Sotheby's Talks

In this episode, which was originally recorded as a live event to celebrate the sale of the Sydney Denton: A Life Through Ceramics collection, Sotheby’s specialist Tamsin Golding Yee was joined by actor, art historian and collector Russell Tovey; Hepworth Wakefield curator Abi Shapiro and potter Florian Gadsby to discuss the recent rise in ceramics sales, publications and exhibitions, the challenges and future of ceramics, as well as own their personal journeys with making and collecting. The Sydney Denton collection comprised of over 200 ceramics created by both modern and contemporary makers. The sale broke existing auction records and involved many artists’ auction debuts. This podcast was recorded at Sotheby’s London in June 2025. To step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Sotheby's Paul Redmayne, SVP of Luxury Sales, and Melissa Moncanda, President of Colnago and CEO & Founder of Aurora Vision Group, to explore the rise of the bicycle as a serious collectible. The pair discuss Colnago’s unique position at the intersection of heritage, craftsmanship, performance, and design, and what makes a bicycle truly collectible – from rarity and provenance to cultural impact and emotional value. The conversation also explores cycling’s growing status as a global luxury and wellbeing pursuit, and Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a key centre for the sport. This podcast was recorded at Sotheby’s Collectors’ Week in Abu Dhabi in December 2025. To step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Oliver Barker for a conversation with Batia Ofer, renowned art collector, philanthropist, Chair of the Royal Academy Trust and founder of Art of Wishes, an initiative that raises funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation through contemporary art. The episode explores Batia’s personal journey from collecting art to championing philanthropy, the impact of her work on supporting emerging artists and institutions, and the vital role art plays in society, community engagement and education. Cover image credit: Jonathan Glynn Smith This podcast was recorded at Sotheby’s Collectors’ Week in Abu Dhabi in December 2025. To step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join us for a wide-ranging conversation with senior leaders from Pirelli as they explore the intersection of motorsport, innovation and design. Featuring Mario Isola, Pirelli Motorsport Director, Anthony Johansen, Global Product Training Manager, and Marco Maria Tronchetti Provera, SVP Pirelli Design & Assets Conversion, this episode delves into how performance at the highest level of racing informs road-going products, the role of technology and data in tyre development, and how design, heritage and sustainability shape Pirelli’s future. Together, they offer a behind-the-scenes perspective on what it takes to balance cutting-edge engineering with brand, culture and long-term vision. This podcast was recorded at Sotheby’s Collectors’ Week in Abu Dhabi in December 2025. To step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit ⁠sothebys.com⁠.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode brings together Sotheby's Vice Chairman of Private Sales, Samuel Valette and Diana Widmaier Picasso, art historian, curator, author and granddaughter of the great Pablo Picasso. Exploring the global legacy of the artist, this discussion moves beyond the mythology, delving into why Picasso remains relevant across generations and his lasting influence on contemporary artists. Cover image credit: © 2026 Succession Picasso/DACS, London This podcast was recorded at Sotheby’s Collectors’ Week in Abu Dhabi in December 2025. To step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode, we are joined by Suzanna Siano, founder and owner of Modern Art Conservation, to discuss how conservation shapes our understanding of a work, and the key factors that determine its price – from provenance and condition to broader market trends. Joining her are Zoë Zaneteas, Sotheby’s Specialist in Impressionist & Modern Art, and Nicole Schloss, Sotheby’s Specialist in Contemporary Art. Cover Image: Wassily Kandinsky Ohne Titel (Untitled), executed in 1925 © 2025 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York This podcast was recorded at Sotheby’s New York as part of Open House, a weekend-long introduction to the world of art and luxury for the culturally inquisitive.  To step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join us at Sotheby's for an insider look at The Leonard A. Lauder Collection, an exceptional body of museum-quality masterpieces. At its centre is Gustav Klimt's celebrated Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer, alongside works by Henri Matisse, Edvard Munch, Vincent Van Gogh and other luminaries of modern art. Ahead of Sotheby’s landmark sale of this extraordinary collection this October, Curatorial and Collections Director at the National Portrait Gallery Flavia Frigeri, Sotheby's Chairman Impressionist and Modern Art Worldwide Helena Newman, and award-winning author James Stourton will join Director of Sir John Soane’s Museum Will Gompertz for a special discussion. Together they will explore Klimt's enduring allure – from his luminous portrait of Elisabeth Lederer to the lyricism of the Attersee landscapes – as well as Leonard Lauder's vision and insights into his once-in-a-generation collection. This podcast was recorded at Sotheby’s London in October 2025.  And, to step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit Sothebys.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode, we examine the findings of Sotheby’s most recent Insight Report on Surrealism, which puts into sharp focus the buoyant market trends around the movement, currently celebrating its centenary.    