Advertise on podcast: A Life Curated

To mark the opening of Schiaparelli's exhibition Fashion Meets Art at the V&A, I met Marisa Berenson at Claridge’s for a thoughtful and quietly fascinating conversation about her life, work, and remarkable family legacy. As the granddaughter of Elsa Schiaparelli, Marisa grew up close to one of fashion’s true innovators—someone who blurred the lines between couture and art long before it became a conversation. We talk about Elsa not just as a cultural force, but as a grandmother: her wit, her discipline, and the world she created around her. Marisa’s wider family story is equally rich, spanning figures such as art historian Bernard Berenson and astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli. Discovered by Diana Vreeland as a teenager, she went on to become one of the defining faces of the 1970s, collaborating with an extraordinary roster of photographers including Avedon, Newton, Bailey, Penn, Bert Stern, Slim Aarons, Guy Bourdin and Cecil Beaton. She also reflects on her film career, from Death in Venice to Barry Lyndon, and offers clear-eyed insights into navigating both the fashion and film worlds. We return to Elsa in the context of the V&A exhibition—what it captures, what it leaves unsaid, and how her legacy continues to shape the way fashion and art intersect today. #marisaberenson #schiaparelli #icon #fashion #art Download, it's a masterpiece Special thanks to @marisaberensonofficial @claridges Produced by @martinlumsden Music by @robinkatz_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With tickets currently on sale for the incredible Nevill Holt Festival, opening on May 29th, I sit down with the founder, David Ross. For a man who rarely gives interviews, I was over the moon to be given this opportunity. In the early 90's David co-founded The Carphone Warehouse and has since built a formidable art collection of predominantly British artists and established the David Ross Foundation. In 2000, David bought the spectacular 13th Century Nevill Holt Estate which now hosts the festival. In this episode we discuss his first art memory, what he was like as a child, the rules he sticks to in business, his collection, what he loves and laments about the art world, what the festival means to him and the wider cultural community, and much much more. Download, it's a masterpiece. To view this year's festival line up and book tickets, please go to www.nevillholtfestival.com A special thanks to Jigsaw for sponsoring the episode, please view their latest spring collection at www.jigsaw-online.com. Thanks to @nevillholtfestival @insidejigsaw Produced by - @martinlumsden Music by @robinkatz_ Portrait of David by Zoe Law Host portrait by David Bailey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cold nights closing in? Feeling cosy? Brighten up your evening or early morning runs with this brilliant episode with Beatriz Milhazes, Brazil's most famous artist. We discuss how she pioneered a new art movement in the 80s, what her ambitions were at university, her personal experiences representing Brazil at the Venice Biennale in 2003 and 2024, her solo at the Guggenheim earlier this year, and what she felt when she broke the record for a Brazilian artist at auction. Plus her studio. routines and much, much more. Download, it's a masterpiece. Thanks to @beatrizmilahzes @whitecube @martinlumsden Beatriz Milhazes portrait © Beatriz Milhazes. Photo © Lucy Dawkins Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you ready to be entertained? I recorded my first live episode at the House of Koko, with the painter and writer, HARLAND MILLER. A mesmerising raconteur with a Woody Allen-esque dellivery filled with subtle wit, Harland delivers his first art memory, what he was like as a child, how his art has evolved since he launched the Iconic Penguin Series to his latest exhibition of Letter Paintings, plus much, much more including his recurring dream about self help cinemas and his upcoming memoir, One Bar Electric .. also available on Youtube as a video so download and enjoy, it's a masterpiece. Thank you to Harland, Clemence / House of Koko, Anjelica Mandy, White Cube and Katie Heller. Produced by Martin Lumsden Music by Robin Katz Photo © White Cube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's widely known Jean Pigozzi created the selfie, always with a camera, full of engaging stories, a sharp collecting brain, and an elite circle of friends, I'm thrilled and honoured to have sat down with the great man. Listen as Jean discusses how he built the world's