Art Problems

EP 102: Taxes for Humans: A Conversation with Hannah Cole

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Artist and accountant Hannah Cole talks about her new book "Taxes for Humans"—your not-boring guide to taxation for self-employed artists. We discus...

EP 101: How to Get Studio Visits Without Reading Minds

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week I'm extending a conversation I started in my revived Hyperallergic column: do you need a proper studio space to get studio visits? The answe...

EP 100: Inside Netvvrk with Painter Chris Moss

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Art Problems podcast interview series "Inside Netvvrk", I'm wrapping up the series with Chris Moss, a painter and the artist advisor ...

EP 99: Inside Netvvrk with Multidisciplinary Artist Brent Showalter

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Art Problems podcast interview series "Inside Netvvrk", I'm talking with Brent Showalter, a multidisciplinary artist whose brilliantl...

EP 98: Inside Netvvrk with Abstract Painter Ann Marie Auricchio

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Art Problems podcast interview series “Inside Netvvrk”, I'm talking with Ann Marie Auricchio, an abstract painter who creates wor...

EP 97: Inside Netvvrk with Data Artist Laurie Frick

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week I'm launching 'Inside Netvvrk,' a new interview series with Netvvrk members. First up is Laurie Frick, a data artist and one of Netvvrk's fo...

EP 96: Paddy Tells All: How Netvvrk Actually Works

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, accountant and artist Hannah Cole interviews me. As an artist who isn't (yet) a Netvvrk member, she had a lot of questions about how it hel...

EP 95: A New Source of Opportunities: An interview with Eric Shiner of Powerhouse Arts

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Eric Shiner, President of Powerhouse Arts joins the podcast to give artists the skinny on this new organization. This 170,000 square-foot nonprofit in...

EP 94: When and How to Hire Help for Your Studio

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most common challenges artists face is knowing when—and how—to hire help for their practice. This week, I'm breaking down the practical...

EP 93: The Cancer Episode with Sculptor John Powers

03 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re talking about how health events affect the lives of artists. Sculptor John Powers joins me as we share our experiences - his traumat...

EP 92: Is the Era of Art Fair Spectacle Over?

12 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

VVrkshop founder Paddy Johnson and artist William Powhida dive into their impressions of the 2025 Armory Art Fair in New York. In this episode, we exp...

EP 91: Why Art Speak Persists and How to Ditch It

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What exactly is "art speak" and why do artists continue to use it when we all agree it’s creates a poor reading experience? In this podcast, I break...

EP 90: Three Mistakes to Avoid when Applying for a Guggenheim Fellowship

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Paddy gives you the skinny on the Guggenheim Fellowship, one of the most prestigious awards for mid-career artists. The talk contains...

EP 89: This Is Artist Time with Natalia Nakazawa

20 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Artist Natalia Nakazawa believes this moment of extreme uncertainty is actually "artist time"—when we need to step up as visionaries and fill the vo...

EP 88: Bravery Earns you Hope: An Interview with Julie Peppito

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After feeling demoralized by Trump’s election, artist Julie Peppito researched how to resist authoritarianism and merged her studio practice with st...

EP 87: What to Do When There Are No Answers

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When external pressures feel overwhelming and traditional solutions fall short, how do artists move forward? From The Whitney pausing its Independent ...

EP 86: What It Looks Like to Trust Your Instincts

30 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

At the end of 2024, artist Amy Kligman left her executive director role to create her own opportunities by identifying gaps in the Kansas City arts ec...

EP 85: What is Killing the New York Fairs, Part Two

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this second part of our two-part series on New York Art Fair Week, William Powhida and Paddy Johnson discuss the standout artworks from Independent...

EP 85: What is Killing the New York Art Fairs, Part One

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is New York Art Fair Week losing its momentum? This week, artist and critic William Powhida and I spent time at Independent, NADA, and Spring Break—...

EP 84: Position is Power

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Art Problems Podcast is back after a two-month hiatus — and I’m back announcing the biggest update in Netvvrk membership history. The economy’...

EP 83: The Conference for Artists

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One of the best ways to solve the problem of not enough shows is to self-organize. No one can launch a show without networking, so it forces network e...

Big Changes Ahead: Your Career Roadmap is Coming

10 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In which I reveal plans for a game-changing curriculum built from hundreds of artist surveys and 20+ years of industry experience. Plus, get a must-li...

EP 82: Has Culture Come to a Standstill?

06 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Doesn't it seem like everyone is talking about crappy things are lately? This starts with the state of politics and extends all the way through to cul...

EP 81: 10 Professionals Helping Artists You Need to Know

29 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In honor of Thanksgiving, I'm reflecting on the professionals I'm most thankful for—those supporting artists. The field is vast; honestly, this list...

