'My discovery of early Renaissance art was completely by accident in the National Gallery, by just walking down a few more stairs...I'dΒ stay there for about an hour, and then I would come out,Β I'dΒ close my eyes, and as I pushed the doors, I would imagine my paintings'.Β βTracey EminΒ
In the first episode of theΒ 2025Β Frieze Masters Podcast, artist Tracey Emin, Nicholas Cullinan (director, British Museum), and their host Arturo GalansinoΒ (Director General,Β Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi)Β discuss their early experiences andΒ evolving relationshipsΒ within the arts, delving into topics such as intimacy and feelings of safety in the context of an institution, overcoming class struggle and illness, and speaking the truth.Β Β
The Frieze Masters Talks programme and the Frieze Masters Podcast are brought to you by Frieze in collaboration withΒ dunhill.Β
Full transcript available at frieze.com
Dame Tracey Emin OBE is one of the most important contemporary artists of her generation, known for her autobiographical and confessional work.Β NicholasΒ Cullinan OBE, artΒ historianΒ and curator has been the Director of the British Museum since 2024, and prior to that was appointed the 12th Director of the National Portrait Gallery from 2015.Β They are joined by their host ArturoΒ GalansinoΒ - art historian, curator, and Director General of the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, and theΒ curator ofΒ this year'sΒ Frieze Masters Talks programme.Β
About the Frieze Masters Podcast
The Frieze Masters Podcast is back for 2025, bringing you seven conversations across art history curated by Arturo Galansino (Director General of the Palazzo Strozzi Foundation in Florence). Β
Entitled 'Woven Histories' and recorded live at Frieze Masters 2025, this year's series features artists, curators and thinkers, whose conversations weave together geographies and chronologies, and challenge us to look at history in new and unexpected ways.
Topics range from the evolving relationship between fashion and art to the role of the archive in Black history, the last Mughals and their cultural influence in India and the enduring inspiration of the old masters and renaissance art on contemporary making. Speakers include artists Tracey Emin, Glenn Brown and Antony Gormley, museum directors and curators Nicholas Cullinan, Γmilie Hammen, Elizabeth Way and Carl Strehlke, and writers Edward George, Matthew Harle, Christopher Rothko and William Dalrymple.Β
The Frieze Masters Talks programme and the Frieze Masters Podcast are brought to you by Frieze in collaboration withΒ dunhill.Β
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