Drawing on seven years of publicly available and proprietary data, the report reveals how Surrealism has outpaced the broader global art market and examines the enduring appeal of works from the 1920s to the 2020s across both the art world and wider culture.   Joining the discussion are Dawn Ades, legendary art historian and academic; Anders Petterson, founder and managing director of ArtTactic, and co author of the report; and Thomas Boyd-Bowman, Head of Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sales at Sotheby’s London. The talk is moderated by Tim Marlow, Director and Chief Executive of the Design Museum in London.    The report was produced in collaboration with ArtTactic and made possible by Sotheby’s Financial Services, whose mission is to empower collectors through asset-backed lending solutions.   This podcast was recorded at Sotheby’s London in September 2025.    To step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s episode,  we celebrate ‘The Gorgeous Nothings’, a new exhibition at Chatsworth sponsored by Sotheby’s. Renowned for its art and landscape, Chatsworth House has evolved through the centuries to reflect the tastes, passions, and interests of successive generations of the Devonshire family.    Lady Burlington – who conceived and shaped the project – is joined in conversation by curator Allegra Pesenti and Christopher Woodward, Director of the Garden Museum, to reflect on ephemerality, the poetry of objects, and the art of exhibition-making.   This podcast was recorded at Sotheby’s London in June 2025.    Chatsworth House Trust, sponsored by Sotheby’s, is a registered charity established in 1981 to look after the house, collections, garden and parkland for everyone. Find out more about The Gorgeous Nothings at chatsworth.org/thegorgeousnothings   To step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join us at Sotheby’s for a special talk which will explore the remarkable collecting journey of Pauline Karpidas, one of the most influential art patrons of the past fifty years. Ahead of Sotheby’s landmark sale of her extraordinary Surrealist collection this September, collector Tiquio Acentio, curator Jasper Sharp, and Sotheby’s Worldwide Chairman of Impressionist and Modern Art Helena Newman will join broadcaster and art historian Kate Bryan to reflect on Karpidas’ unique eye, her friendships with artists, and the broader role of women as cultural custodians. From Peggy Guggenheim to Dominique de Menil and beyond, women collectors have long shaped the direction of modern and contemporary art. What drives them? How do personal connections influence collecting? And how does a home become a curated world? With insights into the upcoming auction and the stories behind the works, this talk will offer a portrait of a life in art – and celebrate those who collect with connoisseurship, curiosity and conviction. This podcast was recorded at Sotheby’s London in September 2025.  And, to step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s episode, we explore the power of connoisseurship with renowned London-based dealer and collector Daniel Katz – one of the art world’s most respected and original figures, known for his deep scholarship and discerning eye. From the thrill of discovery, to what it means to truly see a work of art, Katz reflects on standout pieces in his collection and the instinct behind great acquisitions, offering a rare glimpse into the making of an extraordinary connoisseur.   This podcast was recorded at Sotheby’s London in June 2025.    To step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com.    Cover Image: Nicholson Ben 1942 (H.S), 1942 © 2025 All rights reserved, DACS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s episode, we turn our attention to women artists — and the shifting dynamics of their place in the art market. This conversation unpacks the key findings of our latest Insight Report, which explores the growing presence and influence of women artists in Modern and Contemporary art.   Joining the discussion are Anders Petterson, founder and managing director of ArtTactic and co-author of the report; Jenny Waldman, Director of Art Fund; Christian Levett, collector and founder of the Femmes Artistes du Musée de Mougins; and Ottilie Windsor, Head of Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s London. Together, they explore how the presence and influence of women artists in Modern and Contemporary art is evolving, and what this means for collectors, institutions and the market at large.   The report was produced in collaboration with ArtTactic and made possible by Sotheby’s Financial Services, whose mission is to empower collectors through asset-backed lending solutions.   This podcast was recorded at Sotheby’s London in June 2025.    To step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s episode, we’re exploring the world of Shakespeare. Sam Leith, author, journalist and literary editor of The Spectator, will be joined by Emma Smith, Professor of Shakespeare Studies at Oxford, Tracy-Ann Oberman, who most recently starred as Shylock in her adaptation of The Merchant of Venice, and acclaimed actor Joseph Kloska. They will be revealing how different editions shaped our understanding of Shakespeare’s plays. Why do some of his most famous lines vary from version to version? What do these texts reveal about the many ways Shakespeare’s plays can be interpreted - on the page, on the stage and in the minds of each new generation? This podcast was recorded at Sotheby’s London in May 2025.  