- 18
- Episodes
- 7
- Ratings
- Weekly
- Cadence
- 2024
- First episode
About Matter of Art
Welcome to Matter of Art, where art comes alive through captivating stories and insightful interviews with artists, conservators, and art historians. From the enigmatic strokes of a painting to the intricate details of sculpture to the efforts to protect our cultural heritage, each episode brings you closer to the heart of artistic expression. Connect with the host and creator of Matter of Art, Liz Provost, on the podcast website: https://matterofart.co/
- Publisher
- Liz Provost
- Category
- arts
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 16 Apr 2024
- Latest episode
- 29 May 2026
Latest episodes
18 episodes in the feed.
29 May 2026
EP18. Arms and Armour with Jeremy Reeves: Rethinking Firearms in Early Modern Europe
Browse the visual companion to this episode: https://matterofart.co/ep18 (https://matterofart.co/ep18) In this episode, we speak with historian and curator Jeremy Reeves about the cultural lives of arms and armour in early modern Europe. Moving beyond the battlefield, the conversation explores what happens when firearms are understood as crafted objects embedded within systems of art, status, technology, and power. Jeremy discusses his research on sixteenth-century French firearms, examining how these objects circulated through courtly culture, collecting practices, diplomacy, hunting, and elite display during a moment of profound technological and social transformation. Together, we consider firearms as works of material culture: objects shaped by specialized craftsmanship, guild structures, decorative practices, and evolving ideas about identity and prestige. Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast website (https://matterofart.co/): https://matterofart.co/. (https://matterofart.co/) Kunz Lochner (German armorer, 1510–1567), Armor of Emperor Ferdinand I (1503–1564), 1549, steel, brass, leather, Metropolitan Museum of Art (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/23944)
8 Jan 2026
EP17. Invisible Hands: Who Really Made Early Modern Bronze Sculpture?
In this episode, I speak with Jen Liu (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-liu-754899218/), PhD student at the University of Toronto, about the hidden stories behind baroque bronze sculpture. Focusing on Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s Cathedra Petri in St. Peter’s Basilica, as well as other contemporaneous projects in the Vatican, we discuss how large foundry teams—often erased from art historical narratives—were essential to bringing these works into being. Jen’s work as a research assistant on the technical study of Bernini’s bronze multiples (https://berninisbronzes.com/) has inspired her research and methodology. This conversation challenges the myth of the solitary artistic genius and invites you to rethink authorship, making, and the many invisible hands behind your favourite works. Check out the Bernini's Bronzes projects: https://berninisbronzes.com/ (https://berninisbronzes.com/) Connect with Liz (http://elizabethprovost.com/) at Matter of Art on the podcast website: https://matterofart.crd.co/ (https://matterofart.crd.co/) Episode art: Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Italian, 1598–1680), Chair of Saint Peter, 1657–66, gilt bronze, St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.
31 Oct 2025
EP16. Carving Out History: Rediscovering Emma Stebbins with Karli Wurzelbacher
In the heart of Central Park, the Angel of the Waters rises above the Bethesda Fountain—one of New York’s most beloved public monuments. But few know the name of the woman who created it. Emma Stebbins (1815–1882) was the first woman to receive a public art commission in New York City, a celebrated sculptor in her day, and a pioneering queer artist whose legacy was later written out of history. In this episode, Liz speaks with Dr. Karli Wurzelbacher (https://www.heckscher.org/people/karli-wurzelbacher/), Chief Curator at The Heckscher Museum of Art, about Emma Stebbins: Carving Out History (https://www.heckscher.org/exhibitions/emma-stebbins-carving-out-history/)—the world’s first exhibition and catalogue (https://www.heckscher.org/stebbinscatalog/) devoted to Stebbins’s life and work. Together, they trace Stebbins’s extraordinary career: from her groundbreaking depictions of American laborers to her intimate portrait of her wife, actress Charlotte Cushman, and finally, to the creation of the angel that came to define a city. The conversation explores how Stebbins used the language of neoclassicism to express radical ideas about gender, labour, and love, and how her art, once forgotten, continues to inspire new generations. Visit Emma Stebbins: Carving Out History at The Heckscher Museum of Art until March 15, 2026, and order the exhibition catalogue: https://www.heckscher.org/stebbinscatalog/ (https://www.heckscher.org/stebbinscatalog/). Connect with Liz (http://elizabethprovost.com/) at Matter of Art on the podcast website: https://matterofart.crd.co/ (https://matterofart.crd.co/) Episode art: Emma Stebbins (American, 1815–1882), Bethesda Fountain, 1870. Bronze and stone, 25 ft. high. New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Photo by David Almeida
1 Sept 2025
EP15. Rococo: Frivolous or Fabulous?
