Art Problems

80% of artists struggle with the same problem: getting seen by curators, gallerists, and collectors. And solving this problem is like slaying a multiheaded Hydra—the tasks are endless.

In this episode, we talk about how to conquer the Hydra. I break down the reasons artists get stuck, even when they're working hard. You'll learn why the order you tackle things matters more than the tasks themselves, and how one overwhelmed member went from "30 things to do, doing none of them" to making real progress in six months.

I'm also announcing the Netvvrk Navigator—a new assessment tool I built with artist William Powhida that shows you exactly where you are in your career and what to work on next. Plus, a special offer for the first 10 annual members that's only available once.

If you've been working hard without seeing results, this episode will show you exactly what to do next.

We're kicking off 2026 with artist William Powhida, whose 2017 work After the Contemporary predicted the future of art with unsettling accuracy. From the NEA closure to resource wars to Miami flooding, his satirical timeline keeps proving prescient. We discuss what he got right, what he missed (AI, influencers), and his predictions for 2026—including the rise of the "haute garde," the gambling-ification of culture, and why flexible pricing models might finally give artists more agency.

 

Relevant links:

William Powhida's After the Contemporary at the Aldrich Museum (2017)

Zero Art Fair

New Visions Report 2025

The Art Angle Podcast - Ben Davis interviews Nadia Asparouhova on Antimemetics

In this episode, Paddy talks with art market analyst Tim Schneider about the New Visions Report 2025, a survey of over 1,000 visual artists about their working conditions.

They discuss why even successful artists struggle with money, what separates artists who advance in their careers from those who don't, and the business practices that matter most.

Tim shares insights from two decades covering the art market about networking, professional systems, and why the infrastructure around your art practice is just as important as the work itself.

Artist and accountant Hannah Cole talks about her new book "Taxes for Humans"—your not-boring guide to taxation for self-employed artists. We discuss why tax education is deliberately kept from us, how to fix a messy tax situation without shame, and Hannah's secret agenda to turn artists into activists.

Plus: tax-advantaged accounts, disaster relief benefits, and why it's worth investing in your professional development before the year ends.

Related links:
Taxes for Humans

This week I'm extending a conversation I started in my revived Hyperallergic column: do you need a proper studio space to get studio visits? The answer is no—if you handle it properly.

But the real question isn't about your space. It's how to network effectively so visits actually happen. I break down the exact timing strategy for outreach, why most networking fails in the follow-through, and how to structure emails that make it easy for people to say yes.

The biggest reason artist emails don't get responses isn't disinterest—it's that the email didn't make it easy to respond. I cover four principles that change that and walk through a real scenario showing how to think strategically about follow-up.

Want the exact framework? Join me for my free webinar Monday, November 24th at 7 PM EST.

RELEVANT LINKS: 

Hyperallergic: Do I Need a Studio? 

Free Webinar Sign Up: How to Get Studio Visits Without Reading Minds