen: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/culture/worse-than-anticipated-how-the-sydney-biennale-became-a-site-of-mediocrity-and-irrelevance/news-story/efd37fe54c91806748fd89fda76f65f6Also mentioned in this episode:Biennale of Sydney: https://www.biennaleofsydney.art/ | https://www.instagram.com/biennalesydney/ | @biennaleofsydneyVenice Biennale episode: https://installationartpodcast.com/bonus-013Helsinki Biennial episode: https://installationartpodcast.com/bonus-039Lewers: Pentrith Regional Art Gallery: https://www.penrithregionalgallery.com.au/ | https://www.instagram.com/penrithregionalgallery/Nora Adwan: https://noraadwan.com/home.html | https://www.instagram.com/adwan.nora/Chau Chak Wing Museum: https://www.sydney.edu.au/museum/ | https://www.instagram.com/ccwm_sydney/Michael Dagostino: https://www.sydney.edu.au/museum/about-us/our-people.htmlEma Shin: https://emashin.org/home.html | https://www.instagram.com/ema.shin/Tuan Andrew Nguyen: https://www.tuanandrewnguyen.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/tuan.andrew.nguyen/Cambelltown Arts Centre: https://www.campbelltownartscentre.com.au/Home | https://www.instagram.com/campbelltownartscentre/ | @campbelltownartscentre8258Hoor Al-Qasimi: https://www.biennaleofsydney.art/hoor-al-qasimi/ | https://www.instagram.com/hooralq/Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige: https://hadjithomasjoreige.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/studiohadjithomasjoreige/Art Gallery of NSW: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/Kuba Dorabialski: https://www.kubadorabialski.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/kubadora/Mia Wasikowska: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1985859/ | https://www.instagram.com/mia_wasikowska_/Taysir Batniji: https://www.taysirbatniji.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/taysir_batniji/Kapwani Kiwanga: https://www.kapwanikiwanga.org/Ron Mueck: https://ropac.net/artists/63-ron-mueck/ | https://www.instagram.com/ronmueckart/Mike Hewson: https://mikehewson.co.nz/ | https://www.instagram.com/mikehewson/MCA: https://www.mca.com.au/ | https://www.instagram.com/mca_australia | @mcaaustraliaWhite Bay Power Station: https://www.whitebaypowerstation.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/whitebaypowerstation/Christopher Allen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Allen_(critic)Cockatoo Island: https://www.cockatooisland.gov.au/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/harbourtrust/ | @HarbourTrust2088Frank Sweeney: https://franksweeney.art/ | https://www.instagram.com/frankbeee/Hui Ye: https://yehui.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/huiyeist/The Installation Art Podcast is a show about people who love and work with the contemporary art medium of installation. The host...

