In Talks With

Host Danielle Radojcin chats to Carla Sozzani, a revered figurehead in the worlds of art and fashion. Known as a pioneering fashion editor, visionary gallerist, and the founder of 10 Corso Como and the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa, Carla has spent decades shaping the creative landscape.From her early days as a magazine editor in Milan during the late '60s and '70s to launching Italian Elle in 1987, Carla’s career has always been driven by an unwavering commitment to creative integrity, even when it came at the cost of her own career. Along with her late sister, the legendary Italian Vogue editor Franca Sozzani, she has shaped the lives of some of the most important fashion designers and photographers of the past 50 years, and created some of the most memorable imagery, working with photographers like Paolo Roversi, Peter Lindbergh and Steven Meisel. Throughout her career, Carla has been a mentor to independent designers, offering friendship, guidance and resources. She shares heartfelt memories of her great friend, the late Azzedine Alaïa, whom she helped save from bankruptcy, ultimately founding the Alaïa Foundation to preserve his legacy.In this episode, Carla talks about fashion designers today, from the independent designer she most rates, to her thoughts on incoming Chanel creative director Matthieu Blazy,  as well as discussing what makes print magazines relevant, and why you can't rely on AI to replace individual human creativity. Carla is the founder of 10 Corso Como, the groundbreaking concept store she opened in Milan in 1990. Long before spaces like Dover Street Market or Colette existed, 10 Corso Como redefined the shopping experience, becoming a pilgrimage site for fashion lovers worldwide. She is also the founder of Fondazione Sozzani, which aims to support new generations of creative talent. Carla’s new book, Carla Sozzani: Art, Life, Fashion by Louise Baring, offers an intimate look at her life and contributions to the worlds of fashion, art, and design.Resources:Carla Sozzani: Art, Life, Fashion by Louise Baring (2024, Thames & Hudson)Fondation Azzedine Alaïa10 Corso ComoFondazione Sozzani 

This episode features guest host, Simon Chilvers. Simon travelled to the seaside town of Margate in the UK, where he visited the TKE studios, part of the remarkable Tracey Emin Foundation to speak with Dutch artist Joline Kwakkenbos.Known for her evocative self-portraits, Joline's work delves into themes of identity, memory, queerness, and the fluidity of the self. The current exhibition, 'Shape Shifters', curated by Dame Tracey Emin, offers a deeply personal yet universally resonant exploration of self-representation by Kwakkenbos alongside the beautiful photographic work of Elissa Cray.Born in 1997 in the Netherlands, Joline grew up in a small Dutch village where her creativity was nurtured from an early age. Her parents’ hands-on, creative approach to life sparked her fascination with making and inspired her journey into the arts. Initially trained in fashion design, she graduated in 2019 and discovered a love for painting as a medium for expressing her unique visual language. Over the years, her work has evolved to include a collection of garments that reflect the diverse personas and narratives within her self-portraits.In this episode, Simon and Joline discuss her path from fashion to fine art, the transformative power of self-portraiture, and how her work challenges traditional notions of identity, representation, and history. https://www.traceyeminfoundation.com/joline-kwakkenboshttps://jolinekwakkenbos.nl/https://www.instagram.com/joline_kwakkenbos/

Danielle meets Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum, a multidisciplinary artist whose work transcends borders, time, and genres.Originally from Botswana and now based in the Netherlands, Pamela's practice encompasses drawing, painting, and installation. She intricately weaves together mythology, science, and narrative storytelling. This episode delves into her latest exhibition, "It Will End In Tears," her debut solo show at a prominent UK institution, the Barbican’s Curve Gallery, running until early 2025. This site-specific installation plunges viewers into a world inspired by film noir, crime fiction, and her distinctive alter-ego characters.During the conversation, Pamela explores her influences and inspirations, including the writings of Bessie Head; Alfred Hitchcock's meticulous approach to film-making; and the aesthetics and drama of film noir. She shares insights into her concept of "world building," discussing how her extensive collection of vintage clothing informs the characters that inhabit her creations.Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum is represented by Goodman Gallery.Goodman GalleryBarbicanPhoto: Lotte van Uitterst

