Ben Luke

Ben Luke is a contributing editor and podcast host at The Art Newspaper

Three exhibitions to see in London this weekend

From Bridget Riley's trippy canvases to Eduardo Paolozzi's war-wearied sculptures

Podcastspodcast

Leonardo at the Louvre: the spectacular show and the Salvator Mundi no-show

We speak to co-curator Vincent Delieuvin about the 13 years of research that went into the show and discuss the latest twist in the Salvator Mundi saga with author Ben Lewis. Produced in association with Bonhams, auctioneers since 1793

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Julia Michalska, David Clack and Aimee Dawson
Booksreview

‘If I don’t like your pictures, I can destroy everything': a photographer's intimate—but risky—shoots with Louise Bourgeois

In his new book the photographer Jean-François Jaussaud details how he gained the trust of the late French artist

Podcastspodcast

MoMA special: our verdict on the museum opening of the year

We speak to two of the museum's curators leading the expansion and our New York team sit down to discuss the highs and lows of the new space. Produced in association with Bonhams, auctioneers since 1793.

Hosted by Ben Luke and Nancy Kenney. with guest speakers Margaret Carrigan, Helen Stoilas and Linda Yablonsky
Podcastspodcast

Agnes Denes: environmental art pioneer. Plus, Rembrandt-Velázquez and De Hooch

We speak to the artist behind the extraordinary Wheatfield work and visit two new shows in the Netherlands. Produced in association with Bonhams, auctioneers since 1793.

Mark Bradfordinterview

Mark Bradford addresses modern-day xenophobia through Greek mythology and a Motown classic

US artist talks on The Art Newspaper Podcast about his London exhibition Cerberus at Hauser & Wirth

Rembrandt-Velázquez: a match made in curatorial heaven

Exhibition at the Rijksmuseum reveals both artists as masters of psychology and technique

Mark Leckeyinterview

Mark Leckey on using Victorian techniques to evoke magical memories

For his new Tate Britain show, the artist used illusion to recreate his childhood experience beneath a motorway

Podcastspodcast

Frieze week: Ai Weiwei, Mark Bradford, Peter Doig, Melanie Gerlis, Hettie Judah

In this bumper edition we interview three of the world's leading artists, all of whom have shows timed to coincide with Frieze in London, plus all the latest news from the fair

Hosted by Ben Luke. with guest speakers Melanie Gerlis and Louisa Buck. Produced by Julia Michalska and David Clack
Podcastspodcast

Special: is art education in crisis? Featuring Bob and Roberta Smith

As art schools start their new term in the UK, this week’s episode is an education special. Produced in association with Bonhams, auctioneers since 1793.

Hosted by Ben Luke and Nancy Kenney. Produced by Julia Michalska and David Clack
Podcastspodcast

Museum ethics. Plus, the Chicago Architecture Biennial

We discuss the increased scrutiny museums face over their sponsorship policies and the architectural heritage of Chicago

Hosted by Ben Luke and Margaret Carrigan. , with guest speakers Jane Morris and Martin Bailey. Produced by Julia Michalska, David Clack and Aimee Dawson
Podcastspodcast

Tate's William Blake blockbuster. Plus, Pace and the New York gallery boom

We take an in-depth tour of the Blake show and talk to Marc Glimcher about his vast new space in Chelsea and why galleries are becoming supersized. Produced in association with Bonhams, auctioneers since 1793.

Hosted by Ben Luke and Margaret Carrigan. Produced by Julia Michalska and David Clack

It's back to school for the art world—here's why you shouldn't just rush to the blockbusters

From William Blake at Tate Britain to Gauguin at the National Gallery, London's museums are opening their biggest exhibitions this month—but how much are you really able to enjoy them?

