Loading...

PODCAST

Ministry of Arts Podcast

Possibly the World"s most inclusive art podcast.Artist & Curator Gary Mansfield talks to emerging, established and world renowned artists each week in his quite unique manner.Gary"s booming Cockney voice and jovial approach, is a breath of fresh air for those within the art world and a beacon to those that thought it inaccessible.Previous guests include: Maggi Hambling, Mark Wallinger, Gavin Turk, kennardphillipps, Mat Colishaw, Ray Richardson, Camille Walala, Rankin, Keith Brymer-Jones,

arts visual arts

All Episodes

42:47

REWIND Ep.218 Peter Morris - Ministry of Arts Podcast

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2026/09/23

In this REWIND episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Peter Morris @petermorrisarchitects@kcawlondon Peter Morris is primarily an architect, who has been running his own practice for over a decade. But his other creative work – as an artist, illustrator, model-maker and designer of products and interiors – has always sat alongside his architectural work, and he loves to bring the colour, quirkiness and joy of his artworks to his buildings wherever possible. The sculpture joining KCAW ART TRAIL this summer

en

50:27

Ep.308 Steeldoor Studios - Ministry of Arts Podcast

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2026/08/02

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Steeldoor Studios (@SteeldoorStudios)Steeldoor Studios is the pseudonym of a self-taught artist whose work has been shaped by a lifetime of institutional experience, including many years spent in prison.Creating primarily in acrylic, ink and pencil, the artist explores themes of identity, confinement, recovery, resilience and personal transformation.Their paintings frequently feature powerful self-portraits and symbolic imagery, inviting viewers to reflect on

en

57:24

REWIND Ep.70 Unskilled Worker - Ministry of Arts Podcast

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2026/07/22

This week Gary Mansfield speaks Helen Downie aka Unskilled Worker (@unskilledworker)Helen is a self-taught artist and has been painting for just seven years, in that short time, she has amassed over 280,000 Instagram followers, under the Moniker Unskilled Worker and has become one of the country’s most sought after painters.Helen wanted her Unskilled Worker to be anonymous, sexless, ageless and colourless.She wanted it to be anyone.As her popularity grew, as did the viewer’s curiosity as to whom

en

56:41

Ep.307 Andy Aitchison - Ministry of Arts Podcast

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2026/07/05

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Andy Aitchison (@AndyAitchison.uk)Andy Aitchison is a documentary photographer best known for his long-term exploration of the UK prison system. Since first photographing inside HMP Wandsworth in 2004, he has spent more than two decades documenting life behind bars, gaining rare access to prisons across the country. His work moves beyond stereotypes, portraying prisoners and staff with dignity while revealing the realities of confinement, rehabilitation and

en

54:51

Ep.306 Music in the Ville - Ministry of Arts Podcast

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2026/06/28

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Emma Dogliani (@music_in_the_ville)Music in the Ville is a charity that brings professional musicians of all genres into HMP Pentonville to perform and run weekly workshops and monthly open mic sessions on the wings. In a prison where most men spend 22 hours a day locked in cells, Music in the Ville brings light, humanity and connection through weekly live music. Our presence transforms the atmosphere on the wings, helping men feel seen, valued and capable of

en

59:09

Ep.305 Louis Wootton-Davies - Ministry of Arts Podcast

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2026/06/07

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Louis Wootton-Davies (@LouisWDavies)Louis Wootton-Davies is an artist whose work is shaped by memory, curiosity and the hidden histories of everyday places. A recurring influence throughout his practice is his father, who owned a scrap car yard and worked hard to provide greater opportunities for his children. Visits to the yard were rare, making those occasions all the more significant. For the young Louis, the site felt both mysterious and captivating: a

en

47:00

REWIND Ep.59 Wilfrid Wood - Ministry of Arts Podcast

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2026/05/13

In this REWIND episode (released: Jan 2020) Gary Mansfield speaks Wilfrid Wood (@WilfridWoodSculptor)When you view any of Wilfrid’s works, a smile is always close by.A prolific drawer from life, Wilfrid invites a sitter to be drawn on a near daily basis.As soon as they cross the studio threshold, they are very definitely entering a new world. His days working on satirical TV show Spitting Image was to stand in good stead in the art of manipulating and distorting the subject before him.Wilfrid

en

38:04

Ep.304 O and A Collective - Ministry of Arts Podcast

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2026/04/21

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to the O and A Collective (@OandACollective)O and A collective is a collaboration of UK-based artists Zoe Moss and Jonny Fyvie, two contemporary painters merging two very different styles. Bold graphic acrylic meets photorealistic oil painting. The work exploresa number of themes, within their use of characters from popular culture and juxtaposes with highly detailed realistic elements.To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month:

en

1:03:23

Ep.300 Sara Reeve/Sussex PAotY - Ministry of Arts...

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2026/03/23

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Sara Reeve (@sarareevedraws)We are very excited to have Sara Reeve to the Sussex Portrait Artist of the Year 2026 judging panel!⁣As a former runner-up on Sky’s Portrait @artistoftheyear Sara knows exactly what it’s like to be in a live portrait competition.⁣⁣Now, she’s bringing her artistic expertise to @thevenueworthing on 28th March to help us crown Sussex Portrait Artist of the Year 2026⁣Want to witness the competition live and see Sara in action as a

en

54:58

Ep.298 Michelle Heron - Ministry of Arts Podcast

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2026/01/12

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Pure Evil (@MichelleHeron.art)Michelle Heron is best known for her evocative paintings of shop-fronts, which capture the quiet character of everyday streets.Working primarily in oil, Heron focuses on independent shops, cafés and small businesses, often depicting them closed, weathered or slightly worn. Her work is less about commerce and more about memory, place and passing time. By isolating shop-fronts and removing figures, she invites viewers to reflect on

en

46:40

REWIND Ep.30 Emily Malice - Ministry of Arts Podcast

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2025/12/14

In this episode Gary Mansfield talks to Emily Malice (@emilymalice)Emily Malice is one of the most sort-after artists in the UK, she is one of the many bold and powerful women that are rebalancing the gender scale of the once heavily male orientated industry.She is famed for her linear style mouth design, smiling or snarling and showing braces fixed to the teeth.As well as selling prints of her designs, along with her close friend Stephanie she has started the ethical clothing brand

en

55:14

Ep.296 James Payne/Great Art Explained - Ministry of...

