Sotheby's Talks
Sotheby's Talks is a podcast that explores the worlds of art, culture, and collecting. It features conversations with tastemakers, collectors, and luminaries, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the remarkable items handled by the auction house, from contemporary art and Old Masters to rare books and jewelry. Each episode invites listeners inside Sotheby's galleries and highlights the fascinating stories behind these treasures.
Episodes
Hassan Hajjaj: My London Rockstars, Ends to Estates
This conversation marks Hassan Hajjaj's exhibition with Sotheby's titled My London Rockstars: Ends to Estates. Join the artist himself as well as curator, writer and broadcaster Ekow Eshun in a discussion moderated by Modern & Contemporary African Art specialist Hannah O'Leary. Together, they reflect on the evolution of his practice from its early roots in London’s creative underground to his inte
The Crafted House: Keeping the Great House Alive
In this episode, House & Garden’s Pratyush Sarup is joined by Dan Jackson, Head of Historic Buildings for Historic Royal Palaces alongside Julie Montagu, Countess of Sandwich and Custodian of Mapperton House, and Malcolm Winyard, Interior Designer who worked on Mapperton House.
Together they discuss how historic houses are conserved, refreshed and reimagined through skilled craft, from upholstery
The Future of Craft: How to Keep Vital Skills Alive
In this episode, James Haldane, Executive Editor of Sotheby’s Magazine is joined by Daniel Carpenter, Executive Director of Heritage Crafts alongside Lucy Brown, CEO of the Hugo Burge Foundation and Louis Elton, Founder of Nations of Artisans and the British Cræft Prize.
Together, they discuss the future of craft and explore what it takes to keep craft alive in the modern world. Which skills matt
Art, Women, and Europe in Turmoil
In this episode, Veronique Forge-Karibian, advisor to the Milken Institute, a non-partisan economic thinktank, is joined by Natalie Livingstone, author of The Women of Nuremberg, alongside Catherine Ostler, author of The Renoir Girls, and Julia Fishel, Sotheby’s Head of Modern Day Sales. Together, they explore the intersections of art, identity and memory across some of the most turbulent chapters
ICONS | Deconstructing Icons, with Greg Lauren
In this episode, we explore the question: What does it mean to be an icon, and how do icons endure or transform over time? Recorded at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in May 2026, the panel brings together fashion designer Greg Lauren and Nicolas Chow, Chairman of Sotheby’s Asia, for a conversation on art, fashion, and cultural memory, moderated by CC Xichu Wang, Maison Director of Sotheby’s Asia. From ancien
Lucio Fontana and the Art of Space
In this episode, Curatorial and Collections Director at the National Portrait Gallery Flavia Frigeri is joined by Sotheby’s Chairman of Contemporary Art, Europe, Claudia Dwek, and International Specialist of Contemporary Art, Lisa Stevenson. Their discussion traces Fontana’s radical interrogation of space and his influence in the 1960s across Europe through German gallerists, museums and beyond.
Bacon, Freud, Kossoff: The Human Figure in Post-War London, with Sophie de Stempel
In this episode, arts broadcaster Kate Bryan is joined by Sophie de Stempel – artist and sitter for Lucian Freud – and Tom Eddison, Sotheby’s Head of Contemporary Art in London, for a conversation on four exceptional paintings that bring together Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud and Leon Kossoff at pivotal moments in their careers. Spanning four decades, these works capture the School of London at its
How Do Objects Achieve Iconic Status, with Grayson Perry and Xa Sturgis
In this episode, we ask the question: How do objects achieve iconic status? Taking inspiration from the book Icons: 100 Extraordinary Objects from Sotheby’s History, published by Phaidon, the discussion explores how a work of art can transform beyond its material form to become a universal cultural image – instantly recognisable, endlessly reproduced, and symbolically charged.
Joining the discuss
British Studio Ceramics: Legacy and Present
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 challeng
The Legacy of Picasso: Relevance Across Generations, with Diana Widmaier Picasso
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 i
Pirelli: From Race to Road and Beyond
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 infor
Art and Philanthropy: Purposeful Collecting, with Batia Ofer
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
The Art of Collectible Bicycles: Colnago’s Masterpieces in Motion
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 imp
What It’s Worth: How Art is Conserved and Valued with Suzanna Siano
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
The Leonard A. Lauder Collection: Klimt and the Art of Connoisseurship
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
Insight Report: A Century of Surrealism
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 f
The Gorgeous Nothings: Flowers at Chatsworth, with Lady Burlington
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 A
Custodians of Taste: Pauline Karpidas and the Women who Shape the Art World
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 wi
How to Appreciate Art, with Danny Katz
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 acquisition
Insight Report: Women Artists in the Market
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 o
Shakespeare: A Man For All Time, with Tracy-Ann Oberman
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 und
African Creativity Today with Idris Elba
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 Nwe
London: The Golden Age, with James Stourton
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 f
Radical Modernity: From Bloomsbury to Charleston, with Kim Jones and Darren Clarke
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
Creative London: An Artistic Crossroads, with Grayson Perry
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
Imaginary Conversations: An ERDEM Collection, with Lady Burlington
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
London: An Artistic Crossroads | Gallery Open House
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 f
Lucian Freud and Portraits from Chatsworth, with Bella Freud
In this episode, director of the National Portrait Gallery and trustee of Chatsworth House Trust, Nicholas Cullinan, is joined by Bella Freud, daughter of artist Lucian Freud, for a conversation that examines the stories behind three portraits of the Devonshire family painted by Lucian Freud. These include the famous ‘Woman in a White Shirt’, which marked a turning point in the artist’s style.