April 21, 20261 hr 34 min

Art as Playgrounds: Mike Hewson on Infrastructure, Risk & Responsibility

Listener feedback form: https://forms.gle/T6ywdFawXWKLu1UR6Leave a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/installationartpodcastA conversation with New Zealand artist Mike Hewson, recorded inside his monumental installation The Key's Under the Mat at the Art Gallery of New South Wales – a 2,500 square meter underground park complete with working sauna, laundromat, barbecues, DJ booth, recording studio and playground that's broken every visitor record the gallery has ever seen.Mike's practice straddles the complex lines between art, infrastructure and public liability. He designs playgrounds that councils don't know how to regulate, builds permanent public sculptures that must survive Australian weather conditions and human interference and he takes on legal exposure that would terrify most artists, all while fighting the perception that making functional, interactive work is somehow "beneath" serious art.Key insights from this episode:• The Christchurch earthquake moment: barefoot in a broken city, wondering whether he should keep pursuing art• Project backlash: dealing with public anger, going into debt on his first major commission and lessons learned• Strategic pivot: setting a new precedent as an artist-engineer• True scope of the AGNSW project and how he sourced materials for it• Hard truth and advice: burnout is not a sustainable business modelMike Hewson is a New Zealand artist based in Sydney. You can find out more about his work on his website https://mikehewson.co.nz/ and follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikehewson See his work in person:The Key's Under the Mat at AGNSW Tank (open until August 2026) https://mikehewson.co.nz/2025/10/the-keys-under-the-mat Coal Loader Palm Grove is a permanent public installation at Sydney Fish Markets: https://mikehewson.co.nz/2026/1/coal-loader-palm-grove Rocks on Wheels public art playground in Soutbank, Naarm (Melbourne): https://mikehewson.co.nz/2022/11/rocks-on-wheels Pockets Park in Pioneers Memorial Park, Leichhardt NSW: https://mikehewson.co.nz/2022/2/pockets-park St Peters Fences at Simpson Park, St Peters NSW: https://mikehewson.co.nz/2020/9/st-peters-fences Illawarra Placed Landscape at Crown Street Mall, Wollongong NSW: https://mikehewson.co.nz/2017/11/illawarra-placed-landscape 02:55 Work Life Balance Reality05:35 Growing Up in Rural NZ08:02 From Painting to Installations19:40 Building Playgrounds as Art27:37 Precarious Look Safe Design32:32 Sourcing Found Materials40:33 Maintenance and Record Crowds45:41 Afterlife and Financial Reality58:51 Geopets Art Fair Hack01:07:17 Contracts, Insurance and Codes01:20:51 Hard Truths And Advice01:25:51 After The Mammoth ShowAlso mentioned in this episode:Christchurch earthquake: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Christchurch_earthquake JR: https://www.jr-art.net/ | https://www.instagram.com/jr/ Columbia University: https://www.columbia.edu/ | https://www.instagram.com/columbia/ | @columbiaSarah Sze: https://www.sarahsze.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/sarahszestudio Lloyd’s: https://www.lloyds.com/australia | https://www.instagram.com/lloydsoflondon/ | @LloydsinsuranceInfrastructure NSW: https://www.infrastructure.nsw.gov.au/ | Gumtree: https://www.gumtree.com.au/ | https://www.instagram.com/gumtreeaus | @gumtreeaustraliaLett Thomas Gallery: https://lett-thomas.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/michaellett | https://www.instagram.com/lettthomasgallery Rirkrit Tiravanija: https://www.davidzwirner.com/artists/rirkrit-tiravanija | https://www.instagram.com/rirkrit_team Sydney Fish Market: https://www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au/ Images courtesy of the artist and Art Gallery of NSWThe Installation Art Podcast is a show about people who love and work with the contemporary art medium of installation. The host Anastasia Parmson, an artist herself, interviews internationally renowned artists and arts workers about the intricacies and behind-the-scenes stories of creating and showing work that is site-specific, ephemeral, large scale or immersive.🔔 Hit subscribe or follow wherever you’re listening to never miss a new episode.📢 Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/installationartpodcast/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@installationartpodcast📚 More information about the show and previous episodes: www.installationartpodcast.comYour host Anastasia Parmson: www.anastasiaparmson.art https://www.instagram.com/anastasiaparmson.art/

