Episodes
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A new cultural movement is quietly taking hold in the art world, and I’m delighted to have gotten the scoop from Gareb Shamus, the visionary helping make it happen. Before I tell you what all the excitement is all about let me introduce Gareb to you. Over the past three decades, Gareb has become one of the most influential and accomplished leaders in the worlds of superheroes, comics, gaming, and character-based entertainment. His groundbreaking work helped transform fan culture into a global phenomenon while fostering relationships with an extraordinary community of artists, writers, toy desi
Today’s guest is Bex McCharen, who uses they/them pronouns—an interdisciplinary artist, fashion designer, filmmaker, and founder of the inclusive fashion label Chromat. Across fashion, textiles, painting, photography, social practice, and film, Bex explores one of the most personal and politically charged questions of our time: Who has the right to define who we are? For Bex, identity is not necessarily a fixed destination. It can be fluid, expansive, and evolving. We should have the freedom to decide how we see ourselves, how we present ourselves to the world, and how that identity may change
The art world was caught off guard last Wednesday morning when The New York Times reported that Pace Gallery—one of the most influential and respected galleries in the world—plans to reduce its artist roster by approximately 50 artists and eliminate about 50 staff positions. In the article, Marc Glimcher, Chief Executive Officer of Pace Gallery, offered a candid assessment of the current state of the art market, stating: “The whole art gallery system became too big, too commercial, too impersonal and too corporate. We all know it’s true. But you actually have to do something to adapt to it. Yo
For decades, one of the most important missing links in the history of artificial intelligence has been sitting quietly in storage. It’s soon going to be owned by a major institution. How do I know? I’m in charge of the project. I’m just starting my search. My client is Michael J. Freeman,,.Ph.D., an American inventor, who is widely recognized across the technology, science, toy, and education industries. We have worked together over the last few decades. The biggest bonanza was when we secured a major spread about Michael’s ACTV invention in Business Week. Thank you writer Otis Port. Long bef
There is a strong possibility you have never encountered anyone quite like Stella Chrone. She is not only striking and intelligent, but has also lived a life shaped by experiences far outside the familiar paths most of us know. In this episode, you’ll hear the remarkable story of her journey—one defined by courage, discipline, and the determination to leave a highly insular upbringing and forge her own place in the world. Today, Stella leads a more conventional life, yet her artistic practice remains anything but ordinary. Through her work, she invites us into a fascinating and unexpected real
We’re celebrating not one, but two extraordinary milestones by the brilliant multidisciplinary artist Randi Renate, whose work lives at the powerful intersection of art, biology, and ocean science. First—her stunning outdoor sculpture, “Are We Psychic Coral-Polyps?”, has been selected for a major ecological exhibition at the Parrish Art Museum, Water Mill, NY (the Hamptons) where it will be on view for two full years beginning May 2, 2026. This is not just an exhibition—it’s a statement about our planet, our oceans, and the future of environmental art. Randi has also taken her practice beneath
Gallerist Bella De Almeida, founder and artistic director of The Living Room gallery, is redefining how art is experienced in Miami and its surrounding communities. Through The Living Room concept, she positions art as a conversation space for creative exploration and cultural immersion. Bella curates intimate, multidisciplinary gatherings that bring together culinary arts, literature, music, dance, and visual art—creating dynamic environments where ideas and cultures intersect. The Living Room gallery is uniquely situated in Bella’s beautifully landscaped backyard, designed to host outdoor pe
The Miami art world is getting a jolt of New York energy. There is a new collaboration between Pendentive Studio and Kates-Ferri Projects that will bring artists represented by the New York City gallery to Miami audiences. The partnership kicks off Friday, March 13th with a group exhibition at Pendentive Studio (7615 Biscayne Blvd) featuring Lisu Vega and Juan Henriquez. Interior designer Phoebe O’Neill owns Pendentive Studio. The 56th episode of Art Lovers Forum was very fortunate to secure an interview with Natalie Kates so we can hear how this partnership will work and learn more about Nata
