Because Staring at Renaissance Paintings in Silence Wasn’t Cutting It
So you’ve decided you want to learn about art history. Cool. Congratulations on choosing one of the few hobbies that makes you sound sophisticated at dinner parties while requiring absolutely zero other knowledge about anything.
But let’s be honest: actually going to museums is exhausting, art history textbooks cost more than the GDP of a small nation, and YouTube videos keep getting interrupted by ads for meditation apps (ironic, given how rage-inducing those interruptions are). Enter: podcasts, the medium that lets you absorb centuries of artistic genius while doing literally anything else.
Whether you’re desperate to understand why a Campbell’s soup can counts as art, curious about which Renaissance artist had the most dramatic personal life (spoiler: all of them), or just want to feel culturally relevant without leaving your couch, I’ve rounded up the best art history podcasts for your enjoyment.
ArtCurious Podcast
Assuming art history lacks excitement would be a mistake. The subject proves to be peculiar, amusing, enigmatic, captivating, and freeing. This exploration delves into the most unusual tales from the art world. Could the Mona Lisa be a forgery? Was Van Gogh’s death truly self-inflicted? And what made the Impressionists so exceptional?
Accessible Art History
This platform serves art history enthusiasts, learners, and all those eager to discover every era of artistic expression and human creativity. The objective is to transform the study of art into an accessible and delightful experience.
The Lonely Palette
The Lonely Palette brings art history to everyone through individual artworks. Host Tamar Avishai speaks with museum visitors about a selected piece, then explores its context, style, and significance in depth.
Getty Art + Ideas
Jim Cuno, president of the J. Paul Getty Trust, conducts conversations with artists, authors, curators, and academics about their creative and scholarly pursuits. He engages these influential voices in thoughtful and analytical discussions spanning architecture, archaeology, art history, and museum displays.
Who Arted: Weekly Art History for All Ages
Who Arted makes art history accessible to all audiences. Unlike typical art podcasts, it explores diverse creative forms beyond traditional museum pieces. Episodes feature both renowned figures like Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso, and Andy Warhol, alongside lesser-known creators working in video games, dance, culinary arts, and other media.
ArtHoles
An audaciously thorough exploration of art and its history conducted by an individual lacking any formal expertise in these subjects.
The Great Women Artists
This podcast honors women in the arts. Hosted by art historian and curator Katy Hessel, the show features conversations with artists about their careers, as well as discussions with curators, authors, and art enthusiasts about the female artists who hold special significance for them.
Stuff about Things An Art History Podcast
Lindsay hosts Stuff about Things: An Art History Podcast, exploring individual artworks, artists, and art world topics in depth. She aims to make art history engaging and accessible for all listeners. Her dog, Gus, serves as the podcast’s muse and mascot.
Baroque B*tches – An Art History Gossip Podcast
Lindsay hosts Stuff about Things: An Art History Podcast, exploring individual artworks, artists, and art world topics in depth. She aims to make art history engaging and accessible for all listeners. Her dog, Gus, serves as the podcast’s muse and mascot.
History of Art: Undergraduate Course Lectures
A curated sampling of lectures presented to History of Art undergraduate students at the University of Oxford. Additional information about other History of Art events, lectures, and courses can be found on the History of Art Department homepage.
The Conversation Art Podcast
This podcast presents individual interviews and group discussions with current artists, gallerists, curators, and art collectors. Originating from Los Angeles, the show extends its reach across the nation and around the globe.
A brush with…
A brush with…, sponsored by Bloomberg Connects, features The Art Newspaper host Ben Luke in conversations with prominent international artists. The podcast explores their influences, favorite museums, inspirations, daily studio practices, and perspectives on art’s purpose, offering insight into the lives and minds of leading contemporary artists.
Art Fraud
This investigative series examines a major art fraud case in United States history involving the Knoedler Gallery. Created by VANITY FAIR reporter Michael Shnayerson and presented by Alec Baldwin, ART FRAUD reveals the controversy surrounding numerous questionable artworks and over 80 million dollars in proceeds that precipitated the dramatic downfall of one of New York City’s most prestigious and longstanding art galleries.
In the Foreground: Conversations on Art & Writing
In the Foreground: Conversations on Art & Writing explores art’s societal role, knowledge transmission, and how histories are constructed. Each episode features detailed conversations with scholars or artists about their research, career trajectories, and formative influences that have shaped their perspectives on art history today.
The Art History Babes
Corrie, Nat, Ginny, and Jen explore visual culture through casual conversations blending seminar-style discussions with relaxed social energy. Episodes include regular art talks, Art History Babe Briefs offering concise facts, and Hot Takes covering broader cultural topics beyond traditional art history.
Dr Great Art! Art, Art History, Visual Metaphor, Politics!
Dr Great Art! explores art history, visual metaphor, and politics through podcasts and performance-lectures. Artist and art historian Dr Mark Staff Brandl presents engaging discussions that merge historical knowledge with aesthetic experience, creating educational entertainment that transforms traditional art appreciation.
Art of History
Historical moments examined through significant artworks. Accessible to all audiences with new episodes released monthly. Presented by Amanda Matta, an art historian.
The Sculptor’s Funeral
The Sculptor’s Funeral focuses exclusively on contemporary figurative sculptors. The podcast features art history, technical discussions, news, interviews within the Western European figurative tradition, and listener engagement for sculptors committed to the enduring relevance of Fine Arts.
Art Sense
Art Sense offers behind-the-scenes access to the art world. Host Craig Gould conducts conversations with art historians, curators, museum directors, artists, authors, and business leaders, exploring perspectives from historical masterpieces to contemporary innovation in art and culture.
Art History for All
Art History for All engages everyone, regardless of their feelings about art. Host Allyson Healey examines individual artworks, their historical context, and broader significance while questioning their relevance. The podcast ventures beyond traditional art history to help listeners discover personal connections with art.
Art Sistory
Sisters Brandi and Danni explore whether art can revive their sense of vitality. Each week on Art Sistory, they examine artworks, discuss their unusual histories, and assess their emotional impact, testing if art can genuinely make people feel more alive.
Art Slice – A Palatable Serving of Art History
Artists and art historian Stephanie Dueñas and Russell Shoemaker offer unconventional explorations of art and its history. The approach avoids exclusivity, elitism, and pretentious jargon, making art accessible to all.
PORTRAITS
This podcast from the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery explores the intersection of art, biography, history, and identity. Director Kim Sajet engages artists, historians, and thought leaders in discussions about the profound and subtle influences that portraits have on society.
Waldy and Bendy’s Adventures in Art
Waldy and Bendy’s Adventures in Art features art critic Waldemar Januszczak of the Sunday Times and renowned art historian and TV presenter Bendor ‘Bendy’ Grosvenor. The podcast examines noteworthy developments in the art world during the lockdown period.
Do you know of another Art History podcast that you think should be on this list? Let me know
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