To step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, actor, filmmaker, musician and activist, Idris Elba discusses the influence and growth of African art and the creative industries on the global stage with host Alexis Akwagyiram, Managing Editor of Semafor Africa, Dana Enduno Ferriera, CEO and Founder of Pavillon54, a digital platform for sharing and promoting art from the African diaspora, and artist and art historian, Smooth Nwezi, a curator in the Department of Painting and Sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Co-hosted by Africell, and the Africell Impact Foundation. And, to step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Has London's cultural power essentially radiated outwards, influencing artists and creatives across the world? Or is London's creative preeminence dependent on the influx of global talent that has galvanised its artistic scene? In this panel discussion, curator and cultural historian Gus Casely-Hayford, journalist Dylan Jones, museum director Tim Marlow, Sotheby’s Europe chairman Helena Newman and artist Grayson Perry explore the importance of cultural exchange, regardless of its origin, in shaping London's rise as a creative powerhouse. This podcast was recorded at Sotheby’s London in June 2024.  And, to step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In celebration of Imaginary Conversations: An ERDEM Collection inspired by Duchess Deborah, join British fashion journalist Charlie Porter in conversation with Erdem Moralıoğlu, Creative Director of ERDEM, and Lady Burlington. Together they will discuss Moralıoğlu's creative process in designing a collection inspired by Duchess Deborah, drawing upon the historic textile collection and archives at Chatsworth House, as well as the creation of Imaginary Conversations, an exhibition that showcases the inspiration, craft and tools involved in translating the life and legacy of an individual into a fully realised fashion collection. Visit Imaginary Conversations: An ERDEM Collection inspired by Duchess Deborah at Chatsworth House until 20th October 2024.  This podcast was recorded at Sotheby’s London in June 2024.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

London has long been a cultural melting pot for artists from around the world who, in their own unique ways, have revealed with each touch of a brush, the impact of the dynamic environment in which they found themselves. So in celebration of its role in the artistic journeys of so many, Sotheby’s has partnered with Art UK to showcase 12 extraordinary masterpieces by international artists on loan from regional museums across the UK. London: An Artistic Crossroads will bring together works by artists who have passed through or settled in the UK during their lifetime, including Zoffany, Derain, Mondrian, Odundo and Freud To mark this exhibition, we invited art historian and former chair of Sotheby’s UK James Stourton to the stage for a talk tracing the history of London’s art scene through its golden age, celebrating the city as a multicultural melting pot of creativity. You can visit the exhibition London: An Artistic Crossroads, at Sotheby’s London until 5th July 2024.  This podcast was originally recorded at Sotheby’s in London in June 2024 as part of the exhibition London: An Artistic Crossroads. Art UK is an art education charity and artuk.org is the online home for every public collection of art in the UK. And, to step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, writer, academic and critic Frances Wilson is joined by Artistic Director of Dior Homme and Vice President of Charleston, Kim Jones, Dr Darren Clarke, Head of Collections, Research and Exhibitions at Charleston and Sotheby’s, and Jen Hardie, Director and Senior Specialist in Modern British & Irish Art at Sotheby’s in London, for a conversation about the indefatigable spirit of the Bloomsbury group and the renewed interest in their work and lives today, across paintings, drawings, furniture, ceramics and literature. This podcast was originally recorded at Sotheby’s in London to celebrate Radical Modernity: From Bloomsbury to Charleston, a private selling and loan exhibition in collaboration with Charleston. And, to step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With a rare first edition of William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience about to go under the hammer, in this episode a panel of experts have come together for a conversation about the poet, artist and visionary. Chair and cultural critic Shahidha Bari is joined by art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon, cultural historian John Higgs and Sotheby’s Selby Kiffer to explore the enduring legacy of this enigmatic genius, whose influence stretches from the psychedelic counterculture of the 1960s through to the video games, novels and designer fashion of the 21st century. This podcast was recorded at Sotheby’s London in June 2024. And, to step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

London has long been a cultural melting pot for artists from around the world who, in their own unique ways, have revealed with each touch of a brush, the impact of the dynamic environment in which they found themselves. So in celebration of its role in the artistic journeys of so many, Sotheby’s has partnered with Art UK to showcase 12 extraordinary masterpieces by international artists on loan from regional museums across the UK. London: An Artistic Crossroads will bring together works by artists who have passed through or settled in the UK during their lifetime, including Zoffany, Derain, Mondrian, Odundo and Freud. We’re taking you along with us on this special podcast episode, where you’ll hear insights from the directors of each museum. These engaging discussions are a rare chance to uncover the unique narratives behind each work, celebrating London’s reputation as a multicultural melting pot of creativity. You can visit the exhibition at Sotheby’s London until 5th July 2024.  This podcast was originally recorded at Sotheby’s in London in June 2024 as part of the exhibition London: An Artistic Crossroads. Art UK is an art education charity and artuk.org is the online home for every public collection of art in the UK. To step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices