How To Be An Artist

An introduction to a new series brought to you by Soho House, hosted by Kate Bryan. We’ll be talking to some of the most influential contemporary artists whose artworks feature throughout our Houses around the world.

For the first episode of How To Be An Artist, host Kate Bryan chats to British artist Idris Khan. He reflects on the moment he sold his artwork to Charles Saatchi as a fresh art graduate, and discusses the importance of doubt as part of the creative process. Based in London, Khan works in various media, drawing from a diverse range of cultural sources, including music, philosophy, literature, and religion. In 2017, he received an OBE for his services to art. Khan’s artwork can also be found in our Houses: Little House Mayfair, DUMBO House, Soho House New York, 40 Greek Street, Shoreditch House, and Soho House Rome (opening soon).

For the second episode of How To Be An Artist, Kate Bryan is joined by the Dutch artists Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta, founders of Drift. Having worked side by side for more than 10 years, the duo discuss how they incorporate technology into their practice and what humans can learn from swarming starlings. Based in Amsterdam, Drift comprises a multidisciplinary team of more than 50 people creating experiential sculptures, installations, and performances. Their work has been exhibited in numerous institutions, including The Victoria and Albert Museum and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. An iteration of their renowned and ongoing Fragile Future series can also be found in Soho House Amsterdam.

In this week’s episode of How To Be An Artist, Kate Bryan speaks to American artist Xaviera Simmons. Based in New York, her work spans photography, performance, video, sound, sculpture, and mixed media. Bryan sits down with Simmons to discuss racial injustice, her attitudes to craft, and how art can be a part of the critique of power systems. Simmons’ works can be found in major museums, including The Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum in New York. Her artwork features in Ludlow House – and soon in Shoreditch House – as part of Soho House’s permanent art collection.

Up next in Soho House’s How To Be An Artist series is Berlin-based Jorinde Voigt. Primarily recognised for her large-scale abstract drawings, Voigt’s work is heavily influenced by musical notation, philosophical texts, and sensory information. In her discussion with Kate Bryan, she explains why she stepped away from using photography as part of her practice, and the continued impact her early studies in music have on the work that she creates. Voigt’s work features in prominent international museums and public collections, including Centre Pompidou (Paris),Kupferstichkabinett Berlin, and The British Museum (London). Three of her drawings can also be found on display in Soho House Berlin.

For the fifth episode of How To Be An Artist, Kate Bryan speaks to artist and creator of the iconic characters Flyboy and Lil Mama: Hebru Brantley. Heavily influenced by the murals and graffiti work of Chicago’s South Side in the 1960s and 1970s, he continues to work within those traditions to explore themes of nostalgia, power, and hope. In this conversation, Brantley talks about the significance that anime, comic books and manga had on his childhood. He also shares what it was like to collaborate with the likes of Nike and Cadillac, and his immersive installation, ‘Nevermore Park’. Brantley’s work has been showcased internationally, featuring in global art exhibits including Art Basel Switzerland, Art Basel Miami, and Frieze London. His work will also soon feature as part of a new Soho House site in the US.

In the sixth episode of the series, Kate Bryan speaks to Tal R, an artist born in Tel Aviv and based in Copenhagen. Working across a diverse range of media, including painting, textiles, sculpture and furniture, Tal R encourages viewers to question the conceptions and presumptions they hold of their surroundings. Sitting down with Bryan, he discusses using jealousy as a motivating force in his work, painting in his dreams, and the importance of imagination and memory as part of his practice. Tal R’s work has been widely exhibited, featuring in renowned galleries across the world. These include the Victoria Miro Gallery in London, Contemporary Fine Arts in Berlin, and the Louisiana Museum for Moderne Kunst in Denmark. One of his paintings also features as part of Soho House's permanent collection and can be found on display at Soho House Tel Aviv.

For the penultimate episode of How To Be An Artist, Kate Bryan is joined by Genevieve Gaignard. Based in Los Angeles, she enlists the use of photographic self-portraiture, sculpture and installation to explore race, femininity, class, and their various intersections. In this episode, Gaignard chats to Bryan about her recent residency at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, how she draws inspiration from her mother’s aesthetic, and shares advice to aspiring artists. Gaignard’s work has been exhibited throughout the United States, with shows at the Studio Museum in Harlem, the California African American Museum in Los Angeles, and the Houston Center for Photography. Her installationNever Too Much can also be found at Soho Warehouse in Downtown LA.

In the final episode of the series, Kate Bryan speaks to Hong Kong-based visual artist Leung Chi Wo. Ranging from photography, video and performance to installations, his work combines historical exploration with conceptual inquiry. In this conversation with Bryan, he talks about the importance of the1967 Hong Kong riots and the influence they had on his work. He also discusses his independent art space, Para Site, (which he cofounded with other independent artists in Hong Kong) and the value that teaching has had on his practice. Leung’s works have been exhibited at major international art spaces and institutions, including Tate Modern in London, Museu da Imagem e do Som in São Paulo and biennales in Shanghai, Busan and Manchester, among others. His photographic installation ‘Red Mustang’, that features as part of his Hot Wheels series, can also be found in Soho House Hong Kong.