In this episode, Danielle Radojcin visits the Sid Motion Gallery in South East London to talk to the British artist Phoebe Cummings, known for her extraordinary sculptures made from unfired clay. Phoebe’s work challenges traditional views of ceramics, focusing on the beauty of impermanence as her pieces dissolve over time. They evoke themes of nature, transience, and the fragile relationship between humanity and the natural world. Phoebe was born in Staffordshire, the heart of the British ceramics industry. She studied Three-Dimensional Design at the University of Brighton before completing an MA in Ceramics & Glass at the Royal College of Art in London. A lack of funds to pay for a kiln forced her to begin working with unfired  clay, and over the years, Phoebe has carved a unique path in the art world, becoming known for her ephemeral sculptures crafted entirely from the material.Her work is a reflection of nature’s transient beauty and the passing of time, often exploring themes of growth, decay, and the fragile relationship between humanity and the natural world. Phoebe’s pieces, which dissolve or disintegrate over time, challenge the traditional expectations of ceramics as a durable, permanent medium, and are more of a performance than static art piece, to be cherished as a memory rather displayed forever in a museum. In 2011, she won the prestigious British Ceramics Biennial Award, and her installations have been exhibited in notable institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum and York Art Gallery.Join Danielle and Phoebe as they explore Phoebe's creative journey, the influence of nature in her art, and her upcoming exhibition at the Sid Motion Gallery curated by Tom Cole, where her work will be shown alongside that of Robert Mapplethorpe and Magdalena Abakanowicz.https://www.phoebecummings.com/https://sidmotiongallery.co.uk/   

Danielle Radojcin travels to Brussels, Belgium to meet artist Jaclyn Conley, originally from Canada and currently based in Connecticut, USA. Jaclyn creates expansive works that create new worlds from seemingly disparate sources. Yet when these elements converge on her canvas, they establish entirely new relationships. Drawing inspiration from 16th-century art, religious iconography, and utopian photographs of 1970s commune life, Jaclyn redefines perceptions of time, place, and personal freedom. She deftly manipulates nonlinear time and intertwines themes of protest and politics.Her physical artworks are characterised by their large scale, and thick, energetic strokes of oil paint. Soft, feminine colours evoke a quiet, introspective mood, inviting viewers to reflect. At the onset of an exhibition of her new paintings at the Maruani Mercier gallery in Brussels, this episode delves into Jaclyn's thematic inspirations, their contemporary relevance, her artistic journey, and how her work interwines with other aspects of her life.   

“It’s about finding talented people and bringing them together to create beautiful things.” Join Danielle as she goes behind the scenes at Graanmarkt 13 with its co-founder, Ilse Cornelissens. This Belgian gem, a key part of Antwerp's famous creative community, features a carefully curated selection of fashion, perfumes, and homeware.The elegant five-storey, 18th-century townhouse, where Ilse and her family live, overlooks a historic market square surrounded by grand houses and the imposing Bourla Theatre. Opened with her husband in 2010 with the help of world-renowned architect Vincent Van Duysen, it boasts a basement restaurant and a terrace perfect for fine-weather lounging. Danielle speaks with Ilse to explore her refreshing approach to retail, the journey of establishing Graanmarkt 13, and the deep-rooted magic of Antwerp's creative scene.Graanmark 13Kassl Editions  

Danielle travels to Kettle’s Yard, the contemporary art gallery in Cambridge, UK, to meet Megan Rooney, a Canadian artist renowned for her diverse and interdisciplinary practice encompassing painting, sculpture, installation, and performance.Kettle's Yard is a charming art gallery and house that was originally the home of Jim Ede, a former curator at the Tate Gallery, and his wife Helen. From the mid-1950s until the early 70s, the Edes resided at Kettle’s Yard and created a space to display their impressive personal art collection, which includes works by Miro, Henry Moore, and Ben Nicholson. The house is arranged to maintain its domestic atmosphere, blending art with everyday objects to create an inspiring environment. Kettle's Yard also hosts temporary exhibitions, concerts, and educational programs, the most recent of which is a showcase of Megan Rooney’s work, including a site-specific temporary mural, a series of paintings, a dance performance, and a book.Born in South Africa and raised between Brazil and Canada, Rooney's work explores themes of identity, memory, and the human experience, blending abstract forms with narrative elements. Now based in London, her vibrant, large-scale paintings and immersive installations are characterised by a dynamic use of colour and texture. She has exhibited internationally, including at prominent institutions like the Serpentine Galleries in London and the Louis Vuitton Foundation, and is recognised for her innovative approach to blending different media and creating evocative, experiential art.Danielle visited Kettle's Yard to discuss with Megan her latest offering on the eve of the exhibition opening, which is her first major solo show in the UK.https://www.kettlesyard.cam.ac.uk/https://ropac.net/artists/210-megan-rooney/ Photo (detail): Eva Herzog   