Podcastspodcast

Tim Spall on playing L.S. Lowry. Plus, an exclusive interview with Chris Ofili and Jasmine Thomas-Girvan

We kick off the new season with a behind-the-scenes look at the film Mrs Lowry and Son and explore an artistic relationship in Trinidad

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Julia Michalska, David Clack and Aimee Dawson
Podcastspodcast

Top of the Pods: David Hockney and other modern British mavericks

We revisit our exclusive interview with the British artist. Plus, expert Martin Gayford tells us about Hockney, Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon and others in post-war London

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Julia Michalska, David Clack and Aimee Dawson
Podcastspodcast

Top of the Pods: The best of the Venice Biennale

A look back at our coverage of the contemporary art event, including interviews with Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster and Ralph Rugoff

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Julia Michalska, David Clack and Aimee Dawson
Podcastspodcast

Top of the Pods: Leonardo—the Salvator Mundi saga

We revisit interviews about the headline-making auction of the famous painting, its origins and its present whereabouts

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Julia Michalska, David Clack and Aimee Dawson
Podcastspodcast

Top of the Pods: video artists in the spotlight

We bring together discussions with three masters of video art: Ragnar Kjartansson, John Akomfrah and Christian Marclay

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Julia Michalska, David Clack and Aimee Dawson
Podcastspodcast

Top of the Pods: Artemisia Gentileschi and the forgotten female Old Masters

We look back at the women who were written out of art history with National Gallery curator Letizia Treves, Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum director Jordana Pomeroy and artist Helen Cammock

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Julia Michalska, David Clack and Aimee Dawson
Podcastspodcast

In memoriam: Karsten Schubert in conversation with Michael Landy

In this archive interview, the artist Michael Landy speaks to the London-based dealer Karsten Schubert, who died this week, about his life as a collector

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Julia Michalska, David Clack and Aimee Dawson
Podcastspodcast

Top of the Pods: climate crisis with Olafur Eliasson, Justin Brice Guariglia and Anna Somers Cocks

As many parts of the world record their highest ever temperatures, we look back on three interviews focusing on climate change and the anthropocene.

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Julia Michalska, David Clack and Aimee Dawson

Museums cannot ignore artists’ values

Artists are increasingly concerned about the ethical principles of the museums and galleries in which they show their work

Podcastspodcast

Top of the Pods: the world of Warhol, as told by Jeremy Deller and Donna De Salvo

With the Pop artist's blockbuster retrospective currently on show at SFMoMA, we delve into the life and legacy of the ever-popular painter with artist Jeremy Deller and curator Donna De Salvo. Produced in association with Bonhams, auctioneers since 1793.

Podcastspodcast

Top of the Pods: experts on Van Gogh in the asylum and his early life

We bring together our interviews with Martin Bailey and Martin Gayford who discuss the turbulent life and longstanding legacy of the Dutch painter. Produced in association with Bonhams, auctioneers since 1793.

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Julia Michalska, Aimee Dawson and David Clack

The natural world meets the virtual in Jakob Kudsk Steensen's augmented reality experience at Serpentine Galleries

Marking the galleries' first Augmented Architecture commission, the work explores the sights and sounds of the flora and fauna in London’s Hyde Park

Turner Prize nominee Helen Cammock on Baroque music and marginalised histories

The UK artist's solo exhibition at London's Whitechapel Gallery explores the lives of 17th-century Italian female composers

Art historian Douglas Crimp, who defined the Pictures Generation, dies aged 74

The writer, curator and editor organised the influential Pictures exhibition and championed artist activism during the Aids crisis

Podcastspodcast

Ibrahim Mahama's ghosts of Ghana. Plus, China's epic Picasso show

We speak to the Ghanaian artist as he unveils a major new commission at the Whitworth as part of the Manchester International Festival. Plus, we find out about the Picasso blockbuster at UCCA in Beijing. Produced in association with Bonhams, auctioneers since 1793.

Hosted by Ben Luke, Cristina Ruiz and Lisa Movius. Produced by David Clack and Aimee Dawson
Podcastspodcast

Vermeer's hidden cupid, the Prado's Dutch-Spanish show, plus Helen Cammock

The story behind the revealing of Cupid in one of Vermeer's greatest masterpieces, and Helen Cammock on her Whitechapel show and nomination for this year's Turner Prize

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Julia Michalska and David Clack