
Ben Luke
Ben Luke is a contributing editor and podcast host at The Art Newspaper
A brush with... Gabriel Orozco—podcast
Orozco talks to Ben Luke about his influences—from writers to film-makers, and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped his life and work
‘I see the Turbine Hall as a sound vessel’: artist Tarek Atoui on his Tate Modern commission
The Lebanese artist and composer has created a sonic installation incorporating bespoke instruments that respond to Tate Modern’s vast atrium
Palestinian artists after the ceasefire, Robert Ryman, Katherine Hubbard—podcast
In this week's episode, Ben Luke learns about life for artists in Gaza one year on from the ceasefire, visits the new Robert Ryman survey at the Barbican in London, and speaks to US artist Katherine Hubbard about her latest installation exploring her mother's illness and memory loss
A brush with… Cecilia Vicuña—podcast
Cecilia Vicuña talks to Ben Luke about her influences—from writers to film-makers, and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped her life and work
Comment | ‘Britart’ started well in the 1990s—but it soon became as bad as Britpop
Can Tate Britain's new show escape nostalgia and knock down the monstrous mythologies surrounding the Young British Artists?
Renoir and Love in London, political storm around Kanal in Brussels, Ronald Moody—podcast
In this week's episode, Ben Luke previews a new Renoir exhibition at London's National Gallery, learns about the controversy around the opening of Kanal in Brussels, and explores a sculpture from 1938 by Jamaican-born artist Ronald Moody
Cezanne in Paris, Taryn Simon in New York, Magritte in London—podcast
In this week's episode, Ben Luke explores Cezanne's influence through a new exhibition at the Grand Palais in Paris, Ben Sutton speaks to artist Taryn Simon on her Guggenheim show in New York, and Alexander Morrison sees a work on paper by René Magritte at Gagosian in London
Giotto restored in Florence, Biennale de Lyon, Remedios Varo—podcast
In this week's episode, Ben Luke learns about Giotto’s revitalised depictions of the life of St Francis of Assisi in the Basilica of Santa Croce, speaks to the curator of the 18th edition of the Biennale de Lyon, and explores a painting by surrealist Remedios Varo on view in a major retrospective at the Louisiana Museum in Denmark
Comment | Sunil Gupta’s intimate photographs show how art and activism can work together
The images in the British-Indian artist’s retrospective at Kettle's Yard in Cambridge, England, are both tender and powerful
The Bayeux Tapestry, damaged heritage in Iran, Tschabalala Self’s Trafalgar Square sculpture—podcast
We take a look at the celebrated embroidery as it goes on view at the British Museum, speak to our reporter Sarvy Geranpayeh about the efforts to protect important sites in Iran and hear from Self about her Fourth Plinth commission
What did you miss? Summer art world news and what’s coming up—podcast
In this week's episode, Ben Luke speaks to three editors at The Art Newspaper about developments in July and August as well as events they are looking forward to
A brush with… Sunil Gupta—podcast
Sunil Gupta talks to Ben Luke about his influences—from writers to film-makers, and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped his life and work
Comment | Felix Gonzalez-Torres's major survey in Madrid shows how his art was both stridently political and gently lyrical
The exhibition at the Museo Reina Sofía demonstrates the wealth of meanings in the artist's work
A brush with… Richard Tuttle—podcast
Richard Tuttle talks to Ben Luke about his influences—from writers to musicians, and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped his life and work
A brush with… Dawoud Bey—podcast
Dawoud Bey talks to Ben Luke about his influences—from writers to musicians, and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped his life and work
A brush with… Katharina Grosse—podcast
Katharina Grosse talks to Ben Luke about her influences—from writers to musicians, and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped her life and work
A brush with… Pio Abad—podcast
Pio Abad talks to Ben Luke about his influences—from writers to musicians, and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped his life and work
Frida Kahlo at Tate Modern, the Brexit effect, a Renaissance tarot deck—podcast
In this week's episode, Ben Luke learns about Frida Kahlo at Tate Modern in London, speaks to Alexander Herman of the Institute of Art and Law on the impact of Brexit ten years on, and discusses the Renaissance-era Visconti-Sforza Tarot, on view at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York.
A brush with… Anne Imhof—podcast
Anne Imhof talks to Ben Luke about her influences—from writers to musicians, and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped her life and work
Comment | Visiting Venice this year reminded me of the crushing power of painting
From Old Masters like Tintoretto to contemporary Kantarovsky, the medium's brilliance shines across the city
Art Basel in Basel, Pierre Huyghe interview, James Turrell—podcast
In this week's episode, Ben Luke speaks to art market editor Kabir Jhala about this year's Art Basel, interviews artist Pierre Huyghe on his exhibition at the Beyeler Foundation, and learns about a new Skyspace by James Turrell opening in Aarhus, Denmark.
Pan-Africanism in London, the health benefits of art, Barbara Hepworth—podcast
In this week's episode, Ben Luke learns about Pan-Africanism through a travelling exhibition now open at the Barbican in London, and speaks to researcher Daisy Fancourt on art and health. For the Work of the Week, digital editor Alexander Morrison discusses a colourful Barbara Hepworth sculpture.
A brush with... Lisa Yuskavage—podcast
Lisa Yuskavage talks to Ben Luke about her influences—from writers to musicians, film-makers and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped her life and work
A brush with… Caragh Thuring—podcast
Caragh Thuring talks to Ben Luke about her influences—from writers to musicians, and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped her life and work
Yemen heritage, US flags at the National Gallery in Washington, Felix Gonzalez-Torres—podcast
In this week's episode, Ben Luke learns about cultural heritage at risk in Yemen, speaks to E. Carmen Ramos on the new American flag exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., and discusses one of Felix Gonzalez-Torres's wrapped candies sculptures on view at the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid.
London Gallery Weekend 2026: our critics pick their top shows
With over 120 galleries across the UK capital participating in this year's London Gallery Weekend, our critics have chosen their top 20 shows to guide you through the weekend
Smithsonian Women’s Museum chaos, Oliver Beer and Rufus Wainwright, Jasper Johns in Bilbao—podcast
In this week's episode, Ben Luke discusses the disruptions to plans for a new Smithsonian women's museum in Washington DC, speaks with artist Oliver Beer and musician Rufus Wainwright on their recent collaboration, and learns about a painting by Jasper Johns on show at the Guggenheim Bilbao.
A brush with... Elyse Gonzales, director of San Antonio's Ruby City art centre
From the writings of Olivia Laing to dream analysis, the Texas-based museum director shares her cultural influences
New York auctions, James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain, Edvard Munch—podcast
In this week's episode, Ben Luke speaks to correspondent Judd Tully on the New York spring auction results and takes a tour of the James McNeill Whistler exhibition at Tate Britain in London. Digital editor Alexander Morrison sees a frieze by Edvard Munch on display in Oslo.
Rocked on their heels: how exhibitions can change the course of artists’ lives
The revelation of witnessing a groundbreaking show can redefine an artist's creative trajectory





























