Not Real Art

World-building is the practice of bringing imagined environments to life, and it’s become a major part of artmaking today. With rapid advancements in emerging technology, artists are now able to create fully immersive artworks that transport viewers to another place. Enter BLINK, the nation’s largest light, art, and projection mapping experience, which returns to downtown Cincinnati this October for the first time since 2019. At the intersection of new technology and innovative art, BLINK embodies the spirit of world-building and brings artists together to create their own unique environments within the Cincinnati cityscape. Today, host Scott “Sourdough” Power speaks to the event’s first executive director, Justin Brookhart, to learn more about the 2022 installment of BLINK and how a large-scale immersive art experience like this not only invigorates the City of Cincinnati but provides a major economic boost to the region. With a background in the film and fil

As many of you know, your faithful host of the NOT REAL ART podcast, Scott “Sourdough,” Power, has just returned from the Nevada desert, where he and tens of thousands of others experienced all the weird, wild, and wonderful happenings that made Burning Man 2022. After an event of this scale and magnitude, it’s important to decompress. There are all sorts of decompression parties and events to help Burners relive the magic of the Burn as they readjust to the “default world.” On today’s episode, Scott speaks to a few of these intrepid explorers as they go through the decompression process. You’ll hear from Newbie, a fellow podcast pro and Burner from the HeeBeeGeeBee Healers camp, who recounts her experience at this year’s Burning Man.Every Burner, regardless of their level of experience, encounters a whole host of peculiar emotions in the days and weeks it takes to reintegrate into the “real world.” You’re not alone! Join us as we relive the strange synchronicities, serendipitous interactions, and magica

Today, after a week’s hiatus, our founder and podcast host Scott “Sourdough” Power is back from Black Rock with a special treat. That’s right, today’s episode is all about Burning Man: the landscape, the people, the stories, and of course, the art. Scott hops on the mic to talk about his annual trek into the desert and this year’s party on the Playa. You’ll hear about the incredible interactive installations that populated the landscape of northwestern Nevada for a week in late summer. You’ll also learn more about the artists and musicians who contributed their remarkable creativity and talent to Camp Corny, the unicorn-themed camp that Scott calls his home in Black Rock City. Burning Man, at its core, is a performance art piece on a grand scale, one that Scott believes is a must-see for any creative professional. We hope today’s episode leaves you feeling inspired to use the power of art for escape, fantasy, and imagination.Join us for this week’s episode as Scott decompresses from the madness and

Today, we look at one of the art-world’s most fundamental questions: why is art important?It’s not such an easy question to answer, which is why we’re mixing things up this week with a very special episode. In today’s podcast episode, you’ll hear from artists, experts, and art lovers who sound off on why art matters to them. Podcast host Scott “Sourdough” Power shares his perspective on the importance of art in his life. We also hear from Dana Alberson, Kendra Schellenberg, Rebecca Youssef, Leslie Arlette Boyce, and Douglas Dale.From bringing joy and facilitating expression to creating new perspectives and reflecting on contemporary life, there are so many reasons art plays an important role in all of our lives. Tune in to today’s episode to hear just a few. Then call the NOT REAL ART hotline at 833-668-7325 to share your perspective on the importance of art.Key Points From This Episode:An update on what you can look forward to, including smARTtalks and the Not Real Art GrantA look at some of the answers

Storytelling—whether visual, verbal, or written—is an essential part of the artist’s toolkit. Stories forge connections, evoke emotions, and help people understand different ideas and perspectives. In this week’s podcast episode, NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power introduces a new member to the crew: Editor-in-Chief Morgan Laurens. With a background in printmaking, pop culture, and classic literature, Morgan is an arts writer from the Midwest who specializes in grant writing and narrative-based storytelling for mission-driven artists and arts organizations. “Being able to help people tell their stories, with visuals and with words, has been really gratifying for me,” she tells Scott. “We get so many positive messages from the artists that we work with.” In today’s episode, Morgan shares her vision for NOT REAL ART’s editorial, how big-picture narratives set the publication apart, and why purposeful storytelling is so important in today’s digital landscape. You’ll also gain some insigh