Too often written off as decorative fluff, the Rococo wasmore than gilded mirrors and pastel palettes: it marked a profound shift in art and society. In this episode, I’m joined by Faith Brooks, a PhD student in art history, to explore how the Rococo emerged in 18th-century France as the aristocracy turned away from Versailles-style absolutism toward intimacy,salons, and private pleasure. From Boucher’s paintings to Madame de Pompadour’staste-making influence, we unpack how Rococo reflected a revolution of the elite against the monarchy, complicating Enlightenment ideals with its blend of politics, pleasure, and play. Connect with Liz (http://elizabethprovost.com/) at Matter of Art on the podcast website: https://matterofart.crd.co/ (https://matterofart.crd.co/)
16 Jun 2025
EP14. Archaeology, Museums, and Memory in Sardinia
PhD Student Emily Croft discusses the political use of archaeological museums in Sardinia between 1861 and 1939 to craft a national identity for a newly unified Italy in an interview with host Liz, revealing the impact of regional pride on the display of Sardinia's past.
13 May 2025
EP13. What Art Can Tell Us About Love: A Conversation with Nick Trend
What can a painting tell us about passion—or pain? In this episode of Matter of Art, Liz sits down with author, art historian, and Daily Telegraph Culture Editor Nick Trend to discuss his new book, What Art Can Tell Us About Love (Laurence King, 2025). Together, they explore how love—ecstatic, enduring, obsessive, and even uncomfortable—has been expressed by artists across centuries. From Raphael’s ambiguous portraits to Clifford Prince King’s intimate photographs, this episode invites you to look beyond romantic clichés and consider how art reveals the complexity of human connection. The conversation touches on themes of mythmaking, the power of the artist’s gaze, and how women artists have redefined love’s visual language. Whether you’re a romantic, a skeptic, or somewhere in between, this episode asks you to see love—and art—with new eyes. Get your copy of What Art Can Tell Us About Love: https://www.laurenceking.com/collections/author-nick-trend (https://www.laurenceking.com/collections/author-nick-trend) Connect with Nick: https://www.instagram.com/nicktrend/ (https://www.instagram.com/nicktrend/ ) Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast website: https://matterofart.crd.co/ (https://matterofart.crd.co/).
16 Apr 2025
EP12. Living Sculpture: Touch, Devotion, and the Senses in Renaissance Italy
What happens when sculpture isn’t just seen—but touched, kissed, and even believed to come alive? In this episode, Liz speaks with Dr. Una D’Elia (https://www.queensu.ca/art/people/una-delia) about the tactile and emotional power of Renaissance devotional sculpture. From crucifixes with moveable joints to sculptures dressed and cradled, we explore how sacred objects were animated through ritual, touch, and intimacy. We begin in 1399 Pisa, where, in the middle of a plague, crowds gathered not to flee, but to touch a crucifix they believed could save them. As Dr. D’Elia explains, these devotional encounters reveal a world where physical contact with art was not only accepted, but vital. View more Renaissance sculpture here (https://qspace.library.queensu.ca/collections/af07094c-0071-4fa1-8ad0-f54da4ecfde1): https://hdl.handle.net/1974/14832 (https://hdl.handle.net/1974/14832) Article by Dr. D'Elia in The Conversation (https://theconversation.com/belief-in-touch-as-salvation-was-stronger-than-fear-of-contagion-in-the-italian-renaissance-157135 ): https://theconversation.com/belief-in-touch-as-salvation-was-stronger-than-fear-of-contagion-in-the-italian-renaissance-157135 (https://theconversation.com/belief-in-touch-as-salvation-was-stronger-than-fear-of-contagion-in-the-italian-renaissance-157135 ) Learn more about Dr. D'Elia (https://www.queensu.ca/art/people/una-delia): https://www.queensu.ca/art/people/una-delia (https://www.queensu.ca/art/people/una-delia) Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast website: https://matterofart.crd.co/ (https://matterofart.crd.co/).
