Episodios

  • Wayne Thiebaud | Pie a la Mode

    Wayne Thiebaud | Pie a la Mode
    Jan 21 2026
    Wayne Thiebaud is known for his paintings of everyday objects. Born in 1920, Thiebaud's early experiences as a sign painter and an apprentice animator at Walt Disney Studios shaped his understanding of visual communication and iconic forms. Though often associated with the Pop Art movement of the 1960s, Thiebaud’s approach was distinct. While artists like ⁠Andy Warhol⁠ embraced mechanical reproduction, Thiebaud celebrated the painter's touch, using thick impasto, brilliant colors, and strong shadows to bring his subjects to life. His signature works feature commonplace items, particularly diner foods like pies, cakes, and gumballs, transforming them into objects of formal study and cultural nostalgia. Thiebaud's career gained national recognition following his inclusion in the landmark 1962 exhibition, "New Painting of Common Objects," at the Pasadena Art Museum. A deep dive into one of his early masterpieces, Pie a la Mode (1961), reveals the key elements of his style: the luscious, tactile quality of the paint, the signature halos of color outlining the object, and the ability to find artistic complexity in the simple pleasures of American life. Beyond his famous still lifes, Thiebaud also applied his unique vision to compelling landscapes of San Francisco and detailed figure paintings, solidifying his legacy as one of America's most beloved painters and a dedicated long-time professor at the University of California, Davis. Related episodes: ⁠Claes Oldenburg⁠ ⁠Roy Lichtenstein This is an encore presentation. Every January/February, I release daily episodes to refresh everyone's memory on the 64 artists and artworks that will be included in my Arts Madness Tournament held in March. While most of these daily episodes will be reruns, I will continue publishing new episodes on Mondays. Check out my other podcasts Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    11 m
  • The Ardabil Carpet

    The Ardabil Carpet
    Jan 20 2026
    The Ardabil Carpet, a masterpiece of 16th-century Persian weaving, represents a pinnacle of Safavid art. Though associated with Ardabil, scholars suggest it may have been woven in Kashan, a prominent center for carpet production during that era. Commissioned during the reign of Shah Tahmasp I (1501-1736 CE) for the Shrine of Shaykh Safi al-Din Ardabili, this monumental wool pile carpet on a silk foundation measures an impressive 34 feet 6 inches by 17 feet 5 inches and boasts over 25 million knots. The carpet's intricate design features a central medallion surrounded by elaborate floral motifs, scrolling vines, and arabesques, reminiscent of a lush garden, a common theme in Islamic art. Notably, two asymmetrical mosque lamps hang from the central medallion, symbolizing divine knowledge and adding to the carpet's sacred context. Inscriptions include a couplet from the poet Hafiz, emphasizing devotion and humility, fitting for a piece created for a revered shrine. Dated 946 AH (1539-1540 CE), the Ardabil Carpet's precise dating is a rare and valuable historical marker. Its acquisition by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 1893 significantly elevated the recognition of Islamic art in Western collections, and its enduring influence continues to inspire textile art and design globally. This is an encore presentation. Every January/February, I release daily episodes to refresh everyone's memory on the 64 artists and artworks that will be included in my Arts Madness Tournament held in March. While most of these daily episodes will be reruns, I will continue publishing new episodes on Mondays. Check out my other podcasts Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    9 m
  • Wifredo Lam | The Jungle

    Wifredo Lam | The Jungle
    Jan 19 2026
    Wifredo Lam was a visionary artist whose work seamlessly blended the diverse influences of his multicultural heritage with the avant-garde movements of the early 20th century. Born in 1902 in Sagua la Grande, Cuba, Lam was the son of a Chinese immigrant father and a mother of mixed African and Spanish descent. This rich cultural tapestry, combined with his early exposure to Santería through his grandmother, deeply informed his artistic vision. Lam’s journey took him from the traditional art academies of Havana and Madrid to the heart of the surrealist and cubist movements in Paris, where he formed a pivotal friendship with Pablo Picasso. His experiences during the Spanish Civil War and his return to Cuba in the 1940s further sharpened his focus, leading him to create works that challenged the status quo and celebrated the spiritual and cultural resilience of the Afro-Cuban people. Lam’s most celebrated masterpiece, The Jungle (1943), serves as a powerful reclamation of Afro-Cuban identity. While the title suggests a literal wilderness, the painting depicts a dense thicket of sugarcane—a crop deeply tied to Cuba’s history of colonial exploitation and enslaved labor. Through a unique visual language that merges cubist fragmentation, surrealist dream-logic, and the geometric forms of West African masks, Lam populates this "jungle" with hybrid, spirit-like figures. This monumental work, now housed in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, stands as a testament to Lam's goal of creating a "hostile" art that would "disturb the dreams of the exploiters." By reappropriating the very African motifs that European modernists had previously "discovered," Lam established a new form of modernism—one that was globally relevant yet deeply rooted in the personal and political realities of the Caribbean. Check out my other podcasts Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    16 m
  • Constantin Brâncuși | The Kiss & Bird in Space