Have you ever been asked to “work for exposure?” We’re betting the answer is a resounding (and irritated) “yes!”If this sounds like you, we’ve got a real treat on deck today. NOT REAL ART founder and publisher Scott “Sourdough” Power hosts this timely podcast episode on “exposure bucks,” or unpaid creative labor, as it’s known to everyone who’s dipped their toes in the freebies pool. Many creatives are regularly asked to work for experience, exposure, or prestige, a practice that’s become endemic in today’s art market, adding to a culture of exploitation. Today, we take a look at an age-old dilemma for artists: is it ever worthwhile to create free work in exchange for “exposure”? When should you work for free? How should artists think about exchanging freebies?This week’s episode is part of a new “audiotorial” series that furthers NOT REAL ART’s mission to celebrate, elevate, and empower artists by addressing contemporary art-world issues affecting today’s creative market. Today’s episode dives into the

Networking. For many in the creative industry, it’s a dirty word. Most of us dread the prospect of hovering around a fountain of thawed shrimp cocktail, waiting for the right moment to ambush a key contact. The wine will give you a headache, and the people you need to meet simply aren’t there. Yet networking is a fairly essential skill for creatives in today’s market, one we think deserves a second look. Since 2019, Crewest Studio’s mission has been to empower the creative community through education, appreciation, and funding. With the help of our readers, we’ve expanded our platform into a supportive network of arts programming, including a robust online publication, an entire network of podcasts, and our annual NOT REAL ART artist grant. Today we introduce something entirely new to Crewest Studio, marking an evolution in our efforts to support the creative workforce. SmARTalks, an educational event series produced by Crewest Studio, aims to empower and inspire creative professionals in all stages

When Heidi Luerra decided to enter the world of fashion, she quickly found the cards were stacked against her. Disappointed by the lack of support in the creative community, Heidi planned and produced her first fashion, music, and visual arts show with help from her most talented friends.Nearly 20 years into her career, Heidi is still a force to be reckoned with. During recession-era down time, she built and bootstrapped RAW: natural born artists, a platform that provides independent artists with tools, resources, education, and exposure. Since being founded in 2009, RAW has become one of the world's largest independent arts organizations. Now a multi-million dollar global enterprise, RAW illustrates Heidi’s mission to elevate the underdog and create a space for art of all kinds to shine. In today’s episode, Heidi joins NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power to offer some insight into the multidisciplinary approach RAW embraces, and how she was forced to adjust her business model during COVID. 

Galleries play a fundamental role in the art world, encouraging the success of an artist or the growth of a high-quality art collection. However, today’s guest believes there’s often too much emphasis on what gallerists do for artists, and not the other way around. In this week’s episode, legendary gallerist Merry Karnowsky of LA’s KP Projects joins us to talk about her highly influential career in street art and the lowbrow art movement. Merry’s work over the years has helped legitimize the careers of world-renowned artists like Shepard Fairey, Camille Rose Garcia, Todd Schorr, and Jeff Soto, to name just a few.This year Merry celebrates her 25th anniversary at KP Projects, having opened the gallery in 1997. Today’s episode is all about celebrating Merry’s contributions to the art world as we learn more about her journey as a gallerist, a curator, and perhaps most importantly, an art lover. Merry shares her motivations for starting a gallery, and how she seeks to represent the work she loves with the re

Ever wanted to start an art collection of your own, but didn’t know where to start? Turns out it’s not as scary as you’d think. Today, we introduce a very special “audiotorial” series from NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power. This week’s episode, on the ins and outs of art collecting, is the first in a series that aims to celebrate, elevate, and empower artists and art lovers by addressing topical issues and events in the art world. Blue chip art galleries often make art-buying seem exclusive and mysterious—but it doesn’t need to be that way. In this episode, Scott shares his personal reasons for buying art, and how you can follow suit. Learn why starting your own collection isn’t as intimidating as it seems and how buying original art can tip the scales in favor of the artists—not the billion-dollar home decor industry or the galleries that seek to keep the art market opaque.Whether you’re a newbie to art buying or want to expand a small collection, this is one episode you don't want to miss. J