EP 80: Goal Setting Is Not the Same as a Deadline

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Every artist needs a visibility plan. But if you're anything like me, you may find following a plan INSANELY difficult. There are too many variables a...

EP 79: What Happens When Artists Can Do Anything They Want

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What would launching an exhibition look like if you only had to focus on your art? That's the dream Tiger Strikes Asteroid makes possible. As founder ...

EP 78: What To Do When Everything is Not Fine

08 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Well, this week sure sucked. If you're like me, you're probably having a tough time figuring out how to feel okay. Because you know, like me, that eve...

EP 77: Can Museum Matchmaking Work For You?

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wonder how to get your art into museum collections? Museum Exchange co-founder Michael Darling joins me to discuss how his company connects artwo...

EP 76: Who Is Carrie Scott?

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is any question more vexing to artists than, "What do you do?" No, because it's impossible to answer! This week on the podcast, I turned the tables an...

EP 75: How to Manage an Art Career When You’re Over 60

18 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Does advanced age feel more like a liability than a strength? Welcome to the art world, which can suuuuck for mid-career artists. Ageism in the art wo...

EP 74: The Problem You Didn’t Know You Had

10 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The problem most artists don't know they have with A.I.? They aren't using it enough. If you don't use it, you won't know all it can do to help you. B...

EP 73: Post Hurricane Helene with Artist and Accountant Hannah Cole

04 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You wouldn't think a town in the mountains would be devastated by a hurricane. That's what happens to cities on the coastlines. But we live in a world...

EP 72: Do You Need a Gallery?

27 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There was a time when I couldn't imagine even asking this question. Of course, you need a gallery. How else will you sell your work to collectors? But...

EP 71: Your Residency is a Feminist Act

20 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is it possible to leave your family for a couple of months to make art on a residency and not feel guilty for doing it? For many of us, probably not, ...

EP 70: Is There a Dead Body Trend in Art?

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What's with the dead bodies? Yes, that's an actual question from the New York fairs. This week on the podcast, I invited the artist William Powhida on...

EP 69: How to Take a Break Without Feeling Guilty

05 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Raise your hand if you feel guilty taking time off. 🙋‍♀️ You are not alone, I promise you. This is a challenge I struggle with as well, so if...

EP 68: Behind the Scenes of Zero Art Fair with Artists Jennifer Dalton and William Powhida

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is there a scenario in which giving your work away for free is preferable to storing it? For more than 80 artists, the answer to this question is call...

EP 67: Meet Artist John Sproul

19 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I'd like to introduce you to artist John Sproul. Over the last three years, his career has completely transformed. John is a Netvvrk member, and like ...

EP 66: How to Put Together a Competitive Guggenheim Application

12 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Guggenheim Fellowship application goes live mid-August, Have you been wondering whether you should apply for a Guggenheim fellowship? Let me help ...

EP 65: Do You Need to be a Bad Person to be a Good Artist?

05 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How selfish can you be without turning into a jerk no one wants to be around? And is being a jerk an acceptable price if the result is getting what yo...

EP 64: Do You Have a Plan for Your Art After You Die?

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What will happen to your art when you die? Have you made plans? Do you feel too nervous about the thought to even make plans? The problem with this is...

EP 63: Meet Ceri Hand, Registered Coach for Artists

20 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever talked to someone and instantly recognized that person as your friend and colleague? Meet Ceri Hand, a registered coach for artists, and...

EP 62: How To Get What You Want

14 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever had someone write about your work, but you felt it misrepresented you? Have you ever had someone post your work, but without crediting y...

EP 61: Your JPGs Have Value

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You know all those jpgs you have lying around your computer? As a random file on your computer, they're worth nothing. But what if I told you, that th...

Four Mistakes People Make When Working with An Accountant

31 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In honor of the upcoming quarterly tax payments, I’m sharing an episode from Sunlight, my favorite podcast about taxes, money, and managing your art...

EP 60: Is Having Your Face Sat On Beautiful?

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I asked that question of Get the Picture author Bianca Bosker on this week's episode of Art Problems. And let me tell you, the answer was every bit as...

EP 59: What To Do When You're in a Sales Slump

17 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you feeling stuck? Your art isn't selling. Your opportunities are dwindling. You're wondering if it's time to throw in the towel. Let me answer th...

EP 58: Emerging Art Sales Return

10 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You know how every other headline for the past year has been about the sinking art market? Well, we're finally starting to see the light. In this week...

EP 57: Build Your Confidence in Two Easy Steps

03 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You know what sucks? Feeling like you've been stuck in the same place career-wise for years on end, with no solution insight. You're tired. And you're...

EP 56: An Interview with Artist Career and Legacy Expert Heather Bhandari

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Heather Bhandari knows artists. She's spent her 25-plus-year career in service of helping them build their careers. She's written books, organized con...

