Talk Art

Actor Russell Tovey and gallerist Robert Diament launched Talk Art in 2018 with a straightforward goal: make the art world feel less intimidating. Over 370 episodes and 26 seasons later, they have done exactly that, and then some. The interview format brings in a genuinely eclectic guest list -- one week it is a major contemporary painter like Joan Snyder, the next it is Sean Ono Lennon or fashion designer Marco Falcioni. The Financial Times called it "lively, accessible and enthusiastic," and Dazed described it as "as fast-paced and gossipy as it is genuinely interesting." That is about right. Russell and Robert have real chemistry, and their backgrounds complement each other perfectly: Russell brings an outsider's curiosity from the acting world, while Robert contributes insider gallery knowledge. They have also published a companion book that Vogue called "an indispensable volume." What keeps this show fresh after so many episodes is how genuinely interested the hosts remain. Their interviews with younger and emerging artists are particularly strong -- sensitive and challenging without being patronizing. With a 4.7-star rating from 480 reviewers, Talk Art sits comfortably as one of the biggest art podcasts in the world. It covers everything from sculpture to abstraction to the art market, but it always comes back to that central question: why does art connect us?