The Art Business

Host Dr David Bellingham, Programme Director of the MA Art Business, Sotheby's Institute of Art, London, speaks with independent London curator and writer Maria Hinel about building a curatorial career outside commercial institutions and the philosophical threads that shape her exhibitions. They discuss her training (UCL, Courtauld), early work at Skarstedt Gallery, and independent projects at spaces including General Assembly, Shtager & Shch and Hypha Studios.

The episode covers recurring themes in Hinel's practice: the relations between the human and the non-human; language; identity; gender; temporality; ecology and the agency of animals. They explore how these ideas informed exhibitions such as Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, Timescapes, Carbon, Carbon Everywhere and The Middle Voice. Artists referenced include Susan Eyre, Amalia Pica & Rafael Ortega, Francis Alÿs, Jochen Lempert, Anne Marie Maes, Kat Lyons, Claudia Losi and Alina Zamanova.

Key points: the dialogic process between curator and artist; staging multi-media shows across project spaces; making invisible forces (cosmic rays, magnetic vision) and animal perspectives visible; ethical and political questions around animal personhood, activism and visibility; and upcoming projects and ambitions, including a broader focus on contemporary Ukrainian art.

Official / profile pages

• Website: mariahinel.com
• Hypha Studios bio: hyphastudios.com/maria-hinel-2-2/
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/4b7b98b9/
• Instagram: @mariahinel
• ArtRabbit curator profile: artrabbit.com/people/maria-hinel/curator

Exhibitions (in episode order)

• Timescapes (Shtager & Shch, 2023) — covered on her FAD Magazine tag page
• The Middle Voice (Shtager & Shch, 2024) — listed on ArtRabbit
• Carbon, Carbon Everywhere (Hypha HQ, 2025) — artplugged.co.uk write-up
• The Pleasure of Misuse (Royal Society of Sculptors, 2025) — her own page or the institution's page
• Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead (Hypha Gallery 1, 2026) — artplugged.co.uk write-up

 

music

‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama) 

by TOT TAYLOR

is used by kind permission of the artist

©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)

In this episode of The Art Business Podcast, Dr David Bellingham, Programme Director of the MA Art Business at Sotheby's Institute of Art, London, is joined by leading antiquities specialist Dr Judith Nugée. Drawing on more than forty years of experience as a scholar, auctioneer, advisor and valuer, Judith offers a fascinating insight into one of the art market's most complex and compelling sectors. Together they explore how antiquities challenge conventional ideas of value, ownership and authenticity, discussing provenance research, cultural heritage, collecting, ethics and the valuation of national treasures. Far more than a conversation about the ancient world, this episode reveals what the antiquities market can teach us about the wider art business today.

 

https://hornsbynugee.com/

 

music

‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama) 

by TOT TAYLOR

is used by kind permission of the artist

©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)

In this episode David Bellingham interviews Michalina Maria Franasik, an MA Art Business graduate who now works as Communications Manager for the Treasure House Art Fair in London and as creative director of a contemporary art space in Lodz, Poland. They discuss: Michalina’s transition from business studies to the art world; her use of social media and content creation to learn and make connections; and practical career advice for graduates.

The conversation covers behind-the-scenes logistics of staging Treasure House at the Royal Hospital Chelsea (24–30 June), the role of art fairs in a digital and sustainability-conscious age, and trends in antiques, decorative arts and small boutique fairs. Michalina also describes her work representing Polish artists and upcoming exhibition projects that bridge Polish and UK audiences.

Listeners will hear actionable tips on networking (attending previews, speaking to exhibitors), the value of experience in smaller organisations, and how digital storytelling and consistent, genuine content can open professional doors in the cultural sector.

 

Links:

https://www.treasurehousefair.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michalina-maria-franasik-597849249/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/kantor-sztuki/ 

 

 

music

‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama) 

by TOT TAYLOR

is used by kind permission of the artist

©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)

In this episode David Bellingham welcomes back alumna Blythe Hogan, Vice President and Senior Director of Art & Collections Practice at Aon Private Risk Management. They explore Blythe’s journey from studying art history to nearly two decades specializing in art insurance, risk management and collection strategy for private collectors and family offices.

Topics covered include how fine art insurance works (scheduled vs blanket policies and retail replacement values), common collector misconceptions, valuation and provenance, emergency planning, transit and storage risks, climate and catastrophe considerations, and the role of technology and AI in modern risk assessment. Blythe shares practical examples and anecdotes, discusses the evolving global market and logistics of works on the move, and offers career advice for young professionals interested in interdisciplinary art careers.

Listeners will learn what to expect in protecting valuable collections, the importance of proactive risk management and documentation, and how leadership and trusted relationships shape success in this niche field.

Georgina Adam, editor‑at‑large of The Art Newspaper and author of multiple books about decades of change in the global art market, joins the show to discuss the forces reshaping how at is bought, sold and valued today.

We explore the shift from antiques to contemporary art, the rise of private museums, and the evolution of auction practices including guarantees, white‑glove sales and pre‑auction arrangements.  We also look at transparency, market opacity, and the growing overlap between art and luxury goods.

Key insights include regional market dynamics (China, India and the Middle East); the influence of mega‑galleries and collectors on cultural value; how younger collectors prioritize identity, social media and experiences; and both the concerns and reasons for optimism about the future of the art world.

In this episode of the Art Business Podcast David Bellingham, Programme Director of the MA Art Business, Sotheby's Institute of Art, visits the Wolf Collective, a curatorial platform run from the co-founders’ modernist home in Primrose Hill. Guests Lupe Sanchez, a curator and advisor with experience in blue-chip galleries and deep ties to Japanese craft traditions, and architect/developer Iain Pattie discuss how their domestic space has evolved into an intimate exhibition platform. The current solo presentation by Chicago-based artist Jaclyn Mednicov , whose ceramics, prints and installations reflect long periods of research in Japan, anchors the conversation.