April 7, 20261 hr 28 min

Under the Pavement: Tanja Smeets on Materials, Collaboration & Growth

I made a 3-minute listener survey to help shape the podcast's future. What's working? What's not? Who should I interview next? Your feedback genuinely matters. Fill out here: https://forms.gle/qqHJrMXpsC9UYu2m7Get 15% off your .art domain name: https://get.art/?refdotart=art5044n9z17mpromo code: ART5044N9Z17MA conversation with Dutch artist Tanja Smeets, whose site-specific installations employ diverse and industrial materials (concrete spacers, leaf catchers, textiles, ceramics and 3D-printed steel) to create large scale works that appear to grow organically from architecture and cityscapes.Guided by her catchphrase “Under the pavement the roots are whirling,” Tanja's practice reveals what it takes to work at the intersection of art, craft, technology and collaboration.Key insights from this episode:• Why art school felt like failure• Finding and transforming unusual materials• Residencies at TextielLab and European Ceramic Work Center: pushing porcelain through frying sieves, learning embroidery and more• The volcano eruption: teaching an assistant to knot lentils into lycra via Zoom when flights were grounded• Miami airport interrogation: five suitcases, a letter and threatening border patrol agents with a lecture on artTanja Smeets is a Dutch artist based in Utrecht. Her work has been exhibited internationally including Manifesta and Museum Boijmans van Beuningen. See her work in person atWesterpark, Amsterdam (permanent public sculpture) and Centraal Museum, Utrecht (permanent installation in historic staircase).03:24 Favorite Quote – Under the Pavement the Roots Are Whirling09:35 The Iceland Trip That Changed Everything15:49 From Painting to Installation – When Everything Clicked20:10 A Government Building Commission – Dripping Through Multiple Floors22:50 How the Opportunities Started Coming29:24 TextielLab – Combining Felt with Leaf Catchers33:09 European Ceramic Work Center Residency47:47 When the White Cube Doesn’t Work48:52 Manifesta Barcelona – Installing on 5th-Century Graves51:17 Building Solo vs Working with Teams56:33 The Commercial Question – “I’m Always Disappearing into Big Installations”01:02:10 Miami Airport – Five Suitcases and the Threat of a Lecture01:06:56 MX3D Collaboration – 3D-Printed Stainless Steel01:11:43 Finding Technical Collaborators and Pushing Boundaries01:17:09 Dream Project01:20:00 Advice for Emerging ArtistsOpening of solo exhibition and launch of new publication and film about Tanja’s work: 11 April 2026 at the Utrecht in Leeuwarden.The book can be ordered via studiotanjasmeets@gmail.comYou can find out more about her work at https://www.tanjasmeets.nl/ and follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/studiotanjasmeets/Also mentioned in this episode:Dyckman Farmhouse Museum: https://dyckmanfarmhouse.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/dyckmanfarmhouse | @dyckmanfarmhousemuseum8502Museum Boijmans van Beuningen: https://www.boijmans.nl/en | https://www.instagram.com/boijmans/TextielMuseum: https://textielmuseum.nl/en | https://www.instagram.com/textielmuseum/TextielLab: https://textiellab.nl/enEuropean Ceramic Work Centre: https://ekwc.nl/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/ekwc_oisterwijk/ @sundaymorningekwc6951David Lynch: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_LynchEraserhead: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074486/Blue Velvet: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090756/Kunsthal KAdE: https://www.kunsthalkade.nl/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/kunsthal_kade_amersfoort | https://www.youtube.com/user/KUNSTHALKADEManifesta: https://manifesta.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/manifestabiennial/ | @Manifesta_foundationMondriaan Fund: https://www.mondriaanfonds.nl/en/homepage-2/ | https://www.instagram.com/mondriaanfonds/Museum of Arts And Design: https://madmuseum.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/madmuseum | @madmuseumMuseum Vizcaya: https://vizcaya.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/vizcaya_museum/ | @VizcayaMuseumWesterpark: https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/explore/neighbourhoods/westerpark | https://www.instagram.com/iamsterdamMX3D: https://mx3d.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/mx3d.metal.printing/ | @officialMX3DCentraal Museum Utrecht: https://www.centraalmuseum.nl/en | https://www.instagram.com/centraalmuseumThe Installation Art Podcast is a show about people who love and work with the contemporary art medium of installation. The host Anastasia Parmson, an artist herself, interviews internationally renowned artists and arts workers about the intricacies and behind-the-scenes stories of creating and showing work that is site-specific, ephemeral, large scale or immersive.🔔 Hit subscribe or follow wherever you’re listening to never miss a new episode.📢 Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/installationartpodcast/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@installationartpodcast📚 More information about the show and previous episodes: www.installationartpodcast.comYour host Anastasia Parmson: www.anastasiaparmson.art https://www.instagram.com/anastasiaparmson.art/Mentioned in this episode:Get your .art domain namehttps://get.art/?refdotart=art5044n9z17m promo code: ART5044N9Z17M

March 31, 202631 min

Bonus: I Went to Helsinki Biennale So You Don't Have To (But You Should)