Th
William Blake: Artist, Poet and Visionary, with Andrew Graham-Dixon and John Higgs
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 o
Twentieth Century Design, with Julianne Moore
Julianne Moore is one of our greatest living actors: an Academy and Emmy award winner, and the first American woman to be awarded top acting prizes at the Cannes, Berlin and Venice film festivals. She is also an avid collector. In this episode, Julianne joins curator and author Glenn Adamson, curator Dakin Hart, gallerist Jean-Gabriel Mitterrand, and Sotheby’s Florent Jeanniard, for a conversation
Munch, with Tracey Emin
Edvard Munch pioneered Expressionism and embraced life’s most painful experiences to create art: his pursuit of emotional truth changed art forever. Tracey Emin, who has been a major figure in contemporary art for more than 25 years, has always been fascinated by the Norwegian master and, in 2021, she exhibited 25 of her own works alongside Munch’s oils and watercolours at the Royal Academy. In th
Jane Austen, with Helen Fielding and Gill Hornby
In this episode, which was originally recorded as a live event, we are joined by two literary icons for a conversation about the beloved 19th-century novelist Jane Austen. Helen Fielding is the creator of the multi-million selling Bridget Jones novels and films, and Gill Hornby is the author of the bestselling Miss Austen, and The Story of Jane Austen. Along with Dr. Kalika Sands, a specialist fro
Shaping Taste and Shaping Society, with Paloma Picasso and Iwona Blazwick
There has never been a better time than now for women working in art, fashion and design. But female artists, gallerists, and collectors have always shaped taste, pushed patriarchal boundaries, and challenged orthodoxies to find ways of expressing themselves and championing the work of others. In this episode, originally recorded as a live event, Will Gompertz was joined at Sotheby’s in London by
The Rothko Chapel, with Christopher Rothko and Dr. David Anfam
In this episode, Professor Shahidha Bari is joined by Christopher Rothko, custodian of the Rothko legacy, Dr David Anfam, curator and writer, and Lisa Dennison, Sotheby’s Chairman of the Americas for a conversation about The Rothko Chapel for an inside glimpse into the history of the chapel, its ambitions for the future and the part it plays in Rothko’s ongoing legacy.
This podcast was originally
Women and Power, with Mary Beard and Shahidha Bari
For millennia, female power has been portrayed, mediated and exerted through visual art. But to what extent have women been packaged to fit a male template? And how much have they been able to control their own image? In today’s episode, which was originally recorded as a live event at Sotheby’s in London, Sotheby’s specialist Holly Braine was joined by Britain’s best known classicist Mary Beard f
Living Heritage, with Olafur Eliasson and Hans Ulrich Obrist
In this episode, Artistic Director of the Serpentine Galleries Hans Ulrich Obrist moderated a conversation between philanthropist and Creative Director of Lopud 1483 Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza, artist Olafur Eliasson and President and CEO of World Monuments Fund Bénédicte de Montlaur. Together they discussed Francesca’s restoration of the 15th-Century Franciscan monastery Lopud 1483 in Croatia.
Celebrating (Women) Artists, with Marina Abramović
Marina Abramović is one of our greatest living artists: an art world icon and a performance art pioneer. In 2023, Marina presented her solo exhibition After Life at the Royal Academy and became the first female artist in the institution’s 250-year history to fill the entire gallery space with her art. Will Gompertz was joined by Sotheby’s Marina Ruiz Colomer and Marina Abramović for a conversatio
Surrealism, with Celeste and Tim Marlow
In this episode, originally recorded at Sotheby’s in London, award-winning singer-songwriter Celeste is joined by Sotheby’s Helena Newman for a conversation about female surrealist artists, including Leonor Fini and Leonora Carrington, and the profound impact that their work – and the surrealism movement more broadly – has had on design and culture over the decades.
To see the works discussed in
Image-Makers, with Mary McCartney and Sonia Boyce
The idea of the artist’s muse conjures up a glamorous but passive woman portrayed by a male artist. Yet many women who are commonly identified as muses have been talents in their own right; they are creatively inspired as well as sources of inspiration for others. In this episode, photographer Mary McCartney, Golden Lion prize-winning artist Sonia Boyce, and the Daily Telegraph’s fashion director
Portraiture, with Simon Schama and Eleanor Nairne
Human beings have been making visual depictions of human life for tens of thousands of years. Fascination with our own likeness is one of the great constants of human history – and the portrait has long been the focus of that fascination. What can portraits tell us about the world? And what can they tell us about ourselves? In today’s episode – originally recorded live in Sotheby’s in the week tha
Impressionism and its Legacy
In this episode, Helen Newman, Chairman of Sotheby’s Europe is joined by Paul Signac’s great granddaughter Charlotte Hellman, artist Erik Madigan Heck, and the National Gallery’s Christopher Riopelle for a conversation about the revolutionary impact made by the Impressionists.
This podcast was originally recorded at Sotheby’s in London in February 2024 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Impress
Women Artists in the City, with Lubaina Himid
In this episode, art historian and broadcaster Carrie Scott is joined by Turner Prize-winning artist and activist Lubaina Himid, writer Lauren Elkin and Head of Modern and Contemporary African Art at Sotheby’s Hannah O’Leary for a conversation exploring modern city life from the perspective of female artists. This podcast was originally a live event, time to highlight the touring exhibition Found
Artemisia Gentileschi, with Katy Hessel and Letizia Treves
In this episode, art historian Katy Hessel is joined by former National Gallery London curator Letizia Treves and Sotheby’s Edoardo Roberti for a conversation about the pioneering 17th-century artist Artemisia Gentileschi, whose work – in which she painted subjects that were traditionally the preserve of male artists, and intended for the male gaze – has inspired some of the greatest female artist
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