    Constantin Brâncuși | The Kiss & Bird in Space
    Jan 18 2026
    Constantin Brâncuși was a Romanian sculptor who made a significant impact on modern art through his abstract sculptures. His passion and dedication to art is legendary. In the autumn of 1903, he began a months-long walk from Bucharest to Paris, where he sought to immerse himself in the avant-garde art scene. Brâncuși's work, characterized by simplified forms and a focus on the essence of his subjects, often sparked controversy, as seen with his Bird in Space sculpture, which was challenged by U.S. customs officials who didn't recognize it as art. This led to a landmark court case that ultimately recognized abstract art as a legitimate form. Brâncuși's dedication to his unique artistic vision and his exploration of fundamental forms left a lasting legacy on the world of modern sculpture. Related episodes: ⁠⁠Auguste Rodin⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Amedeo Modigliani⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Henri Matisse⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Marcel Duchamp⁠ This is an encore presentation. Every January/February, I release daily episodes to refresh everyone's memory on the 64 artists and artworks that will be included in my Arts Madness Tournament held in March. While most of these daily episodes will be reruns, I will continue publishing new episodes on Mondays. Check out my other podcasts Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    17 m
  • Amedeo Modigliani

    Amedeo Modigliani
    Jan 17 2026
    Amedeo Modigliani, a rebellious Italian painter, left a lasting mark on the art world with his distinctive style and captivating portraits. Born in Livorno in 1884, his early life was marked by illness and a dramatic incident that saved his family from financial ruin. Modigliani's art, influenced by diverse sources like Cezanne, Brancusi, and African sculpture, is characterized by elongated figures, long necks, and almond-shaped eyes. He moved to Paris in 1906, where he became a part of the bohemian art scene, despite struggling with poverty and rejection. His first solo exhibition in 1917 caused a scandal due to its nude paintings, but it also solidified his position as a major artistic figure. Modigliani's tragic early death at 35 cut his career short, but his legacy lives on through his unique artistic vision, capturing the essence of human emotion and form in his timeless works. Related Episodes: ⁠⁠Henri Matisse⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Pablo Picasso⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Paul Cezanne⁠⁠ This is an encore presentation. Every January/February, I release daily episodes to refresh everyone's memory on the 64 artists and artworks that will be included in my Arts Madness Tournament held in March. While most of these daily episodes will be reruns, I will continue publishing new episodes on Mondays. Check out my other podcasts Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    12 m
  • Auguste Rodin | The Burghers of Calais

    Auguste Rodin | The Burghers of Calais
    Jan 16 2026
    Today's mini-episode is rebroadcast of one of my favorites, Auguste Rodin and his sculpture of The Burghers of Calais. The story behind the piece is an inspiring tale that defines courage. During the Hundred Years' War, the English had the city of Calais surrounded. As the days went on and the French army was unable to break the siege, the townspeople were forced to begin negotiating terms of surrender. They were told the town would be spared if 6 burghers (a burgher was a title, so these were the town leaders) would sacrifice themselves. Six men stepped up. While they were ultimately spared, one can imagine the mix of feelings as some might feel proud to do something noble and heroic and yet terrified at the grim reality. Traditional depictions of these men showed them as larger-than-life heroic figures, but Rodin gives us the stark reality. I think the brilliance of Rodin's work is that it recognizes that true courage means facing reality, and experiencing fear but still finding the strength to do what is right. This is an encore presentation. Every January/February, I release daily episodes to refresh everyone's memory on the 64 artists and artworks that will be included in my Arts Madness Tournament held in March. While most of these daily episodes will be reruns, I will continue publishing new episodes on Mondays. Check out my other podcasts Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    9 m
  • Alfonse Mucha | Gismonda

    Alfonse Mucha | Gismonda
    Jan 15 2026
    In December 1894, Alphonse Mucha just happened to be in the print shop checking some proofs for a friend, when in walked an actress, Sarah Bernhardt in need of posters for her upcoming play. All of the regular artists she worked with were off for the holidays leaving Mucha as her only option. It was a tremendous stroke of luck for both of them as Mucha created a stunning poster that not only flattered the actress, it caught the attention of collectors all around Paris. People were cutting the posters off of displays and bribing the poster hangers so they could get copies, and the Mucha style laid the foundation for Art Nouveau. This is an encore presentation. Every January/February, I release daily episodes to refresh everyone's memory on the 64 artists and artworks that will be included in my Arts Madness Tournament held in March. While most of these daily episodes will be reruns, I will continue publishing new episodes on Mondays. Check out my other podcasts Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    9 m
  • Eadweard Muybridge | The Horse in Motion

    Eadweard Muybridge | The Horse in Motion
    Jan 14 2026
    Pioneering 19th-century photographer Eadweard Muybridge is celebrated for his groundbreaking work in capturing movement, which laid the foundation for modern cinema. After immigrating to the United States and gaining fame for his stunning landscape photographs of the American West, his career took a decisive turn in 1872. Muybridge was commissioned by railroad tycoon and former California governor Leland Stanford to settle a popular debate and a significant wager of $25,000. Stanford had bet that all four of a horse's hooves leave the ground at once during a gallop. This question pushed the limits of early photographic technology and set Muybridge on a quest to freeze a moment invisible to the naked eye. After years of experimentation, interrupted by a dramatic murder trial, Muybridge devised an ingenious solution in 1878 at Stanford's Palo Alto farm. He arranged a series of cameras along a track, with their shutters triggered sequentially by threads broken by a galloping horse. The resulting sequence of images, famously known as The Horse in Motion, definitively proved that a horse is, for a brief moment, completely airborne. This experiment did more than settle a bet; it revolutionized the scientific study of locomotion. To display his findings, Muybridge later invented the zoopraxiscope, a device that projected the images in rapid succession to create the illusion of movement, directly paving the way for the development of cinematography. This is an encore presentation. Every January/February, I release daily episodes to refresh everyone's memory on the 64 artists and artworks that will be included in my Arts Madness Tournament held in March. While most of these daily episodes will be reruns, I will continue publishing new episodes on Mondays. Check out my other podcasts Fun Facts Daily | Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    10 m