Take the listener survey: https://forms.gle/r2EN8w9C7wisUxJe7Help shape the future of the podcast! Your feedback matters. A bonus solo episode about my last minute art trip to Helsinki: what I saw at Helsinki Biennale on Vallisaari island, three must-visit museums (Kiasma, Amos Rex, HAM), and why sometimes the best art experiences require a little effort to reach.Last August, I hopped a ferry from Estonia to catch the closing days of Helsinki Biennale. In a day and a half, I discovered why island biennales create magic, why Nordic countries do art infrastructure better and what Australia can learn from Finland's approach to supporting artists and making contemporary art accessible to everyone.This isn't a comprehensive review, it’s my honest impressions, favorite discoveries and a few rants.What I cover in this episode:• Why the ferry journey to Vallisaari island matters (hello, Cockatoo Island nostalgia)• The challenge of installing art outdoors: scale, setting and competing with historic buildings• Standout works: Sara Bjärland's bronze "inflatable" sculptures, Tania Candiani's immersive bunker installation, Ana Teresa Barboza's woven bark forest• Three essential Helsinki museums: Kiasma (timeless favorite), Amos Rex (new obsession), HAM (Biennale HQ)• Gushing about Helsinki Central Library (Oodi): free recording studios, 3D printing, instrument hire – everything Sydney libraries lack…• Free museum days and artist benefits: how my Australian NAVA card got me free entry in Finland (but not in Sydney... explain that)00:00 Why I Went To Helsinki Biennale01:20 Getting to Vallisaari03:31 Island Setting and Challenges07:06 Scent Art Surprise08:46 Standout Works13:14 Lesson About Rushing15:28 Rainy Day Museum Crawl: Kiasma16:32 Amos Rex and HAM21:44 Finland Artist Perks23:37 Wrap Up and Listener PollResources:Listener survey - help shape this podcast! https://forms.gle/r2EN8w9C7wisUxJe7Send a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/installationartpodcast Write an email: https://installationartpodcast.com/contact Also mentioned in this episode:Helsinki Biennale: https://helsinkibiennaali.fi/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/helsinkibiennial/ Vallisaari: https://vallisaari.fi/en_US | https://www.instagram.com/vallisaari.fi Biennale of Sydney: https://www.biennaleofsydney.art/ | https://www.instagram.com/biennalesydney/ | @biennaleofsydneyCockatoo Island: https://www.cockatooisland.gov.au/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/harbourtrust/ | @HarbourTrust2088Olafur Eliasson: https://olafureliasson.net/ | https://www.instagram.com/studioolafureliasson/ Raimo Saarinen: https://www.raimosaarinen.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/raimosaarinen/ Sara Bjarland: https://sarabjarland.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/sbjarland/ Tania Candiani: https://taniacandiani.com/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/tcandiani/ Ana Teresa Barboza: https://www.anateresabarboza.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/anateresa.barbozagubo/ Nabbteeri: https://www.nabbteeri.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/maria_birkhuhn/ | https://www.instagram.com/nabbage/ Kiasma: https://kiasma.fi/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/kiasmamuseum Amos Rex: https://amosrex.fi/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/amoskonst/ Anna Estarriola: https://www.annaestarriola.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/annaestarriola/ HAM: https://www.hamhelsinki.fi/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/hamhelsinki/ Oodi: https://oodihelsinki.fi/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/oodihelsinki/ NAVA: https://visualarts.net.au/ | https://www.instagram.com/nava_visualarts/

March 17, 202659 min

Drawing in Space: Monika Grzymala on Tape, Ephemeral Art & Intuition