15 Mar 2025
EP 11. Missing Art: The Hunt for Stolen Treasures
What happens when masterpieces vanish? In this episode, we uncover history’s most shocking art heists—from the Mona Lisa’s daring 1911 theft to the still-unsolved Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum robbery. We also explore the disappearance of The Just Judges panel from the Ghent Altarpiece and the mystery surrounding Salvator Mundi, the world’s most expensive painting. Where do stolen artworks go, and will they ever be found? Tune in as we unravel the secrets behind these lost treasures. Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast website: https://matterofart.crd.co/ (https://matterofart.crd.co/).
15 Feb 2025
EP 10. Curating Across Cultures: Craft, Exchange, and Exhibition-Making
In this episode of Matter of Art, we sit down with Daria Murphy, a scholar and curator whose work bridges craft history, East Asian art, and global material culture. From her academic journey—spanning the University of Toronto, Bard Graduate Center, and Queen’s University—to her curatorial experiences, we explore how her research on textiles, ceramics, and cross-cultural exchanges informs her work. Daria shares insights into her involvement in recent exhibitions, including Liu Shiming: Spirit of Daily Life at the Tett and the forthcoming The Indian Ocean: Monsoon Worlds at the ROM. We also discuss her PhD research, her time in Japan, and the dynamic process of bringing historical craft traditions into the present. Connect with Daria: https://www.dariamurphy.com/ (https://craftingflesh.wordpress.com/) Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast website (applewebdata://8B1A4836-A477-4377-AD41-C9A0B800B3DE/%E2%81%A0https://matterofart.crd.co/): https://matterofart.crd.co/ (https://matterofart.crd.co/).
15 Jan 2025
EP9. Crafting Flesh: Collaboration in Italian Multimedia Sculpture, 1300-1700
In this episode, I share with you the digital exhibition Crafting Flesh: Collaboration in Italian Multimedia Sculpture, 1300–1700, (https://craftingflesh.wordpress.com/) which uncovers the many hands and minds that collaborated to create multimedia sculptures in the Renaissance. From painted wood to marble, we discuss how materials and techniques came together to create evocative works of art. Join me and three other co-curators (Faith Brooks, Ilinca Stingaciu, and Flavie Chantälle Deveaux) as we explore the exhibition's theme of collaboration in sculpture-making and take a closer look at four fascinating objects featured in the exhibit. You'll hear about the stories these sculptures tell, the innovative methods used to craft them, and the religious and cultural contexts that brought them to life. VIEW THE EXHIBITION: https://craftingflesh.wordpress.com/ (https://craftingflesh.wordpress.com/ ) Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast website (https://matterofart.crd.co/): https://matterofart.crd.co/ (https://matterofart.crd.co/).
15 Nov 2024
EP 8. Unseen Memories: Art, Heritage, and Healing with Nerine Cavadias
In this episode we speak to Nerine Cavadias (https://nerine.ca/), an interdisciplinary artist based in Toronto, Canada whose art is shaped by unique intersections of memory, heritage, and aphantasia—a rare inability to visualize images and a condition that affects only 1-3% of people. Nerine shares how she draws on family history and explores mental health through her work, transforming complex themes into compelling visual stories. Join us as we explore her journey from photorealism to the therapeutic role of art, and how her practice reshapes the idea of memory and imagination. Follow Nerine Cavadias on her website (https://nerine.ca/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nerine.ca): https://nerine.ca/ (https://nerine.ca/) Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast website (https://matterofart.crd.co/): https://matterofart.crd.co/ (https://matterofart.crd.co/).
