What's the Point.

Join Shantell Martin as she sits down with figurative painter Calida Rawles. Together, they discuss the use of water in her paintings, the important role drawing played in her childhood, embracing happy accidents in her work, and the importance of writing.

Join Shantell Martin as she sits down with the amazing artist Greg Ito. Together they discuss being born and raised in LA, his grandparents being in the Japanese internment camps, not fitting in at school and the importance of community.

Join Shantell Martin as she sits down with the incredibly creative Laura Rule. Together, they discuss moving to LA, her work making commercials, why she uses clay to sculpt, and the creative process behind her work.

Join Shantell Martin as she sits down with the boundary-pushing poet and musician, Aja Monet. Together they discuss her first introduction to poetry, the freedom that comes from growing up in New York, what it takes to go on tour and the lessons that come with aging.

Join Shantell Martin as she sits down with the award winning multi-hyphenate artist Terrell Tilford. Together they discuss how he got his start as an actor, why he founded Band of Vices and the importance of being a support system for fellow artists.

Join Shantell Martin as she sits down with the dynamic artist Allison Hueman. Together they discuss growing up in the Bay area, collaborating with others, creating her first immersive experience after the pandemic and working with brands that align with her values.

Join Shantell Martin as she sits down with the talented artist Cash Cooper. Together they discuss the history of his name, his time living in Singapore, how to be an artist in a money driven industry and why he loves working on a “heroic scale”.

Join Shantell Martin as she sits down with the multi-dispilenary artist Lucy McRae. Together they discuss her childhood taking ballet classes, moving from the UK to Australia, how rejections can lead to new opportunities, and the process that went into creating her short film.

Join Shantell Martin as she sits down with acclaimed artist Keith Mayerson. Together they discuss his upbringing in Colorado, his start as a cartoonist in New York, how America inspires his work and why he decided to get into teaching.

Join Shantell Martin as she sits down with mixed media artist JosephBrandon Thomas. Together they discuss the origins of his name, what it was like to grow up in New Orleans, the many different jobs he previously held and how it led him into the art world.

Join Shantell Martin as she sits down with the mastermind behind the global phenomenon Secret Walls, Terry Guy. Together they discuss his life moving out to Riverside, his new venture in owning a coffee shop and how he started Secret Walls 20 years ago and grew it into the success it is today.

Join Shantell Martin as she sits down with artist and facilitator Leah King. The two artists delve into Leah’s roots in the Bay Area, her life on the East Coast, and being surrounded by poetry. Leah is currently pursuing an MFA at USC’s Roski School of Art and Design.

Join Shantell Martin as she sits down with renowned photographer and designer, Ave Pildas to discuss his impressive career. Together, they explore Ave’s childhood in Ohio, his time studying architecture and design in Switzerland, and the significance of preserving a decades-long career through archiving.

Join Shantell Martin as she sits down with actress and comedian Jade Catta-Preta in an engaging conversation about her career. Listen as they discuss Jade's journey from moving to the United States in middle school to her decision to attend Emerson College, ultimately leading her to pursue her dreams on the screen and stage in Los Angeles.

Join Shantell Martin as she sits down with Charles Gaines to discuss the ways in which subjectivity vs. objectivity plays a role in the conception of art. The two artists explore Charles' childhood moving from the South to the North as a young boy, his unconventional path to becoming a painter, and the future of conceptual art.  Upcoming Shows: Charles Gaines19 February – 24 May 2025Hauser & Wirth West HollywoodGaines returns to his hometown of Los Angeles to present a new series of his signature Plexiglas works and watercolors at Hauser & Wirth West Hollywood. The exhibition coincides with the surveys ‘Charles Gaines: 1992 – 2023’ (30 October 2024 – 9 March 2025) and ‘Charles Gaines: Arizona Series’ (30 October 2024 – 20 July 2025) at the Phoenix Art Museum.

Join Shantell Martin as she sits down with Harmonia Rosales to discuss the critical role of research in her artistic process and her visionary outlook on the future of her art. They delve into Harmonia's artistic journey, exploring her early encounters with fine art, the profound impact of her ancestry on her work, and the invaluable lessons she has learned throughout her career.

Join us in listening as Estevan discusses his early life experiences, his journey into the art world, and the power of art itself. He recalls his childhood experiences travelling between San Diego and Los Angeles, his rebellious school days, and his early involvement in the music industry, while he emphasizes the importance of passion and hard work in achieving artistic success. Estevan Oriol is a renowned photographer and filmmaker known for capturing the heart and soul of Los Angeles' lowrider and hip-hop cultures. Follow Estevan Oriol at: @estevanoriol @estevanoriolshop https://www.estevanoriol.com/ whatsthepoint.art

Rabi is a visual artist based in Los Angeles, and he is known for his vibrant mural paintings. Rabi's journey into mural art traces back to his childhood days of graffiti. Despite facing challenges growing up, he found comfort in his mother's love, strong friendships, and his passion for skateboarding, which fueled his rebellious spirit and eventually led him to express himself through graffiti and later mural painting. In this episode, Rabi and Shantell dive into the struggles and uncertainties that come with being an artist, as well as the rollercoaster of life's highs and lows. They delve into Rabi's personal history, sharing experiences close to his heart that have shaped him into the confident and outgoing person he is today. Follow Rabi Towing at: ⁠@rabi__towing⁠ ⁠www.rabitowing.com⁠ ⁠whatsthepoint.show ⁠ Content Warning: Graphic, sensitive, and/or mature content is discussed throughout the episode. Listener discretion is advised. 

In this episode of What's the Point, hosted by Shantell Martin, we welcome Tommy Mitchell, a self-taught portrait artist. Tommy works and lives between Baltimore and Los Angeles with his studio space in Baltimore. His work consists of portraiture with an addition of illustration elements and his two main mediums are ballpoint pens and acrylic paint. Growing up Tommy felt empowered as a kid by watching cartoons and reading comics. This led him to develop a love and obsession for drawing, which he continues to feel today, along with his love of basketball. Listen to this week’s episode of What’s the Point with host Shantell Martin and guest Tommy Mitchell to learn more about Tommy’s passions, inspirations, goals, hurdles, and process as an artist. Follow Tommy Mitchell on @tommymitche11 https://www.tommymitche11.com/ What's the Point

Welcome Lyndon Barrois Sr, to this week’s episode of What’s the Point with Shantell Martin, where we explore the purpose behind creating and enjoying art! Lyndon is an animation director, filmmaker, and artist, who’s worked on The Matrix, The Thing, and Happy Feet, and is also known for his sculptural series, It’s a Wrapper. He’s been featured in major institutions all over the United States.  Lyndon’s work, It’s a Wrapper, is unbelievably unique as he creates humanistic sculptures from chewing gum wrappers and brings them to life through stop-motion animation. In It’s a Wrapper Studios, Lyndon is known for sportraits, an animated depiction of athletic figures and events in the history of sports, made from gum wrappers.    Lock into this week’s episode of What’s the Point to learn more about Lyndon’s upbringing and path to becoming an artist, the work he has accomplished, how he stays inspired, and more! Follow Lyndon Barrois Sr on @itsawrapper https://itsawrapper.com/ What's the Point