EP 55: The 10 Most Common Art World Contradictions

19 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Doesn't the art world drive you nuts? There are all these rules of conduct you're supposed to follow, but then you're also supposed to know all the ti...

EP 54: Why A.I. Companies Are The Bullies Taking Artist Lunch Money

12 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are artists getting the short end of the A.I. stick? Faced with a loss of potential revenue, many artists are questioning the value of A.I. models tha...

EP53: You're More Than a Label

05 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

One of the great frustrations with the art world is the nonsense terms you have to interpret and apply to your practice. Are you an emerging, mid-care...

EP 52: Do I Need to Read ArtForum?

26 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do I really need to read ArtForum? This and other media-related questions on this episode of Art Problems. We dive into: The state of the media and ...

"How to Work a Room" (or an Opening) w/ Amy Talluto and Mandy Wilson Rosen

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In honor of the Whitney Biennial, I'm sharing an episode of Pep Talks for Artists on how to work an opening. In this episode Podcast host and producer...

EP 51: Is the Economic Center of the Art World Shifting?

05 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I am back from the LA fairs, hoo boy, do I have some impressions. There was so much to do and see relative to New York’s Frieze week, that I started...

EP 50: The Answer to Every Art Question Ever

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I know, I know. I'm basically promising the answer to life in an eight-minute podcast! Well, it's not quite that, but this week on the Art Problems Po...

EP 49: How to Come Back From an Extended Artmaking Break

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Almost every artist will need to take an extended break from art making at some point in their career. Whether that be due to child rearing, the loss ...

EP 48: You've got Mail 💌

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast Have you ever exchanged gifts with someone and only to learn that the present you got them is waaaaay more expensive then the one they...

EP 47: When Your Goal is not Your Goal

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Making any sort of career plan often results self-discovery. In this episode, I speak to three Netvvrk members, Jon Laustsen, Karey Kessler and Arden ...

EP 46: What to Focus on When You Have Limited Time: An interview with Cadence Giersbach

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you struggling to find time to do every god damn thing? Of course you are. You're an artist. That's why I started this series on goal setting....

EP 45: How to be an Art World Rulebreaker without Accidentally Exiling Yourself

23 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever launched an exhibition space and then tortured yourself over whether to include yourself in a show because you know it will look bad? Or...

EP 44: Your 2024 Goal Setting Model to Get Your Art Seen

16 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Art Problems, I take on a vexed topic for many artists: goal setting! Is it even worth setting goals when it's so difficult to know...

EP 43: 2024 Art World Predictions

03 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last year, I predicted what 2023 in the art world would look like. This week, I take a look back at those predictions, share what I got right and wron...

EP 42: The Cure for Your Anxiety

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have an internal ticker tape running tracking one anxiety to the next? Many of us who struggle with fears that our ambitions for our art will n...

EP 41: How to Art Fair Without Drowning in Despair

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is conventional wisdom shifting? Many believe art fairs and artists shouldn't mix. One artist described it to me as watching your parents have sex. It...

EP 40: Weathering Art Basel FOMO

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is there a way to escape the demoralizing FOMO many artists experience during the Miami art fairs? In this episode of Art Problems, I discuss the ceil...

EP 39: Why Traditional Business Model Frameworks Won’t Work for Artists

04 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, I conducted an experiment: I took a survey that identified problems for standard businesses by revenue stages and examined how those proble...

EP 38: Sales are Not a Measure of Your Self Worth

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I discuss the abundance of triggers liable to make you feel a little more sensitive about your career this time of year including the...

EP 37: Your Ultimate Artist Residency Guide

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do you really need an artist residency? You know it helps a CV, but how much? Will it help other aspects of your career? In this episode, I talk about...

EP 36: How to Master Technology When You Hate Technology

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is your lack of tech literacy stressing you out?   Are you worried you're too old to get the hang of new technology?   Maybe you're not old, and rea...

EP 35: How to Navigate Health and Change

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is your body not working as well as it did when you were twenty? Is this affecting your studio practice? Welcome to the joys of mid-career!   In this...

EP 34: How Four Artists Got a Chelsea Show

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I talk to artists Barbara Nitke, Natalya Kochak, Laurence Elle Groux (goes by Elle) to talk about how they used the Netvvrk memb...

EP 33: Six Ways to Get More Time in the Studio

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Let me guess. You have a million things to do to move your art career forward, but you're only one person, and you're struggling to find time in the s...

EP 32: Do We Need Art Criticism?

03 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Does anyone even read art criticism any more? For years, the prevailing wisdom told us that the art industry needs art criticism to grow. And yet, tod...