Guest host Simon Chilvers speaks to Trino Verkade, Chief Executive of The Sarabande Foundation, a beacon of support and inspiration for emerging talent in the creative world. Founded by the legendary Alexander McQueen in 2006, Sarabande has blossomed into a nurturing space offering not only studios but also a wealth of knowledge through talks and workshops spanning various disciplines. Trino Verkade's journey intertwines deeply with the legacy of Alexander McQueen himself. Hailing from Liverpool, she began her career as McQueen's first employee, standing witness to the genius and innovation that defined his work until his untimely passing in 2010. Since then, she has continued to shape the landscape of fashion, lending her expertise to renowned brands such as Mary Katrantzou and Thom Browne. However, her heart ultimately found its home at Sarabande in 2017, where she now orchestrates every facet of the foundation's operations. In this special episode, Trino Verkade sits down with Simon to share her insights, experiences, and aspirations. From her intimate beginnings with McQueen to her tireless dedication to nurturing the next generation of creatives, she talks about what makes Sarabande unique and its plans for the future. https://sarabandefoundation.org/Photo: Sølve Sundsbø 

Who was Pauline Boty? With her blonde, backcombed hairstyle and It Girl charm, this pioneer of Pop Art embodied  the 1960s scene in London, hanging with Bob Dylan, posing for David Bailey, and acting with Michael Caine in the film Alfie. As a new generation discovers her work, Danielle Radojcin and guests explore the tragically short life and burgeoning legacy of this extraordinary woman.  Born in 1938 in Croydon, Boty studied at The Royal Academy and became a part of the nascent British pop art movement, along with the likes of Peter Blake and Derek Boshier. In the words of the writer Michael Bracewell, “She seemed to embody the early days of the Pop Age.” During her tragically short life, she produced an exciting and complex body of work, commenting on pop culture, feminism and so much of the era in which she lived, and much of which has been assembled for an exhibition at the Gazelli Art House in Mayfair, where this recording took place. Danielle Radojcin discusses Pauline Boty with  Mila Askarova, owner of Gazelli Art House and curator of the exhibition; Vinny Rawding , film director of a new, soon to be released documentary about Boty; and the curator and art historian Sue Tate, author of a biography on Boty’s life.Episode artwork: Michael Ward, Untitled (Men Only Cover Shot), 1963/2023. Courtesy of Elizabeth Seal-Ward for the Michael Ward Archive, Iconic Images & Gazelli Art House (detail) 

Of her work, British artist Lubaina Himid says she is "filling in the gaps of history." Danielle Radojcin travels to The Holburne Museum in Bath to meet her at her new exhibition, Lost Threads, which, like much of her work, addresses the histories and legacies of colonialism and slavery.Himid turns 70 this year. She was born in Zanzibar, but after her father tragically died of malaria when she was just a few months old, her British mother took her to live in the UK, where they settled in London. She eventually studied Theatre Design at Wimbledon College of Art, and the Royal College of Art. Over the course of her career, Himid has aimed to make art that creates a dialogue with her audience - she has said how the patterns in her work are a form of narrative; she has also made a point of championing under-represented artists, especially Black and Asian women. She became a key figure in the 1980s London, “Black art” movement, in which so called black art moved from the margins to the centre of British culture thanks in part to a series of influential exhibitions Himid curated. She was the first Black woman to win the Turner Prize, which she was awarded in 2017, and was elected to the Royal Academy in 2018, the same year she was made a CBE for services to art. Today, she  lives and works in Preston, where she is a professor at the University of Central Lancashire. Himid sat down with me at the Holburne in the midst of the press preview of her new exhibition, in one of the main, very large rooms there, to tell me a bit about her work… Episode artwork: Lubaina Himid, Man in a Pyjama Drawer, 2021 via Hollybush Gardens