15 Oct 2024
EP7. Art Through the Lens of Science: A Conversation on Technical Art History with Dr. Ron Spronk
In this episode we sit down with Dr. Ron Spronk, a leading expert in technical art history and professor of art history. Known for his groundbreaking work on projects like The Ghent Altarpiece restoration and Closer to Van Eyck (https://closertovaneyck.kikirpa.be/), the Bosch Research and Conservation Project (https://boschproject.org/), and Bruegel, the Hand of the Master (Inside Bruegel) (https://www.insidebruegel.net/), Dr. Spronk has transformed how we understand and preserve cultural heritage. Join us as we explore the fascinating world of technical studies, the intersection of art and science, and Dr. Spronk’s insights into the hidden layers of famous works. Discover how cutting-edge research methods are revealing new secrets about art’s most iconic masterpieces. The Ghent Altarpiece Restoration and Closer to Van Eyck: https://closertovaneyck.kikirpa.be/ (https://closertovaneyck.kikirpa.be/) The Bosch Research and Conservation Project: https://boschproject.org/ (https://boschproject.org/) Bruegel, the Hand of the Master (Inside Bruegel): https://www.insidebruegel.net/ (https://www.insidebruegel.net/) Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast website (https://matterofart.crd.co/): https://matterofart.crd.co/ (https://matterofart.crd.co/).
15 Sept 2024
EP6. Mastering Art: Conservation, Research, and Global Discoveries
In this episode, we sit down with three master’s students in Art History and Art Conservation to explore their unique summer internships and research experiences. Sophie Morris and Sonia Gaiess offer a glimpse into the fascinating worlds of private and museum conservation, while Sarah Tomkins takes us on her journey of hands-on, primary research at the renowned Venice Biennale. Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast website (https://matterofart.crd.co/): https://matterofart.crd.co/ (https://matterofart.crd.co/).
15 Aug 2024
EP5. Master or Maestro? Unpacking Rembrandt’s Studio Secrets
Episode five explores the myth of the "artist genius" through the life and work of Rembrandt van Rijn. Inspired by a university class on the Art of Deception, we delve into Rembrandt's market-savvy practices, his studio's collaborative nature, and how his entrepreneurial spirit redefined authorship. Discover how Rembrandt's approach challenges the notion of solitary genius, shedding light on the contributions of his students and the complexities of art attribution. Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast website (https://matterofart.crd.co/): https://matterofart.crd.co/ (https://matterofart.crd.co/). Sources: Alpers, Svetlana. Rembrandt’s Enterprise: The Studio and the Market. The University of Chicago Press, 1988. Gover, K. E. Art and Authority: Moral Rights and Meaning in Contemporary Visual Art. Oxford University Press, 2018. Moses, Nancy. Fakes, Forgeries, and Frauds. Rowman & Littlefield, 2020. Stone-Ferrier, Linda. “The Rembrandt Research Project: Issues and Controversies Raised by a Canonical Oeuvre.” In Partisan Canons, edited by Anna Brzyski. Duke University Press, 2020. Tummers, Anna. The Eye of the Connoisseur: Authenticating Paintings by Rembrandt and His Contemporaries. Getty Publications, 2011. Wheelock Jr., Arthur K. “Issues of Attribution in the Rembrandt Workshop.” Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century. NGA Online Editions, 2014.