Camille Rose Garcia was born into a creative family. The daughter of an activist filmmaker and a muralist, Camille began her artistic journey as a young apprentice to her mother, painting walls throughout the suburbs of Orange County. During this formative time Camille also visited Disneyland and attended punk shows with other disenchanted youth. Drawing from an eclectic range of influences, including authors Philip K. Dick and William S. Burroughs, vintage cartoons, outsider art, and politically aware bands like The Clash and the Dead Kennedys, Camille makes engaging, vividly colored work that blends nostalgic pop culture references with a satirical slant on modern society. Her psychedelic, eye-popping paintings, detailed drawings, toys, and books strive for both visual pleasure and incisive social criticism. In today’s episode, Camille sits down with NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power to share insight into the creative legacy she inherited from her parents. Believing she was destined to

Everyone is talking about NFTs—but what do they really mean for artists and art collectors? Today, you’ll hear from Ronnie Pirovino, a widely recognized collector, curator, and appraiser who hails from Denver, Colorado. After his art collection grew to prominence, Ronnie left his successful career in digital advertising to focus on his passion for art. Today, his pursuits encompass a variety of entrepreneurial projects, including NFTs, which he believes are positioned to restructure the creative economy. He has partnered with Christie’s on Trespassing, an ongoing series of auction sales that trace graffiti’s influence on contemporary art, and he acts as chief curator at LGND.art, an innovative platform built by artists, for artists, at the intersection of art and technology. He is also well-known as the world’s largest collector of KAWS artworks. As you’ll discover in today’s episode, Ronnie helps artists and organizations understand and navigate the emerging world of NFTs and Web3. He’s a

Confused by NFTs? Meet the software developers who are making generative artwork a piece of cake. Today, we’re joined by two cutting-edge innovators: Ashton Owens and Andrew Medearis of Good Month Labs, a software development company that calls itself “the TurboTax of NFT deployment.” In this episode, Ashton and Andrew sit down with NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power to discuss their recent passion projects in the spheres of cryptocurrency and counterculture. You’ll learn how the two founded Good Month Labs and subsequently launched BAZ, a golf-inspired collection of NFT artworks numbering over seven thousand. Featuring the “violently pastel” works of Kyokill, the collection is available on OpenSea, and will likely appeal to patrons who adore its unique combination of golf, dinosaurs, and Web3 art. Discover the collection here.Ashton and Andrew also dive into their recently launched Cake app, which will create a one-stop solution for artists in Web3 spaces—regardless of whether you’re an o

The democratization of art does not mean dumbing it down. It means increasing access for artists and audiences alike, an objective that today’s podcast guest, Melissa Richardson Banks, is super passionate about.Melissa is an arts marketing specialist, podcast host, photographer, and the founder of CauseConnect, an art consulting firm that recently celebrated its 20th anniversary of “doing business by doing good.” She specializes in creating strategic marketing partnerships and is known for designing innovative, cost-effective solutions that produce results, from raising funds to raising awareness. Known as Downtown Muse for her photography of the Los Angeles and Houston art districts, Melissa is also an independent cultural producer. She plans, creates, funds, and executes events and projects, from museum exhibits, community festivals, and virtual and in-person speaker series to classical music concerts, influencer dinners, and salons. To date, Melissa has produced, marketed, managed, or funded over 100

Welcome to a special Father’s Day edition of the NOT REAL ART Podcast! Today, you’ll hear from Sol Guy, an incredible film producer and writer who believes we change and shape our world through the stories we tell. His passion for art and social change has led him on a unique creative journey. From his early days as a founding member of groundbreaking Canadian hip-hop group the Rascalz to creating and presenting TV shows, producing and directing films, writing books, and managing other artists, Sol has always been very intentional about implementing business practices that are both innovative and socially-minded. His most recent film, The Death of My Two Fathers, is a courageous exploration of identity, fatherhood, life, and death. In this episode, Sol shares how the film unpacks the meaning of family, explores race, and why we must all face where we come from for the sake of those who come after us. By offering the film as a resource, Sol’s hope is to inspire people to live intentionally, face difficult chal

