ON THE COUCH – Details, episodes & analysis

Daniel Arsham is one of the most commercially and conceptually ambitious artists alive, whose work asks a question that will stop you in your tracks: how will today be viewed a thousand years in the future? His work, often exploring decay and fictional archaeology, utilizes materials like crystal and volcanic ash to make modern objects appear ancient. His new book, Future Relic, is unlike anything you'll read this year: part memoir, part business manual for artists, built from decades of moving between gallery walls and global brand collaborations to personal projects, like his new cafe in Dubai. In this episode, he and host Alexandra Fairweather sit down on one of John Chamberlain's couches for a conversation that invites you to rethink your position in time.

Follow our host: https://www.instagram.com/alexandrafairweather/ 

Follow our guest: https://www.instagram.com/danielarsham/?hl=en 

Stay up-to-date with the John Chamberlain Estate:

• Follow the John Chamberlain Estate: https://www.instagram.com/johnchamberlainestate/ 
• To learn more about the work and mission of the John Chamberlain Estate, visit: https://www.john-chamberlain.com/ 
• Media inquiries: chamberlain@dadagoldberg.com

Tune in to episodes of ON THE COUCH via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, YouTube, or wherever you prefer to stream.

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Timestamps: 

00:27 Introductions

01:33 How Daniel got into art

02:20 Chamberlain’s photography 

03:47 Growing up in Miami

04:54 Moving to NYC and attending art school

05:35 Navigating your art career post-grad

06:15 Daniel’s first international gallery show

08:10 Working in stage design

12:43 Mentorship and writing a book

13:32 Navigating the business side of art 

17:06 Daniel’s recent projects and travels

18:37 How Daniel got into motorsports 

19:07 Letting the art speak for itself + leaving a legacy

21:11 Collaborating with athletes 

22:40 Daniel’s Saturday morning ritual 

24:32 Origin story of Daniel’s Bonsai speaker

25:20 Using AI in the artistic process 

26:16 Daniel’s cafe in Dubai

28:20 Chamberlain’s stolen artwork 

28:50 Daniel’s new obsession with golf

30:47 Lightning-round begins

31:17 Outro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ON THE COUCH's first-ever guest is Jon Gray — co-founder of Ghetto Gastro, the Bronx-born collective that uses food to spark conversations about culture, race, power, and belonging. Jon calls himself “the dishwasher,” but his work has moved from the block to the museum to the boardroom, merging food, art, fashion, design, and music into a cultural movement. What many people don’t realize is that Jon doesn’t think of food as his product — he sees it as his medium, using it to tell stories that will make you rethink every meal you've ever eaten. In this episode, he’s seated on a foam couch by John Chamberlain — the perfect setting for a conversation about making art from everyday materials.

Follow our host: https://www.instagram.com/alexandrafairweather/

Follow our guest: https://www.instagram.com/ghettogray/

Stay up-to-date with the John Chamberlain Estate:

• Follow the John Chamberlain Estate: https://www.instagram.com/johnchamberlainestate/ 
• To learn more about the work and mission of the John Chamberlain Estate, visit: https://www.john-chamberlain.com/ 
• Media inquiries: chamberlain@dadagoldberg.com

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Timestamps: 

00:20 Introductions 

1:51 Origin story of Chamberlain’s Shelter Island studio 

2:51 Jon’s early discovery of art 

4:32 Jon’s dream place to live

7:20 G SPOT, Jon’s new gallery project

9:29 How to make museums more accessible

11:17 Jon reflects on his residency at The Met 

13:38 How Ghetto Gastro came to be

17:54 What’s next for Ghetto Gastro? 

18:21 The Bronx in three words 

19:26 Jon’s riskiest early-career moves

22:23 How the matriarchs of his family influence Jon’s work

24:57 Chamberlain's work as a hairdresser in the Motown era

26:48 Jon on being honored by the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit

28:00 Little-known stories from Chamberlain’s early life 

29:07 The best meal of Jon’s life

32:53 The unique history of gumbo

35:03 The legacy Jon wants to leave

39:51 Chamberlain’s restaurant on Shelter Island

40:47 Jon teases his new concept on sushi

41:32 The best piece of advice Jon received in his youth

42:08 Making art that’s hard to define

45:52 Bringing back play

47:00 Lightning round questions  

48:35 Outro & Credits

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ON THE COUCH invites you into the inspiring worlds of today’s cultural leaders. Join host Alexandra Fairweather as she sits down with guests on one of artist John Chamberlain’s iconic foam couches to discuss all aspects of creative life. In the debut season, you’ll hear from bold thinkers and creative polymaths like artists Daniel Arsham and David Salle; designers Misha Kahn, Sasha Bikoff, and Fernando Mastrangelo; fashion designer Alexander Wang; architect Annabelle Selldorf; and Jon Gray, Co-Founder of Ghetto Gastro. Each conversation sheds different light on how bold, original, and even seemingly impossible ideas come to life – and If you’ve ever wondered how legacy is truly built, this series is for you.

Tune in to episodes of ON THE COUCH via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, YouTube, or wherever you prefer to stream. New episodes drop every other Tuesday starting May 19.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.