Topics covered include: the practical and emotional value of showing art in a lived-in home rather than a white-cube gallery; how architecture and natural light shape viewer experience; programming that blends music and performance with exhibitions; curatorial relationships rooted in long-term support; and the social dynamics of invitation-based shows. Lupe and Iain explain why intimacy, community, and multisensory experiences guide their model, how it complements (and differs from) commercial galleries and fairs, and what the Wolf Collective offers artists and local audiences.

Listeners can expect reflections on artistic process, cross-cultural collaboration, the economics and sustainability of private home galleries, and the ways small, intentional spaces can shift values around attention, care and community in the contemporary art world. The Wolf Collective’s exhibitions are open by appointment; the current Jaclyn Mednicov show runs into late summer.

 

Links:

 

https://www.madeinbed.co.uk/emerging-artists/imprints-fragments-reliefs-jaclyn-mednicov?rq=jaclyn%20mednicov

https://cabanamagazine.com/blogs/atlas-of-craftsmanship/jaclyn-mednicov-multi-disciplinary-artist?_pos=1&_sid=a04cfbf27&_ss=r

 

 

 

music

‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama) 

by TOT TAYLOR

is used by kind permission of the artist

©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)

In this episode of the Art Business Podcast, host David speaks with Alisa Demchenko, an MA Art Business (Sotheby’s Institute, London) graduand, and Nilanjan Das, a printmaker and PhD artist from Bhubaneswar, NE India, about their optional TAF (The Arts Family) collaboration. They discuss Alisa’s dissertation on AI in art valuation and personalization, and how algorithmic visibility shapes how emerging artists present their work online.

The conversation explores Nilanjan’s practice—serigraphy, cyanotype and concrete-board works that investigate public space, plant life, urban beautification and power structures—and how Elisa supported him with portfolio sequencing, narrative framing, artist statements, gallery research and strategic positioning for both UK and Indian contexts.

Key takeaways include practical mentorship methods (regular remote meetings, clarity over reinvention), ethical boundaries for art-business professionals, the importance of artist statements and sequencing, and steps for presenting to galleries and curators. The episode closes with next steps, contact handles (LinkedIn for Alisa, Instagram for Nilanjan) and actionable advice for emerging artists and arts professionals.

 

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisa-demchenko-bb24ab235/

https://www.instagram.com/nelvsnel/?hl=en

https://www.theartsfamily.com/artists/nilanjan-das

 

music

‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama) 

by TOT TAYLOR

is used by kind permission of the artist

©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)

 

Dr. David Bellingham speaks with Shahane Hakobyan, MA Art Business alumna and founder/CEO of ARTanalyst, about her journey from artist to gallery director to tech entrepreneur. They discuss the fragmented nature of art market data, the value of measuring financial, cultural and social indicators, and how ARTanalyst’s AI-driven platform helps galleries connect internal CRM and inventory data with external signals (auctions, press, social) to generate actionable insights, KPIs and meeting prep. They cover lessons from Art Dubai and Galerie Kornfeld, building and testing measurement frameworks, ethical data use and security, and the practical benefits of bringing analytics to the primary market. Shahane shares advice for emerging professionals, challenges of fundraising and adoption, and her vision for a networked, collaborative art ecosystem.

Links:

Website: https://artanalyst.ai/ 

 

Gallery Centric-Demo (where you can try and test some of the features): https://app.artanalyst.ai/assistant 

 

music

‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama) 

by TOT TAYLOR

is used by kind permission of the artist

©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)

 

 

 

We meet guests Kasia Piszkos (Art Director) and Lukasz Sinitsyn (Gallery Manager) live from Warsaw to discuss the founding of Bliss Gallery earlier in 2025, the meaning behind its name, and its location in a historic fourth‑floor apartment. They outline the gallery’s curatorial focus on abstraction and minimalism and describe standout shows such as Hydrofornia and Material Tendencies, plus their presentation of Urszula Bról at Artissima.

The episode covers: practical gallery logistics (including installing water on an upper floor!); Warsaw’s gallery ecology and Warsaw Gallery Weekend; strategies for art fairs (Vienna, Artissima) and growing international ambitions; the role of social media; and plans to revisit overlooked Polish artists and collaborate with foreign curators.

Links:

https://blissgallery.pl/en/home/

@bliss_warsaw

 

 

music

‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama) 

by TOT TAYLOR

is used by kind permission of the artist

©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)

 

 

David Bellingham speaks with Victor Custot and Carmen Hu of Waddington Custot Gallery about continuing a 70-year family legacy, the gallery’s curatorial identity, and their approaches to artist representation and international engagement. They discuss the gallery’s focus on technical excellence, relationships with artist estates (including Peter Blake and Barry Flanagan), and recent contemporary exhibitions such as Qiong Er and textile artist Kenia Almaraz Murillo. The hosts also cover operational choices, including reconfiguring the reception to highlight artworks, and the role of gallery staff and technicians in executing ambitious shows.

Victor and Carmen reflect on trends in collector behaviour post-pandemic, the importance of art fairs, online sales dynamics, and generational shifts in collecting. They share advice for MA Art Business students on finding a niche, being curious, and building long-term professional relationships. Listeners are invited to visit the gallery on Cork Street and follow updates at waddingtoncustot.com.

 

music

‘Baby, I Miss The Internet’ (Rama, Rama, Rama) 

by TOT TAYLOR

is used by kind permission of the artist

©Tot Taylor/Songmatic Music (2020)