Journalist Danielle Radojcin visits British artist David Remfry in his studio, where he reflects on his life as an artist - from 60s London (Francis Bacon was a neighbour), to 20 years spent living in the Chelsea Hotel to a triumph at the Royal Academy  - and the famous people who have sat for him along the way. Born in Worthing in the 50s and raised in the northern industrial town of Hull, Remfry studied art and moved to London in the 60s, holding his first solo exhibition there in 1973. A life-threatening illness and a chance encounter with an American gallerist propelled him to fame in Los Angeles in 1980, when an exhibition of his work there sold out immediately.   He became known for his large scale watercolour landscapes and portraits, and in particular for his ongoing series of people dancing. His portraits of the fashion designer Jean Muir and the actor John Gielgud are held at the National Portrait Gallery, as well as which he has work in the permanent collections at the V&A and RA. Over the years he has enjoyed a strong connection with the USA – he spent 20 years in New York, where he lived in the storied Chelsea Hotel, often asking his neighbours, who included Quentin Crisp and Ethan Hawke, to sit for him. In 2001 he was  awarded an MBE for services to British Art in America.In 2006 he was elected a Member of the Royal Academy of Arts, and last summer he was celebrated for his enthusiastic curation of the Summer Exhibition, in which he was determined to give a voice to under-represented talent. He's also known for painting the interior of the famous tea salon at Fortnum & Mason, and a fashion campaign he drew for the fashion designer Stella McCartney.In spite of his achievements, however, he vows he'll never be part of the establishment and continues to draw - and dance - every day. In 2025 there will be a retrospective of his work in Beverely, Yorkshire.

“Joy is something that requires work and commitment. It doesn’t just fall on you like rain.” So says Francesco Risso, the creative director at Italian fashion house Marni, where he has been in post since 2016. For this episode, guest host Simon Chilvers speaks with Francesco and Carlos Nazario, the stylist with whom Risso works, about how they came to work together, and what inspires them.Founded in 1994 by Consuelo Castiglioni, Marni built a devoted following for its intellectual and artistically-minded approach to clothes. When Castiglioni stepped down in 2016, Risso was appointed as creative director, continuing the brand’s legacy of cerebral design but with a renewed focus on beauty and craft. Before working for Marni, the Sardinian-born, Central Saint Martins-educated  Risso spent time working for Prada, Blumarine and Alessandro Dell’Acqua.Carlos Nazario is a New York-based stylist who was global fashion director of i-D magazine and former assistant of Joe McKenna, whose previous clients include Calvin Klein, Nike and Proenza Schouler, before being appointed style director at large for Harper’s Bazaar.  

Artist Amber Pinkerton describes what it's like moving to London from Jamaica as a young woman, and her experiences of alienation and self-awakening.  The photraphic film-maker and conceptual artist creates work which ranges from art to fashion photography to installation, with a self-described focus on themes of identity, personhood and the nature of individual and cultural agency, colourism and class. Pinkerton's work has been featured in publications such as Vanity Fair,  and Dazed and she has shot campaigns for fashion clients including Gucci, Valentino, as well as for Nike and Netflix. Represented by the Alice Black gallery in London, where she currently has a show on display until mid November, Danielle Radojcin sits down with Amber to hear about her background and how it informs her work.  

Danielle Radojcin talks to Sam Lackey, director at the Liverpool Biennial and the UK’s largest festival of contemporary art. The biennial, a festival which happens every two years in a city around the world, and often in disused spaces, is the chance to revitalise the city it’s taking place in. The 12th edition of the Liverpool Biennial, curated by ‎Khanyisile Mbongwa, addressed the history of the city of Liverpool and its connections to the slave trade, and acted as a call for  “ancestral and indigenous forms of knowledge, wisdom and healing.” Sam looks back at the highs and lows of this year's fair, and talks about her vision for it moving forward. https://www.biennial.com/@danielleradojcin

Since the 70s, photographer Janette Beckman has documented youth culture in street scenes on both sides of the Atlantic, capturing musicians such as Dr Dre, Pete Townsend and Paul Weller, just before they hit the big time. Captivated by street style, her photojournalism has caught on camera everything from punks and rockers in London to the  gangs of East Los Angeles.Janette grew up in London and spent time as a youth working for some of the most preeminent music and youth culture magazines of the day, such as Melody Maker and The Face. In the 80s she moved to New York, where she still lives today, and where she made a name for herself documenting the nascent hip hop scene. A career working for major magazine titles and prestigious subjects followed. More recently, she has spent time in Paris photographing the Christian Dior collections as well as documenting Black Lives Matter demonstrations. She exhibits prolifically, has published several books, and recently took part in a talk at Fotografiska celebrating women in hip hop. Danielle Radojcin speaks to Janette about her life as an itinerant female documentary photographer, as well as what it was like going to the  Rolling Stones concert in Hyde Park after Brian Jones died; her first assignment photographing Siouxsie and the Banshees; and how it feels having her work displayed at The National Portrait Gallery. janettebeckman.comPhoto: © Janette BeckmanLogo artwork: Patrick Waugh