15 Jul 2024
EP4. The Crucifixion: From the Roman Empire to the Fourth Dimension
Let’s explore the deep roots of crucifixion imagery, from ancient Roman execution methods to its transformative representation in art. We’ll journey through Renaissance polychrome sculptures, understanding how artists depicted Christ's suffering to convey powerful narratives. We culminate with Salvador Dalí’s "Crucifixion (Corpus Hypercubus)," blending Catholicism, science, and surrealism in a groundbreaking 20th-century piece. Join me for an enlightening exploration of how a symbol of death evolved into a profound artistic expression across time and dimensions. Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast website (https://matterofart.crd.co/): https://matterofart.crd.co/ (https://matterofart.crd.co/). Sources: Banchoff, Thomas F. “Salvador Dalí and the Fourth Dimension.” Proceedings of Bridges 2014: Mathematics, Music, Art, Architecture, Culture (2014). http://t.archive.bridgesmathart.org/2014/bridges2014-1.pdf. “Crucifixion (Corpus Hypercubus).” The Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/488880. Harley-McGowan, Felicity. “Death Is Swallowed up in Victory: Scenes of Death in Early Christian Art and the Emergence of Crucifixion Iconography.” Cultural Studies Review 17, no. 1 (2011): 101–24. Harley-McGowan, Felicity. “The Crucifixion.” In Picturing the Bible: The Earliest Christian Art, edited by Jeffrey Spier, 227-232. Yale University Press, 2007. Stoleriu, Adrian. “The Theme Of The Crucifixion Of Christ In Visual Arts,” SEA – Practical Application of Science 3(2), no. 8 (2015): 161-167.
15 Jun 2024
EP3. Carrie Mae Weems and the Kitchen Table Series
In this episode we learn about the life and work of American artist Carrie Mae Weems. In the first part of the episode, we explore the themes and methods most pertinent to Weems’s oeuvre while in the second part, we discuss The Kitchen Table Series—a seminal work by Weems—and its negotiation of space, power and intimacy. Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast website (https://matterofart.crd.co/): https://matterofart.crd.co/ (https://matterofart.crd.co/). Sources: Palumbo, Jacqui. “Revisiting Carrie Mae Weems’s Landmark “Kitchen Table Series.”” Artsy, August 19, 2020. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-late-phyllida-barlow-turned-everyday-waste-wondrous-sculptures (https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-late-phyllida-barlow-turned-everyday-waste-wondrous-sculptures). Weems, Carrie Mae. Carrie Mae Weems. Edited by Sarah Elizabeth Lewis. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press, 2021.
16 May 2024
EP2. How Do We Experience Art? A Conversation with Dr. Dawn Cunningham
In conversation with Queen’s University Professor Dawn Cunningham, we learn how to look at and interpret art critically, and we discuss the prevalence of art forgeries and their impact on our experience and understanding of art history. Together we answer questions including: What are some key elements we should consider when looking at a piece of art? What impact do forgeries have on the art market, the cultural value of art, and the public’s understanding of art? How can art serve as a reflection of society or convey particular themes and narratives? Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast website (https://matterofart.crd.co/): https://matterofart.crd.co/ (https://matterofart.crd.co/).
16 Apr 2024
EP1. Sargy Mann: Art Beyond Sight
In this episode, we explore the extraordinary life and art of Sargy Mann, a British painter of landscapes and portraits who continued to create after losing his sight. We will discover how Sargy’s unique vision transcended traditional perceptions, offering profound insights into how we experience art. We will also discuss how we can better appreciate art and the world around us, challenging ourselves to look beyond appearances. Connect with Liz at Matter of Art on the podcast website (https://matterofart.crd.co/): https://matterofart.crd.co/ (https://matterofart.crd.co/). Sources: Mann, Peter and Sargy Mann. Sargy Mann: Probably the Best Blind Painter in Peckham. SP Books, 2008. Mann, Sargy. "Sargy Mann: How a blind painter sees." BBC, June 14, 2015. Sargy Mann Archive. https://sargymannarchive.com/.
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- 5.0 / 5
- 7 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 19 / 100
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- Quality
- 26
- Social presence
- 0
- YouTube
- 0
- Engagement
- 32
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