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2025/11/19

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to James Payne (@GreatArtExplained)James Payne is a writer, curator and YouTuber, known for demystifying art via his popular YouTube channel Great Art Explained. His newly released book, Great Art Explained: The Stories Behind the World’s Greatest Masterpieces, brings that same clarity to the printed page. It explores 30 iconic works — from Botticelli’s Birth of Venus to Monet’s Water Lilies and Georgia O’Keeffe’s Jimson Weed — unpacking not only their visual

en

1:01:39

Ep.295 Dave Buonaguidi - Ministry of Arts Podcast

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2025/11/02

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Dave Buonaguidi (@RealHackneyDave)Dave Buonaguidi (aka Real Hackney Dave) is best known for his bold, witty, and thought-provoking screen prints that blend vintage imagery with striking typography.Drawing from his background in advertising, Buonaguidi combines humour, social commentary, and nostalgia to challenge conventional ideas of art and communication.He often uses found materials, such as old maps or postcards, overlaid with vivid, hand-pulled slogans

en

1:16:37

REWIND Ep.19 Mark Wallinger - Ministry of Arts Podcast

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2025/10/14

In this REWIND episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Mark Wallinger (recorded: November 2018).Mark Wallinger is known for exploring identity, faith, and politics through diverse media. His Labyrinth (2013) project placed unique labyrinth designs across London’s Underground stations, symbolising journeys and introspection. Earlier, his celebrated sculpture Ecce Homo (1999) depicted a life-sized, vulnerable Christ figure on Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth, challenging perceptions of power, humanity, and

en

1:11:10

REWIND Ep.15 Rugman - Ministry of Arts Podcast

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2025/09/03

In this REWIND episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Rugman (@@rugmanart)Rugman is known for blending street art with fine art influences. His bold work often combines graphic iconography, stencil techniques, and layered textures. Drawing inspiration from pop culture, politics, and global symbolism, he reimagines familiar imagery with a subversive twist. Rugman frequently explores themes of identity, consumerism, and cultural power.Exhibiting internationally, he has collaborated with brands and

en

48:56

Ep.289 Graeme Messer - Ministry of Arts Podcast

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2025/08/12

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Graeme Messer (@GraemeMesser)Graeme Messer is a London-based multidisciplinary artist whose work spans assemblage, photography, text, and performance. Originally from South Africa, he moved to the UK in the 1980s and built a successful early career in theatre, directing works by Shakespeare and Tennessee Williams, and founding the award-winning company Out of Bounds.Since 2010, Messer has focused solely on visual art, bringing his theatrical flair into the

en

53:03

REWIND Ep.07 Simon Callery - Ministry of Arts Podcast

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2025/07/13

In this REWIND episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Simon Callery (@Simon.Callery)Simon Callery is known for his innovative approach to painting, which bridges the gap between two-dimensional surfaces and three-dimensional space. Born in London in 1960, Callery studied at Campion School and later at Cardiff College of Art. His work challenges traditional definitions of painting by incorporating sculptural elements—his canvases are often cut, pierced, folded, and stained with intense, earthy pigments

en

46:42

Ep.287 SLART a.k.a Steven Light - Ministry of Arts...

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2025/07/06

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to SLART (@SLART.ME)SLART — a figurative expressionist and proud outsider artist based in Swindon, UK.He dropped out of his A-level art class after his teacher told him he couldn’t draw large scale. It wasn’t until his late 30s that he picked up pen and ink again, prompted by a blog post that posed three questions about childhood pastimes. His answers were all “drawing and video games”—he chose drawing.Many life experiences fuel his art, including his adoption,

en

1:08:35

REWIND Ep.04 Carrie Reichardt - Ministry of Arts Podcast

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2025/06/17

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Carrie Reichardt (@CarrieReichardt)Carrie Reichardt is not only one of Gary Mansfield's favourite artists, but one of his favourite people.She is such a multi-layerd person, a mosaic artist, a craftivist, she’s vocally opposed to death penalty and an all-round bloody good person, albeit a bit of an eccentric one.Carrie Reichardt is best known for her mosaic and ceramic work, her amazing home is testament to the quality of her work (look online) although she

en

1:01:37

Ep.285 Jessica Gale - Ministry of Arts Podcast

Ministry of Arts Podcast ·

2025/06/08

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Jessica Gale (@Jess.Gale.Art)Jessica Gale is a British landscape artist born in 1967 in Catterick, Yorkshire.She began painting in 2010 during a period living in Amsterdam, inspired by the subdued beauty of a Dutch winter and influenced by Rembrandt's moody palette. Her work encompasses both representational and abstract landscapes.She investigates the interplay of shapes, light, and negative space, manipulating these elements through form and colour to

en

44 results

Similar Podcasts

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

American Public Media

The Moth

The Moth

Podcast Patapoe

0d0a

Stage Whisper

Andrew Cortes and Hope Bird

Scary Stories and Rain

Being Scared