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The Best 12 Art Podcasts for Artists

Written by Milan Art Institute | September 18, 2024

Navigating the journey of an art career requires more than just creativity—it demands a well-rounded approach that incorporates discipline, marketing, and building solid relationships within the art community.

Art podcasts can be an incredible resource for artists looking to strengthen each of these pillars. Whether it’s refining your craft, growing your professional network, or mastering the business side of art, the right podcast can offer inspiration, advice, and tools to support your success.

In this article, we’ve curated the best 12 podcasts for artists, each one tailored to help you develop critical skills across the foundational pillars of an art career.

These podcasts cover everything from creative growth and networking to financial management and marketing, ensuring you’re not only making great art but also building a sustainable and thriving career. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting out, these podcasts will give you practical insights to support your artistic journey.

Creative Development

Growing as an artist means continually refining your skills and exploring new techniques.

It’s essential to experiment and push your creative boundaries. This process helps you develop a unique voice that sets your work apart. Consistent practice and learning from both success and failure will shape your artistic journey and allow your style to evolve naturally over time.

Suppose you enroll in our online one-year art program, the Mastery Program. In that case, you will have the opportunity to experiment with many styles, techniques, and mediums—as you become a professional artist. This allows you to craft your style and voice as you find successes and challenges in the process.

Find inspiration for your journey with these podcasts:

1 - “The Light Movement” by Milan Art Institute

This podcast explores creativity and spirituality, offering profound insights for artists seeking to grow both artistically and spiritually.


2   - “Creative Pep Talk”: Hosted by Andy J. Pizza

Provides motivational advice for creative entrepreneurs, helping you find balance between artistic development and career building.


Professionalism & Discipline

Success in the art world goes far beyond raw talent—it’s built on a foundation of professionalism and discipline. While creativity is your driving force, structure and consistency are the engines that keep your career moving forward.

First and foremost, treating your art like a business is essential. This means setting a clear schedule, defining long-term and short-term goals, and developing systems to track progress.

Creating boundaries between your creative work and other responsibilities helps maintain focus, and meeting deadlines ensures you stay on top of commissions, exhibitions, or projects.

Additionally, maintaining a consistent output of work is crucial. This isn’t just about volume, but about continuing to evolve as an artist. Consistency creates momentum and shows both galleries and collectors that you’re serious and reliable.

A strong work ethic, combined with good organization, allows you to manage the creative and practical aspects of your career seamlessly. This might involve using tools like project management apps or planners, setting up regular times for studio work, and establishing routines that keep you productive even when inspiration is running low.

If you’re looking for further insight on how to cultivate discipline and professionalism in your art career, here are some podcasts that dive deep into these topics:

3 - “The Accidental Creative”

This podcast focuses on helping creatives develop discipline in their work. Todd Henry offers advice on balancing creative passion with the demands of maintaining a career.


4 - Donald Miller’s “Business Made Simple”

Donald Miller shares practical tips for becoming a more professional and effective leader. His focus on building systems and professionalism applies to anyone running their own art business.


Networking & Relationships

Building meaningful relationships is a crucial part of growing your art career. Networking with other artists, gallery owners, curators, and collectors can open doors to exhibitions, collaborations, and commissions that you might not find on your own.

Attending art shows, workshops, and gallery openings allows you to engage with the community and stay connected with current trends in the industry. Authentic interactions lead to deeper connections, so focus on building relationships based on shared values and mutual respect rather than just seeking opportunities.

In today’s digital age, your network extends beyond in-person events. Social media platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn offer powerful tools for connecting with a global audience.

Engaging with fellow artists and art professionals in online galleries by sharing work, offering feedback, and participating in virtual exhibitions can help you strengthen and broaden your network.

By actively participating in both physical and digital art communities, you position yourself for new opportunities and foster the relationships that will support long-term success.

Check out these podcasts to learn more:

5 - “Talk Art”: Russell Tovey and Robert Diament

Gain insight into networking and relationship building in the contemporary art world. Their interviews help demystify the importance of connecting with others in the industry.

 

6 - “The Collective Podcast”: Hosted by Ash Thorp

This podcast brings creatives from different industries to discuss collaboration, networking, and building a strong creative community.

 

Marketing & Branding

Marketing as an artist is about telling the world who you are and what your work represents. It’s not just about promoting individual pieces but about creating a narrative that your audience can connect with.

A well-defined brand gives potential buyers, collectors, and galleries a sense of your artistic identity and helps differentiate your work from others. To do this, you need to develop a consistent and authentic message that conveys your artistic vision, values, and what inspires your work. This story becomes the foundation of your brand, allowing your audience to engage with your art on a deeper, emotional level.