Mike Shultis is an artist but you would be accurate if you called him a theatrical set designer, an architect, an antique dealer, an editor and a story teller. His paintings are three dimensional, better known as assemblages. Mike likes to say his art productions are ancient story lines repeating itself to show the cycle of history. He edits the message. There are not that many artists who create assemblages and I am happy to say that my husband and I are owners of one of Mike’s magnificent masterpieces. We bought it on an art trip to Detroit with Fountainhead Arts. We walked into the Library
In just one podcast interview, Ombretta Agró Andruff, the founder and executive director of ARTSail Residency and Research, gave me a renewed interest in the ocean. Ombretta understood immediately why I wasn’t keeping up with all of the changes that are happening in the ocean that most definitely impact our climate. NYC does that to you. Now that I look at the ocean every day in Miami Beach, I hope to help Ombretta with marketing. Ombretta was born in Italy. She is a Miami Beach and Turin based freelance curator and ocean warrior. She brings more than 25 years of curatorial expertise with an i
The minute I met Grace Hopkins at the Berta Walker Gallery in Provincetown, MA, I knew I wanted to interview her for Art Lovers Forum. She is deeply involved in the art world, and I felt she could teach me so much. I was so right. For most of the year, Grace is the director of the Berta Walker Gallery, one of the most respected in PTown. She loves working for Berta who has a strong understanding of art, and the business of art, after working for the Whitney Museum, Marisa del Re, and Graham Modern Galleries. Grace is an artist who creates very unique art by using photography to create square a
Welcome to Art Lovers Forum. There’s a nonprofit art organization that’s quietly becoming a global force — using creativity to stand up for Israel and to fight antisemitism. It’s called Art World for Israel, and I have to thank artist Dahlia Dreszer for introducing me to its incredible founder, Ariel Penzer. Ariel told me that since the attacks on Israel on October 7th, 2023, too many Jewish artists have faced online harassment — and a heartbreaking drop in art sales. She decided to do something about it. That’s how Art World for Israel began — as a simple chat group among friends. They invite
Today I’m thrilled to introduce you to Michele Landel, an American textile artist who lives and works in Sèvres, France. We actually met two years ago during Christmas when she and her husband, Greg, were vacationing in his parents’ Miami apartment — which, by coincidence, happens to be in my condo building. When Greg’s mother learned that my husband, Eliot, and I are art collectors, she said, “You have to meet Michele!” A few days later, Michele called. We were entertaining some artist friends, so she and Greg came over — and we instantly hit it off. We talked for hours, though funny enough,
Donnalynn Patakos, editor-in-chief of Portray Magazine, opens this episode with profound insights on how to create the best life possible. She shares her perspective on navigating the art world, choosing the right life partner, and—perhaps most importantly—how you see yourself. And she speaks from experience: Donnalynn is living the kind of life that many art lovers dream about. Her most inspiring message? This life isn’t reserved for a select few—it’s available to every one of us. A highly respected art advisor, public speaker, author, and as mentioned before, founder of Portray Magazine, Don
Tom Huth is the retired principal of Thomas R. Huth Architects in Newton, MA, a practice he founded in 1982. I always wanted to ask Tom if there really was a difference between artists and architects. It took Tom three seconds to answer me. “I consider myself an artist who does architecture for a living. Both professions require a devoted commitment because it’s very difficult to achieve a vision, I love it because it’s so rewarding. I wish I was still working. There is so many projects I want to work on.” He specialized in custom residential and commercial architecture and is recognized for t
We bought our first Francie Bishop Good sculpture from the Mindy Solomon gallery, Miami, in 2023. It was the “Walking in Circles,” piece made from wood and ceramic with Synthetic polymer paints. 16" x 16" x 7”. We wanted it because you couldn’t tell if it was a piece of art or a dining accessory. It was whimsical and daring. Now that I know Francie I feel so lucky to own a sculpture that makes you stop and stare. We loved it so much we bought two more. Francie calls her paintings, drawings, photos, and sculptures “messy” creations. She doesn’t want her work to look stiff and rigid. She is more
I wanted to interview David Mikesell of Gross Pointe Farms, MI, for quite some time now. At 88 years old, he can teach us a few things about life, especially why art makes him happy. After 36 years in labor law management at Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn in Detroit, David decided to devote his retirement years to creating all kinds of art. His art is daring, colorful, modern, and thought-provoking. It very much reflects David’s positive attitude about the world and how he enjoys all mankind. He has a rather large studio at Detroit’s Pioneer Building which is currently home to over 35 talente