Get up to 40% off your Hostinger plan: https://hostinger.com?REFERRALCODE=INSTALLATIONARTA philosophical conversation with Berlin-based artist Monika Grzymala, whose spatial drawings transform architecture with nothing but kilometers of black tape, intuition and intense physical labor.Monika's practice is deceptively simple: she works alone, without assistants, using adhesive tape to create immersive three-dimensional drawings that respond to each unique space. But beneath that simplicity we discuss profound questions about ephemerality, energy, presence and what remains when a work only exists for weeks before disappearing…From training as a stone sculptor to making her first site-specific drawing on ice at a Hamburg skating rink, from dumping all her figurative work after one transformative conversation with her professor to developing custom tape formulas with German manufacturers—Monika's journey reveals how radical simplicity can be the most powerful artistic choice.Key insights from this episode:• How one professor's comment changed everything• The longevity of tape installations: 2-3 months before they fall apart (and why that's intentional)• Documentation philosophy: why time-lapse videos don't capture the real process• Living inside an installation: the collector who surrounded herself with Monika's work• Advice for emerging artists: you don't need funding or large studios—just do itMonika Grzymala is a Polish artist based in Berlin. You can find out more about her work on her website: http://www.t-r-a-n-s-i-t.net/ and follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monika.grzymala/Monika’s publications: https://www.betterworldbooks.com/search/results?q=monika grzymalaShe is represented byGalerie CRONE: https://www.galeriecrone.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/galerie_crone/BERG Contemporary: https://www.bergcontemporary.is/en | https://www.instagram.com/bergcontemporary/SECCI Gallery: https://www.seccigallery.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/secci_gallery/03:20 Studio Rituals03:48 Berlin Life And Process05:44 Origins And Training08:01 Finding The Line13:25 Ephemeral Tape Philosophy31:24 Hunting For The Perfect Tape32:21 Liquid Drawing Mindset36:14 Funding Ephemeral Installations38:06 Energy, Memory And Reality41:31 Logistics And Documentation56:15 Advice For Young ArtistsAlso mentioned in this episode:MoMA: https://www.moma.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/themuseumofmodernart | @themuseumofmodernartThe Drawing Center: https://drawingcenter.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/drawingcenter/Biennale of Sydney: https://www.biennaleofsydney.art/ | https://www.instagram.com/biennalesydney/ | @biennaleofsydneyTokyo Art Museum: https://www.tobikan.jp/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/tokyometropolitanartmuseum/ | @tokyometropolitanartmuseum7280Louise Bourgeois: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Bourgeois | https://www.instagram.com/artistelouisebourgeois/Documenta: https://documenta.de/en | https://www.instagram.com/documenta_official | @documenta_officialBogomir Ecker: https://www.artforum.com/events/bogomir-ecker-2-226647/Olafur Eliasson: https://olafureliasson.net/ | https://www.instagram.com/studioolafureliasson/ Dian Woodner: https://patronview.com/patrons/dian-woodnerFrac Lorraine: https://www.fraclorraine.org/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/fraclorraine/ | @49nord6est-fraclorraineKunstlerhaus Dortmund: https://www.kh-do.de/ | https://www.instagram.com/kuenstlerinnenhaus_dortmund | @kunstlerhausdortmund2577Kunstmuseum Basel: https://kunstmuseumbasel.ch/ | https://www.instagram.com/kunstmuseumbasel/ | @kumubaselThe Installation Art Podcast is a show about people who love and work with the contemporary art medium of installation. The host Anastasia Parmson, an artist herself, interviews internationally renowned artists and arts workers about the intricacies and behind-the-scenes stories of creating and showing work that is site-specific, ephemeral, large scale or immersive.🔔 Hit subscribe or follow wherever you’re listening to never miss a new episode.📢 Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/installationartpodcast/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@installationartpodcast📚 More information about the show and previous episodes: www.installationartpodcast.comYour host Anastasia Parmson: www.anastasiaparmson.art https://www.instagram.com/anastasiaparmson.art/