largest collection of African contemporary art, his innovative ideas for his new museum, what makes a great photograph and his relationships with his famous friends, plus much, much more. Download, it's an absolute masterpiece. Photo by Anh Duong Produced by Martin Lumsden Music by Robin Katz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I sit down with my first billionaire guest, Lord Michael Spencer, regarded as the city's most successful entrepreneur, in this pulsating episode, we discuss his childhood in Ethiopia, the cut and thrust of setting up ICAP the uber successful voice brokering firm, what are the steadfast rules he sticks to in business, we also dive into his impressive collection, why he buys art, which artists he would love to own, his world famous ICAP Charity Days, we dip into politics and much much more....recorded in front of a fabulous Francis Bacon, download, it's a masterpiece! Thank you to Lord Michael for being a wonderfully entertaining guest! Photo copyright owned by Michael Spencer Produced by Martin Lumsden Music by Robin Katz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I talk to the simply incredible DIANE VON FURSTENBERG. Global fashion icon, entrepreneur, and steadfast advocate for female empowerment, we discuss her first art memory, the miracle of her mother's early life, what is was like hanging out with Andy Warhol and that famous kitchen polaroid, what is was like being painted and photographed by Francesco Clemente, Chuck Close and Li Song Song. That's just the start. We then talk about how she created the iconic wrap dress, if she knew early on that she going to be a huge success, what it means to her to be an icon, how she deals with failure, what her family and staff think about her, and DVF also offers invaluable advice on starting a fashion business and much, much, more. Download, it's filled with LIFE ADVICE and is an absolute MASTERPIECE. Thank you to @therealdvf for being a true icon and fantastic guest. Photo copyright owned by DVF Produced by Martin Lumsden Music by Robin Katz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A former journalist who rose to the top of the FT and became CEO, John transformed a loss making paper into a £500m revenue generating multi media global empire, this episode is one of my favourites. We kick off with John's first art memory, his love of music, and auditioning for Chrysalis Records, then dive into his journalism days, if he still gets the itch to write, how he transitioned from journalist to CEO, the three key decisions which transformed the FT and the key decisions that will keep it going. We discuss the AI Elephant in the virtual room, what makes a modern CEO, his collecting tastes, which include Bonsai trees, surfboards, and a deep love for music photography and much, much more! Download and play, it's an absolute masterpiece. Cover photo by Alex Griffiths Music by Robin Katz Produced by Martin Lumsden This episode is kindly sponsored by Oliver Bayliss of Bayliss Rare Books, the best rare book dealer in the business - www.baylissbooks.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is this my most stylish episode yet? I went to Nicole's house last Sunday, surrounded by her wonderful sculptures and discussed her first art memories, how Giacometti inspired her, how art played a role in her illustrious 40 year fashion career, working with Jean Gibson, how Eduardo Paolozzi taught her to look at everything as art and much, much more. I absolutely loved this episode.. download, it's a masterpiece. This episode is kindly supported by @waawworld Cover photo by Harry Borden Music by Robin Katz Produced by Martin Lumsden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With FRIEZE week coming up soon, and Surrealist female artists hitting big numbers at auction, I thought it would be the perfect time to release this episode with the amazing JULIE CURTISS. Since I saw first saw Julie's work at her solo at White Cube Mason's Yard in 2021, I was transfixed by her paintings which are filled with the uncanny, mundane, and grotesque shapes all painted in vivid colours. We discuss Julie's upbringing, her emotions when her paintings were flipped at auction achieving 10,000% return, what it's like being an artist working with White Cube, what are the emotional processes she goes through when making her work and some of my favourite paintings she's painted. Download, it's a masterpiece. Thank you @whitecube for setting this up. Credit line: © Julie Curtiss Photo © White Cube (Fabrice Gousset) Music by @robinkatz_ Produced by Martin Lumsden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is kindly sponsored by Field Recruitment, the best art recruiters in the business - www.fieldnewyork.com I LOVED deep diving into PILAR ORDOVAS's mind, one of the leading gallerists of her generation. We discuss her early years, travelling to see art all over the world with her father, how she rose to the top of Christie's, (including winning a consignment as a junior against the then chairman of Sotheby's,) her deep relationship with Lucian Freud, why 'Benefits Supervisor Sleeping' sold for $33,000,000, her advice on staying at the top, what she looks for in a work of art and much, much more! Download, it's a MASTERPIECE. Photo © Pilar Ordovas Music by Robin Katz Produced by Martin Lumsden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I was THRILLED when the incredible artist SARAH MORRIS agreed to be my first artist on A Life Curated. Sarah delivers an engrossing insight into her work from the text based paintings from the mid 90s to her latest Spider Web series all currently being exhibited in a 180 work retrospective 'All Systems Fail' at Zentrum Paul Klee in Switzerland. In addition, Sarah discusses assisting Jeff Koons, her views on being a female artist today, how she's stayed at the top for so long (giving invaluable advice to young artists) meeting Jay Jopling, her earliest art memories, and of course, who she would commission to do her portrait. I'm so honoured to have kicked off Season Two with such a fantastic and established artist and brilliant guest. Enjoy, it's a MASTERPIECE. Special thanks to White Cube for making this happen. Photograph by Anna Gaskell Music by Robin Katz Produced by Martin Lumsden Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode has been kindly sponsored by https://www.baylissbooks.co.uk/, specialists rare book dealers. I’m delighted to be joined on this episode by Tim Marlow, currently CEO and Director of the Design Museum in London. Prior to this Tim was Artistic Director of the Royal Academy and Director of Exhibitions at White Cube. A highly respected curator, author and broadcaster, Tim has curated and overseen some game changing exhibitions working with the world’s most celebrated artists. In 2020, Tim was awarded an OBE for services to art. In this episode I deep dive into his mind and find out what makes a great exhibition, what the highs and challenges were working at White Cube, the Royal Academy and the Design Museum, which exhibitions and artists have made a profound impact on his life, and much much more. Enjoy! Produced by Martin Lumsden Music composed by Robin Katz. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is kindly sponsored by Stirk Law, run by the brilliant Harry Stirk. Check out their website for more details - www.stirklaw.com With Oscar season upon us, I sat down with Emmy and Grammy award winning film director Thom Zimny,for an art fuelled blockbuster episode. With two shows currently on Netflix, "Springsteen on Broadway" and the moving and emotively brilliant 'Sly', Thom delivers an inspiring masterclass giving an invaluable insight into the thoughts, motives, artistic influences and advice on working as a film director. Having worked with Bruce Springsteen for 20 years and shot masterpieces on Elvis, Jonny Cash, Willie Nelson, Thom's latest blockbuster is a movingly shot documentary on Sylvester Stallone which unpacks a lot on the Hollywood mega star. Opening with a deeply inspiring first art memory, the answer sets the tone for a brilliant art fuelled conversation throughout. Download, it's Oscar worthy. Produced by Martin Lumsden Cover photo by Rob de Martin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I called Cora up the other day to discuss something unrelated to the podcast and it quickly became very clear to me that she would be the perfect guest.    I’m thrilled I asked her – after recounting some of her truly art popping experiences growing up as the daughter of Bruno Bischofberger (including making a painting with Jean Michel Basquiat) Cora delivers a 360 degree MASTERCLASS on the jewellery business from designing, creating, selling, promotion and gives an honest and frank insight into running a successful jewellery brand.   Celebrating her 20th year in business this year, we discuss Cora's anniversary book, 'Cora Sheibani Jewels' as well as much, much more.   Download, it’s an absolute masterpiece.  @corasheibani @alifecurated Produced by @martinlumsden Cover photo by Andrew Testa Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.