Welcome to Art Lovers Forum. Today we spotlight the bold, electrifying work of Cuban-American artist Alex Núñez, whose newest installation at the Faena Art Project Room in Miami Beach is a must-see this summer. Titled “There’s a Gator in the Pool,” this site-specific immersive experience isn’t just art—it’s a full-body encounter. Núñez transforms the gallery into a surreal aquatic landscape, using glitter, gold leaf, neon paint, and mutant coral forms to reflect the fragile beauty and quiet chaos of our environment. Known for her layered, high-energy works that pull from pop culture, memory, a
Welcome to Art Lovers Forum, where today’s episode might just blow the doors off everything you thought you knew about motorsports and contemporary art. I’m thrilled to introduce two visionary women who are rewriting the rules of both industries: Zoë Barry and Spring McManus. Together, they’re launching DART Car—a revolutionary platform that fuses high-performance racing with high-impact art, all while championing women in spaces where they’ve been dramatically underrepresented. Consider this: only 4% of professional race car drivers are women. Only 4% of artworks sold at auction are by women.
Have you noticed the shift? A whole new generation of gallerists is emerging around the world—and they’re transforming how we experience art. Gone are the days of cold, intimidating gallery spaces that left first-time visitors feeling unwelcome. Today’s gallerists are opening their doors—and their minds—to a new kind of collector. They’re making art more accessible, more personal, and more social. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or you’re a seasoned collector seeking deeper connection, these new voices are changing the game. Leading that charge is the exceptionally dynamic Andrew Re
Today’s guest is someone who quite literally lives between worlds—both geographically and creatively. Leslie Moody Castro is an independent art curator and writer who splits her time between Austin, Texas, and Mexico City, a rhythm she’s kept for over twenty years. Her practice is deeply rooted in movement, collaboration, and conversation—whether across borders, between disciplines, or within communities. For nearly two decades, Leslie has produced and curated projects across Mexico and the United States, always with an eye toward creating spaces for dialogue and exchange. She’s the co-founder
I have never met an artist as exuberant as Dahlia Dreszer. She is so passionate about her work that she throws concerts, discussions, and special speaking engagements just to gather important collectors together with like-minded people. She recently built an immersive environmental experience in the gallery, Green Space, in Miami. The title of the show, “Bringing the Outside In,” is all about transforming elaborate garden installations in domestic spaces. It was amazing.Visitors felt like they were sitting in the Garden of Eden, or some sort of unspoiled paradise. They were surrounded by large
Dave Ross is living a life in the art world that most people would love to have. He went from a top-ranking Wall Street analyst to a promising abstract painter who is receiving very positive reviews from collectors. My husband and I bought two paintings from Dave that we adore, one of them is an absolute favorite. Dave is what I call a free spirit who believes in the art of the possible. He surrounds himself with people who are as adventurous as he is and believes in the power of positive energy. Lots of folks call Dave a polymath. He is also a mentor to many, a philanthropist, and writer. A l
There are so many extraordinary stories to the life of Miami gallerist Mindy Solomon that I just don’t know where to begin this introduction to Art Lovers Forum. She says you can pretty much follow her life by the ceramics she’s collected over the years and the ones she exhibits in her gallery. Most of them tell a story that parallels her life. I keep thinking of the one where Mindy basically closes down her art career in St. Petersburg, FL because she felt the city of Miami would give her a broader and more sophisticated audience for the paintings, sculptures, ceramics and newly discovered ar
Leon Ford is an author and activist who wants to open a non-profit art gallery in Pittsburgh that showcases powerful works but also serves as a hub for community connection and dialogue. Leon has real life experience to make this happen. When he was 19 years old in 2012, Leon was shot five times by a Pittsburgh police officer as he was racially profiled during a case of mistaken identity. He has been paralyzed ever since. He is a man of his word. He wrote a book about what happened to him called “An Unspeakable Hope” which was published by Simon & Schuster. In it he explains how he faced these