February 24, 20261 hr 20 min

Behind the Scenes of the Art World: Carrie Scott on Fees, Access & Support

Get 15% off your .art domain name: https://get.art/?refdotart=art5044n9z17mpromo code: ART5044N9Z17MGet Carrie's Artist Inventory Template here: https://www.seen.art/store/p/artist-inventory-template A refreshingly candid conversation with Carrie Scott: curator, art consultant, broadcaster and founder of Seen, a media platform connecting the art world to the real world.This is our most unfiltered episode yet, where we tackle topics that might "get us in trouble": what consultants actually charge, why artists should have elevator pitches (despite what famous curators say), whether museums should pay artists a percentage of ticket sales, and how galleries claim they'll "find you" while rejecting all submissions.Carrie's career spans working with major galleries in Seattle and New York, collaborating with Nick Knight for a decade, launching groundbreaking exhibitions and now building a consultancy that refuses to be motivated purely by commission. She is opinionated, pragmatic and genuinely invested in making the art world less intimidating and more transparent.Key insights from this episode:• The real numbers: what art consultants charge• Why Carrie is building an art consultancy that is not centered around transaction• The controversial debate: should artists have an elevator pitch?• What galleries mean when they say "don't contact us" (and should you ignore it)?• Creative health as the third pillar of wellness alongside physical and mental health• Practical advice for ambitious artists and where to find helpful resourcesCarrie Scott is a curator, art historian, consultant and broadcaster based in London. She is the founder of Seen, a media platform and consultancy dedicated to connecting the art world to the real world.You can find out more about her work at https://www.seen.art/ and follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/carriescottcurates/00:34 Carrie's Favorite Quote03:34 Background and Early Life07:13 Journey into Art and Education09:58 First Job and Early Career Challenges21:26 Transition to Consulting and Launching Her Own Business40:24 The Value of Installation Art43:48 Challenges in Monetizing Installation Art45:35 Artist-Museum Revenue Sharing52:05 Curating and Supporting Artists56:26 Advice for Emerging Artists01:09:45 Dream Projects and Future PlansAlso mentioned in this episode:Brothers And Keepers by John Edgar Wideman: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50891912-brothers-and-keepersOverherd oat milk: https://overherd.uk/ | https://www.instagram.com/overherd.ukThe Wallace Collection: https://www.wallacecollection.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/wallacemuseum | @TheWallacecollectionJean-Honoré Fragonard: https://www.wikiart.org/en/jean-honore-fragonardDickinson College: https://www.dickinson.edu/ | https://www.instagram.com/dickinsoncollege | @dsoncollegeConde Nast: https://www.condenast.com/University of Washington: https://www.washington.edu/ | https://www.instagram.com/uofwa/ | @universityofwashingtonSeattle Magazine: https://seattlemag.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/seattlemag/The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/seattletimes/Seattle University: https://www.seattleu.edu/ | https://www.instagram.com/seattleu/ | @seattleuniversityThe Stranger: https://www.thestranger.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/thestrangerseattle/James Harris: https://jamesharrisgallery.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/jamesharrisgallery/Rashid Johnson: https://www.hauserwirth.com/artists/2830-rashid-johnson/ | https://www.instagram.com/rashidjohnson/Nicole Klagsburn: https://www.nicoleklagsbrun.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/nicole_klagsbrun_inc/Matt Day Jackson: https://www.hauserwirth.com/viewing-room/matthew-day-jackson/ https://www.instagram.com/matthewdayjackson/Mika Rottenberg: https://www.hauserwirth.com/artists/23390-mika-rottenberg/ | https://www.instagram.com/mikarottenberg/Jimmy Moffat: https://www.instagram.com/jimmymoff/Art + Commerce: https://artandcommerce.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/artandcommerce/Annie Leibovitz: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Leibovitz | https://www.instagram.com/annieleibovitz/Steven Meisel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Meisel | https://www.instagram.com/stevenmeiselofficial/Nick Knight: https://www.nickknight.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/nick_knight/180 Studios: https://www.180studios.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/180.studios/The Art Show on Sky Arts: https://www.carrie-scott.com/theartshoq | https://www.instagram.com/artshowtv/ | @theartshow791Simonette Quamina: https://www.simonettequamina.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/simonette_quamina/John Pawson: <a href="https://www.johnpawson.com/" rel="noopener...