EP 31: Managing Self Doubt

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast, Paddy Johnson discusses how you can participate in the art world at the level you want to participate when you are afraid that your w...

EP 30: How to Combat The Rising Cost of Being an Artist

19 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast, Paddy Johnson and artist William Powhida discuss the increasing cost of museums, art fairs, application fees, and travel impacting ar...

EP 29: Every Networking Tip You Need for the Fall Art Season

06 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The start of the fall season is upon us! And with all fall events, so too comes feelings of excitement, mixed with overwhelm and sometimes even dread....

EP 28: Your Complete Guggenheim Fellowship Guide

29 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Paddy gives you the skinny on the Guggenheim Fellowship, one of the most prestigious awards for mid-career artists. The talk contains...

EP 27: Are You A Hunter or Trapper?

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode I talk with artist Eric LoPresti about defining success inside an industry that has few markers to gage it. LoPresti talks about his g...

EP 26: The Future of Social Media is Email

15 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the future where down is up, up is down, and email isn't just a spam storage service. In this podcast, I share the news that many artists a...

EP 25: The New Gallery Model Every Artist Needs to Know About

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A gallery with an incredible curatorial record, a publishing wing, a 90% sales split to the artist AND 5% resale royalties may sound like an artist's ...

EP 24: How Has The Art World Changed?

01 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, William Powhida joins Paddy Johnson to talk about the changes in the art world, since 2017. Powhida and Johnson focus on Upstate Art ...

EP 23: How Netvvrk Helped Secure Close to a Million Dollars in Grant Funding For Artists

12 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Oh, this episode is a doozy! In it, Paddy discusses how Netvvrk artists secured nearly a million dollars in grant funding for artists in just two year...

EP 22: Demolishing The Day Job Stigma for Artists

03 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Does having a day job make you feel a little self-conscious about the status of your art career? If so, you're not alone.   Prompted by a recent disc...

EP 21: Fairs for the Rich

05 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, artist and critic William Powhida joins Paddy Johnson to discuss the context surrounding an expanded art fair cycle in New York. What...

EP 20: How Does the Supreme Court Warhol Foundation Ruling Affect Artists?

29 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Art Problems, I speak with Luke Blackadar lawyer, and Deputy Director of the Arts and Business Council, about the Supreme Court's R...

EP 19: Where 80 Percent of Your Opportunities Come From — And It’s Not What You Think.

05 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We all talk a lot about artist statements, instagram, going to openings and getting studio visits as a means of securing shows, residencies and grants...

EP 18: How to Get Shows and Sales from Instagram

04 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The second in my podcast series examining which support materials can get you seen in the art world and the exact process we use inside Netvvrk to cre...

EP 17: The Mistakes That Keep Curators and Dealers From Contacting You

03 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The first in my podcast series examining which support materials can get you seen in the art world and the exact process we use inside Netvvrk to crea...

EP 16: How to Avoid the Scams and Pay-to-Play “Opportunities” Targeting Artists

10 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, I’m answering the question that plagues so many artists: How do you navigate all the scams and pay-to-play schemes targeting a...

EP 15: How to Get a Public Art Commission - Extended Version

27 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Paddy builds on her latest piece in Hyperallergic, "How to Get A Public Art Commission," by diving into the details. In this tactical...

EP 14: Five Ways to Give Up Networking Forever

13 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I talk about five ways artists can give up networking while building a larger network than ever. Sound too good to be true? It probab...

EP 13: Moving Towards Self Acceptance with Julie Peppito

26 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Can you grow out of self-doubt? In today’s episode, I talk with Netvvrk member Julie Peppito about the trappings of childhood precociousness and how...

EP 12: What All the Most Visible Artists Are Doing

05 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What All the Most Visible Artists Are Doing I spent the last two months reviewing artist work, CV, Instagram, and websites and found that the most vis...

EP 11: The Uncanny Valley of ChatGPT

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Even when the A.I. chatbot ChatGPT gets everything wrong, it still sounds right. And that's some uncanny valley right there.  In this episode of Art ...

EP 10: How to Set and Achieve Your 2023 Goals in Five Steps

08 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's goal-setting time! Welcome to 2023!  The biggest problem I see artists need help with when setting 2023 goals is figuring out what to do to achi...

EP 9: The Year of the Comeback Platform

03 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, artist William Powhida joins Paddy Johnson to discuss changes to social media and what we expect to see in 2023.  Mentioned:  Blues...

EP 8: Art Problems: What Affected Artists Most in 2022

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What Affected Artists Most in 2022    Looking to take stock of what happened in 2022? Let’s do it. In this podcast I talk about changes with socia...

EP 7: How to Make the Most of the Miami Art Fairs

30 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Miami Art Week, the largest art event in the United States, takes place every year during the first week of December. In honor of this event, Paddy Jo...