The art world has no HR department. There's no employer to set up health insurance, no emergency fund, no retirement plan. If you’re a freelance artist, that means you’re on your own. Today's guest, Yancey Strickler, co-founder of Kickstarter and founder of Metalabel, thinks that can change with a new business designation called the A-Corp.

The A-Corp is Strickler’s answer to that problem: a new business structure built specifically for artists that comes with legal protection, fair ways to share ownership with collaborators, and eventually, a path to group health insurance. It’s currently a bill before the Colorado Senate — and if it passes, Colorado becomes the template for the rest of the country. Strickler walks me through how it works and makes the case that we’re only at the very beginning of something much bigger.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

RELATED LINKS

Artist Corporations

Metalabel

The Creative Independent

TED Talk: Forget Hustle Culture. Behold the Artist Corporation

New Creative Era podcast — Yancey's podcast with Joshua Citarella

Artist Corporations: New Podcast and Early Traction — the episode where Yancey first laid out the A-Corp in detail

Artist William Powhida and Netvvrk Operations Director Penny Retica join me to discuss the 2026 Whitney Biennial, curated by Marcela Guerrero and Drew Sawyer. We walk through the show's major themes—human-animal relationships, infrastructure, economic critique, and the handmade.

Our conversation explores the possibilities brought forward by the biennial. Does it represent a search for art’s utility in a moment of uncertainty? Is its focus on feeling over confrontation, a curatorial choice or a broader retreat? What are the consequences of omitting collaborative work and art showcasing decentralized resistance?

Like all good conversations, this one doesn't offer easy answers. We examine what the biennial reveals about the current moment, and in a time that feels directionless, that critical work can feel grounding.

Guests: William Powhida, artist Penny Retica, Netvvrk operations director

Additional Reading:

• Ben Davis, The Whitney Biennial Just Wants you to Feel Something, Artnet, 2026
• Aruna D’Souza, The Polycrisis Sublime of the Whitney Biennial, Hyperallergic, 2026
• Jenny Wu, Whitney Biennial 2026 Review: The Revolution Will Be Cute, Art Review, 2026
• Anna Kornbluh, Immediacy, or The Style of Too Late Capitalism
• Art Problems Podcast, Episode 85: What is Killing the New York Art Fairs, Part 2

We want to hear from you. Email us at support@vvrkshop.art

Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

What does it feel like to work professionally as an artist for 23 years but still feel like you're treading water?

In this episode of Art Problems, I speak with Boston-based artist Yuko Oda about joining Netvvrk just over a year ago after graduating from RISD in 2002 and spending two decades feeling confused about her trajectory. She was saying yes to everything, spreading herself too thin, and missing opportunities she should have seized—like a group show in Tokyo where she wasn't happy with the work she submitted.

In just over a year, Yuko sold her first major piece directly to a collector, secured a three-piece commission for a downtown Boston high-rise, exhibited work in Rome that she calls her best art experience ever, and learned to set boundaries that protect her momentum. We talk about overcoming hesitation to invest in yourself, how accountability groups helped navigate everything from invoices to artist-consultant contract splits, and what it feels like to finally know where you are on your career path instead of floating like a bubble.

Free Info Session: How to Become a Biennial Artist - Wednesday, February 25th at 7pm EST Register here.

Yuko Oda: Website: https://www.yukooda.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yukooda75

Education:

• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): https://www.risd.edu

Institutions Mentioned:

• UMass Lowell: https://www.uml.edu
• Harvard Entomology Club: https://hmnh.harvard.edu
• New York Institute of Technology: https://www.nyit.edu

Grants & Programs:

• Guggenheim Fellowship: https://www.gf.org

Artists Mentioned (Commission Advice):

• Laura Fayer: https://www.laurafayer.com/
• Adria Arch: https://www.adriaarch.com/
• John Laustsen: https://www.jonlaustsen.com/
• Mary Lynn Burke: https://www.marylynnburke.com/
• Kristin Cronic: https://www.kristinraecronic.com/