February 3, 20262 hr 1 min

What Installation Artists Need: Nicolas de Oliveira & Nicola Oxley

Get 15% off your .art domain name: https://get.art/?refdotart=art5044n9z17mpromo code: ART5044N9Z17MTry Hostinger: https://hostinger.com?REFERRALCODE=INSTALLATIONARTAn extraordinary conversation with Nicolas de Oliveira and Nicola Oxley, the writer-curator duo who literally wrote the books on installation art and founded the Museum of Installation in London. For nearly 40 years, they've been chroniclers, producers, curators, and advocates for a medium that barely had a name when they first started.From publishing the definitive Installation Art books (1994, 2003) and commissioning hundreds of new works to building an extensive archive – Nicolas and Nicola have been at the coalface of installation art's evolution.In this wide-ranging discussion, they share what it was like convincing galleries that installation art even existed, why good documentation became their mission, and how they've sustained independent curatorial practice for four decades on "absolute shoestring budgets."Key insights from this episode:• How installation art emerged and why galleries insisted it was "just sculpture"• Coining the term "immersive" in their 2003 book (before it became ubiquitous)• Their philosophy of curating as co-production• The economics of independent spaces: how friendships sustain what funding cannot• Why they turned down a massive London space and turned to making books• The difference between installation art and the "entertainment industry" of immersive experiences• Advice for emerging artists: practice comes first, outcomes come laterNicolas de Oliveira and Nicola Oxley are based in London and run SE8 Gallery in Deptford. Their books Installation Art (1994) and Installation Art in the New Millennium (2003) remain foundational texts in the field.They publish artist books under their imprint Mulberry Tree Press and continue to curate exhibitions internationally while maintaining one of the most extensive archives of installation art documentation in the world.00:26 Discovering Installation Art01:50 Early Influences and Inspirations06:24 Founding Unit 7 Gallery07:30 The Role of Documentation14:45 Museum of Installation18:30 SE8 Gallery and International Projects20:05 Challenges of Space and Real Estate24:10 Curatorial Practices and Artist Relationships36:09 Writing Process and Collaboration43:02 Funding and Sustainability47:06 Installation Art and the Art Market01:05:08 Supporting Artists Through Time and Commitment01:07:36 Advice for Emerging Installation Practitioners01:17:58 Curating Shows in Different Countries01:24:09 Documenting and Archiving Installations01:43:44 Defining Installation Art and Its FutureSE8 Gallery: https://se8.gallery/ | https://www.instagram.com/nicode.oliveira?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=Installation Art (1996): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12208566-installation-artInstallation Art in the New Millennium (2003): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1972215.Installation_Art_in_the_New_MillenniumOur interview with Hans op de Beeck: https://installationartpodcast.com/hans-op-de-beeck-018Bonus episode: What is Installation Art: https://installationartpodcast.com/bonus-025Bonus episode: Why This 2026 Venice Biennale Scandal is Splitting the Art World: https://installationartpodcast.com/bonus-031Also mentioned in this episode:Goldsmith’s University: https://www.gold.ac.uk/ | https://www.instagram.com/goldsmithsuol/ | @GoldsmithsUoLArte Povera: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arte_PoveraYves Klein: https://www.yvesklein.com/en/yves-klein/ |Allan Kaprow: http://www.allankaprow.com/Dan Graham: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_GrahamRachel Whiteread: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Whiteread | https://www.instagram.com/rachelwhitereadofficial/Bruce Nauman: https://www.moma.org/artists/4243-bruce-nauman | https://www.instagram.com/brucenaumanart/Edward Woodman: https://jhg.art/events/space-light-and-time-edward-woodman-a-retrospective/Helen Chadwick: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_ChadwickThames & Hudson: https://www.thamesandhudson.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/thamesandhudsonICA London: https://www.ica.art/ https://www.instagram.com/icalondon/Whitechapel Gallery: https://www.whitechapelgallery.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/whitechapelgallery | @whitechapelgalleryCamden Art Centre: https://camdenartcentre.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/camdenartcentre/ | @camden-art-centreMuseum of Installation: https://www.moca.london/moi.html | https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/museum-of-installation-archiveNew Museum: https://www.newmuseum.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/newmuseum/ | @newmuseumPhyllida Barlow: https://www.hauserwirth.com/artists/2826-phyllida-barlow/KW Institute for Contemporary Art: https://www.kw-berlin.de/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/kwinstitutefcontemporaryart/Boris Groys: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_GroysGoshka Macuga: https://www.moma.org/artists/131293-goshka-macuga | https://www.instagram.com/gonogo.space/?hl=enHans op de Beeck: https://hansopdebeeck.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/hans_op_de_beeck/Dave Hickey: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_HickeyStefan Brüggemann: http://www.stefanbruggemann.com/ | <a...