Utilizing social media and maintaining a professional website are key tools in this process. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok allow you to reach a global audience, share your creative process, and engage directly with fans and potential buyers.

Your website acts as your portfolio, giving a polished and professional representation of your body of work, including an artist bio, artist statement, and clear information on how to purchase or commission pieces.

The key to effective marketing is consistency—ensuring that your branding, tone, and visuals align across all platforms to create a unified presence.

By doing this, you can increase your visibility, grow your audience, and ultimately, create a lasting impact in the art world.

See these podcasts to dive deeper into marketing and branding:

7 - “Online Marketing Made Easy”: Amy Porterfield’s

This podcast teaches essential online marketing strategies, including social media tactics and email list building, which can help artists grow their presence and sell their work.

8 - ”Art Marketing Minute” with Eric Rhoads

The Art Marketing Podcast offers valuable insights and practical advice for artists looking to boost their career and sales. This podcast covers essential topics such as pricing strategies, social media marketing, building an email list, and leveraging online platforms to reach a wider audience.

Each episode is filled with actionable tips tailored specifically for artists, helping them navigate the complexities of marketing while staying true to their creative vision.

 

Financial Management

Managing the financial aspects of your art career is crucial for creating long-term sustainability. Understanding how to properly price your work is one of the first steps to financial success.

Price your art based on materials, time, market demand, and your experience level. It’s essential to strike a balance where your work is accessible to buyers but also values your time and effort. If pricing feels overwhelming, consider researching similar artists in your niche to see how they structure their prices.

In addition to this, budgeting for materials, studio costs, marketing, and exhibition fees is vital for managing your cash flow and ensuring you’re not overspending in one area.

Diversifying your income streams is another important strategy. Depending solely on the sale of original works can be limiting, so explore other ways to monetize your art.

Offering prints, merchandise, or licensing your work are great options for passive income. Teaching workshops, creating online courses, or even taking commissions can provide additional financial stability.

The key is to spread your financial risk across multiple avenues so that if one revenue stream slows down, others can support you. Smart financial decisions, along with solid budgeting and diversified income, will help keep your art career both sustainable and profitable.

Listen to these podcasts for more direction:

9 - “Creative Boom”

Creative Boom focuses on the financial and business sides of a creative career, with episodes on pricing art, contracts, and other financial topics.


10  - “BiggerPockets” Money Podcast

This podcast is focused on helping listeners achieve financial independence through smart real estate investing, side hustles, and effective money management.

It attracts 100,000+ monthly listeners, making it a go-to resource for those looking to grow their financial literacy and make better financial decisions for their businesses.


Resilience & Adaptability

In the unpredictable world of art, resilience is not just an asset—it’s a necessity. The road to building a successful art career is filled with challenges, and how you handle those obstacles defines your path forward.

You will face rejection, slow sales, or periods where inspiration seems far away. But these moments are not the end; they are opportunities to grow stronger.

As an artist, it’s essential to develop the mindset that setbacks are part of the process. How you choose to respond, whether through persistence, learning new skills, or adjusting your approach, is what will separate you from those who give up too soon.

Adaptability is equally important. The art world is constantly evolving, and being flexible in the face of change is what keeps you moving forward. Whether it’s shifting to new mediums, embracing digital platforms, or exploring different income streams, the ability to pivot ensures your career stays relevant.

Open yourself to new opportunities, collaborations, or ways of showcasing your work. Success rarely looks like a straight line; it’s the ability to adjust your strategies and stay committed to your vision that will carry you through the highs and lows of your journey.

Resilience combined with adaptability will keep you thriving, no matter what the art world throws your way!

Here are some great podcasts for more inspiration:

11 - “How to Fail” with Elizabeth Day

This podcast celebrates failure as a key part of success, offering valuable lessons in resilience that any artist can relate to when navigating the highs and lows of their career.


12 - “Raw Material”: Produced by SFMOMA

Raw Material podcast features artists who share their stories of adapting to challenges in the art world, providing inspiration on how to thrive despite obstacles.


Thrive Through Connection and Growth

As artists, we are always growing, always learning. It’s not enough to just create; we need to continually nurture the other areas of our career to build something that lasts.

The podcasts we’ve explored here are powerful tools to help you do just that—whether you’re seeking inspiration, looking for practical business advice, or searching for new ways to connect with the art world.

Each of these podcasts supports the essential pillars of an art career, giving you the knowledge and motivation to keep moving forward. But remember, you don’t have to go it alone. Surround yourself with other artists who are on the same journey.

Join the Milan Art App, where you can connect with a vibrant community of artists who share your passion for growth and success.

Together, we can support each other in developing our skills, sharing opportunities, and building the art careers we dream of. Let's thrive together!