How many people would be willing to risk it all to pursue their dreams? Today’s guest, Danish artist Mikael B., packed his bags and flew to LA after selling the graphic design company he started with his twin brother. In 2014, while Mikael was working as a graphic designer, he created a colorful map to hang in his Copenhagen apartment. That work, “Vibrant World,” went viral after being posted online, spurring global demand for Mikael’s prints and providing a launchpad for the artist’s budding career. Encouraged by the response, Mikael and his brother sold their graphic design business and moved to LA to focus on art-making—and the rest, as they say, is history.Blending Cubism with Wildstyle graffiti, Mikael began splashing his designs all over LA soon after arriving. Today he works with brands like American Express and Bentley Motors to create eye-catching projects and public murals that brighten the city. He credits his success to his brother’s business savvy, describing their partnership as “yin and ya

No matter how many accolades you receive, they will fade, and the plaques in your honor will eventually be removed and replaced with new ones. Of course, receiving recognition for the creative work you do is an important part of staying motivated as an artist, but today’s guest believes that it should be the work itself that inspires you, not the awards you collect for it. That being said, today, we are honored to welcome our first-ever Emmy Award-winning artist, Senior Vice President of Development and Production for Red Rock Films, Shannon Malone-deBenedictis! A former video installation artist, Shannon is a creative storyteller and a leading figure in film development and production spanning several genres. Notable projects include Secrets of the Whales, winner of the 2021 Emmy for Best Documentary or Nonfiction Series, as well as Penguin Town and Shark Week. In today’s episode, Shannon emphasizes the value of patience, determination, and collaboration, highlighting the critical roles that great storytelli

The shifts and changes that have always characterized the creative industries have accelerated in the last few years with the rise of the blockchain and the introduction of NFTs into the popular lexicon. There are now more new avenues than ever for artists to explore and find themselves a niche in, and this is both exciting and daunting for many young creators. Here to talk about his journey through the creative life and his explorations into new possibilities is the amazing kaNO! Born and raised in New York and now based in Los Angeles for many years, kaNO is an artist, toymaker, animator, and generally a man of many talents! kaNO is also a family man, a thoughtful human, and someone we are so lucky to host on the podcast and share this space with. In today's episode, we speak about many different areas of kaNO's life, from how he approaches productivity and time management to his thoughts on education and community. The bulk of the second half of our chat is spent on the crypto space and how kaNO is thinkin

Today on the Not Real Art Podcast, we have the pleasure of introducing you to world-renowned artist, Andre Miripolsky. As colorful as the art he creates, Andre’s signature style of pop imagery is bright, whimsical, and energetic, and he has collaborated with the likes of Bette Midler, Quincy Jones, Robin Williams, The Rolling Stones, and MTV, among others. His work exploded onto the scene in the 1980s with the design of Elton John's famous ‘piano jacket’, and he is best known for his Fear No Art series, the Miripolsky Art Barbie, and his ‘Absolut Vodka illustrations from the ‘90s. In this episode, Andre shares some insight into his career, his upbringing around the world, and what led him to ultimately settle in Los Angeles. Tuning in, you’ll learn more about his iconic Viva LA! Program, which celebrates the power of collaboration and the incredible, dynamic people that make LA one of the most creative cities in the world, and we dive into how Andre is embracing cutting edge technology as

As much as we tend to separate ourselves from other species, human beings are animals too. Our natural ecosystems support all of us, not just the whales or the polar bears we want to save, and the only way we can sustain our lives and our health on this planet is if the planet is alive and healthy. Today’s episode centers around an incredible organization that is doing important work at the intersection of culture and environmentalism to further the conservation of our oceans. Led by Founder and Executive Director, Tré Packard, The PangeaSeed Foundation is an international nonprofit organization that seeks to raise awareness and create positive change using what they call ‘ARTivism’. Tré is a renowned public art curator and award-winning environmental photographer who marries art and activism to cultivate a new era in marine conservation and, in today’s episode, he shares some of the groundbreaking work that PangeaSeed has done with artists like Shepard Fairey and Nychos to raise awareness about the fragility