January 6, 20261 hr 17 min

30,000 Flowers and Lives Changed – Zadok Ben-David on Installation Art at Scale

Try Descript: https://get.descript.com/s8kjemvu79fzAn in-depth conversation with award-winning sculptor and installation artist Zadok Ben-David, whose practice spans delicate miniature work to large-scale public installations. From his early beginnings in Yemen and Israel to representing his country at the Venice Biennale, Zadok shares the philosophical and practical journey behind his internationally acclaimed work. Discover how he transforms metal into poetic metaphors exploring human nature, evolution, and our relationship with the natural world (and how one installation changed a stranger's life forever).Key insights from this episode:• The path from abstract expressionism at St Martin's School of Art to creating massive figurative installations• How 30,000 hand-painted flowers became one of the world's most travelled installations and the team of assistants who helped create them• Behind the scenes of installing work across five continents, from prisoners in Germany to 70 assistants in Uzbekistan• The commercial strategy that funds large-scale installations through smaller original works• Why Zadok turned down a $1 million public art commission to maintain artistic integrity• The profound moment when his Blackfield installation helped a Holocaust survivor find hope againZadok Ben-David is based in London and Portugal. You can find out more about his work on his website https://www.zadokbendavid.com/ and follow him on Instagram @zadokstudio https://www.instagram.com/zadokstudio/Exhibition “FLOWERS. Art from the Renaissance to Artificial Intelligence” in Rome until 22 February 2026: https://www.chiostrodelbramante.it/post_mostra/flowers-flowers-art/03:27 Work-Life Balance Insights06:15 Journey to Art and Family Influence09:17 Art School Challenges and Triumphs10:19 Moving to London and Early Struggles15:15 Discovering Sculpture and Teaching21:06 First Installations25:17 Animal Metaphors in Art34:25 Global Exhibitions and Unique Experiences38:23 Commercial Aspects of Art40:33 People I Saw, But Never Met44:58 Art Installations Around the World48:58 The Other Side of Midnight54:44 Challenges in Art Installations01:04:37 The Healing Power of Art01:11:40 Upcoming Exhibitions and Contact InformationAlso mentioned in this episode:Anish Kapoor: https://anishkapoor.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/dirty_corner/Jerusalem Art Academy: https://www.bezalel.ac.il/en | https://www.instagram.com/bezalel_academy | @bezalelacademyofartanddesi1460University of Reading: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ | https://www.instagram.com/uniofreading/ | @UniofReadingChelsea College of Arts: https://www.arts.ac.uk/colleges/chelsea-college-of-arts | https://www.instagram.com/unioftheartslondon/ | @UniversityoftheArtsLondonCentral Saint Martins: https://www.arts.ac.uk/colleges/central-saint-martins | https://www.instagram.com/unioftheartslondon/ | @UniversityoftheArtsLondonAnthony Caro: https://www.anthonycaro.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/anthonycarocentre/Aesop: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesop's_FablesKrylov: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Krylov's_fablesKröller-Müller Museum: https://krollermuller.nl/en | https://www.instagram.com/krollermullermuseum/Kunsthal Rotterdam: https://www.kunsthal.nl/en/#tijdlijn-2026-03 | https://www.instagram.com/kunsthal/ | @KunsthalRotterdamArt Gallery of Uzbekistan: https://uzbekistan1.com/art-gallery-of-uzbekistan/Neanderthal Museum: https://neanderthal.de/en | https://www.instagram.com/neanderthalmuseum/ |@NeanderthalMuseumSculpture by the Sea: https://sculpturebythesea.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/sculpturebythesea | @sculpturebytheseaNational Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan: https://nmrk.kz/en/ | @qazaqstanrespyblkasynynult9862Annandale Galleries: https://annandalegalleries.com.au/ | https://www.instagram.com/annandalegalleries/Ploshchad Mira Museum Center: https://mira1.ru/about | @na_mira1Krasnoyarsk Museum Biennale: https://biennale.ru/Joseph Beuys: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_BeuysGYRE: https://gyre-omotesando.com/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/gyre_omotesando/ | @gyreTVChiostro del Bramante: https://www.chiostrodelbramante.it/post_mostra/flowers-flowers-art/ | https://www.instagram.com/chiostrodelbramante_roma | @chiostrodelbramanteAndreas Gursky: https://www.andreasgursky.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/andreasgursky_officialAi Weiwei: https://www.aiweiwei.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/aiww/The Installation Art Podcast is a show about people who love and work with the contemporary art medium of installation. The host Anastasia Parmson, an artist herself, interviews internationally renowned artists and arts workers about the intricacies and behind-the-scenes stories of creating and showing work that is site-specific, ephemeral, large scale or immersive.🔔 Hit subscribe or follow wherever you’re listening to never miss a new episode.📢 Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/installationartpodcast/Tiktok: @installationartpodcast📚 More information about the show and previous episodes: www.installationartpodcast.comYour host Anastasia Parmson: www.anastasiaparmson.art | https://www.instagram.com/anastasiaparmson.art/Mentioned in this episode:Try Descript:https://get.descript.com/s8kjemvu79fz

December 23, 202531 min

Bonus: How to Do Residencies – And Other Big Questions for Installation Artists

Subscribe to receive new episodes straight to your inbox: https://installationartpodcast.com/subscribeIn this bonus episode, host Anastasia Parmson explores what it really means to approach residencies as an installation artist. Beyond the logistics of time, space, and materials, we dive into bigger questions that shape the medium:• How to make large-scale, site-specific work in short timeframes and unfamiliar contexts?• What happens when you choose temporary or fragile materials instead of archival ones?• Is the value of installation art in the object, the process or the audience experience?• Could installation art be considered disposable or should we always aim for permanence?Drawing from a recent experimental residency at DRAW Space in Sydney, Anastasia reflects on the challenges of working fast, improvising with cardboard and collaborating with others. But more importantly, you’ll be invited to consider your own approach to residencies, materials, and the long-term value of installation art.Whether you’re an installation artist or simply curious about how these questions play out in practice, this episode offers insights and provocations designed to spark discussion.00:00 Introduction and Listener Review01:54 Invitation to Draw Space Residency03:47 Challenges and Initial Thoughts06:10 Execution and Community Involvement08:21 Building the Installation12:01 Final Touches and Open Day15:43 Reflections on the Experiment24:49 Conclusion and Future PlansDid this episode raise questions or spark ideas?We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts, stories, or residency experiences:• Leave a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/installationartpodcast• Send a DM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/installationartpodcast/• Use the contact form: https://installationartpodcast.com/contactBuy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/installationartpodcastAlso mentioned in this epsisode:DRAW Space: https://drawspace.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/drawspacesydneyMentioned in this episode:Get your .art domain namehttps://get.art/?refdotart=art5044n9z17m promo code: ART5044N9Z17M

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