Bench Talk

Available now on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

In this week’s episode of Bench Talk, sits down with LA-based artist for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about transitioning from graffiti to full-time studio practice.

Kristopher talks about developing his art practise and creating separation from his graffiti past, experimenting with cel vinyl and gouache to achieve ultra-flat surfaces, scavenging LA for visual material. He’s represented by Charlie James Gallery, has work in museum permanent collections across the US, and is living proof that you can build a sustainable, fulfilling studio practice without compromising who you are.

If you’re an artist who:
⚡️Wants to transition from street art to studio work but doesn’t know how
⚡️Worries about losing your identity when you shift mediums
⚡️Is curious about unconventional material processes and experimentation
⚡️Wants to keep your work accessible without undervaluing it
⚡️Dreams of making art full-time but doesn’t know if it’s possible

🎧 Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube

Available now on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

In this week’s episode of Bench Talk, sits down with Sydney-based artist Elliott Rutledge for an incredibly honest conversation about
artistic evolution, creative experimentation and navigating the transition from street art to the gallery world.

Elliott is one of those artists who refuses to be put in a box. Abstract paintings, text-based works, murals, sculptures - he does it all. But what’s really fascinating is how intentional he is about his evolution, quietly developing bodies of work for years before revealing them to the world. “I can’t help myself. I don’t like to sit
on one thing - I’ll try anything.”

If you’re an artist who:
⚡️Feels pressure to “pick a lane” but thrives on experimentation
⚡️Struggles with imposter syndrome when entering new spaces
⚡️Creates work you love but worries it won’t sell
⚡️Wants to transition into galleries but doesn’t know how
⚡️Feels like an outsider in the art world

Then this conversation will resonate deeply.

Elliott shares how he kept his now-signature text-based works on the back burner for years, thinking no one would buy them - until an interior designer walked into his studio and proved him wrong.

He talks about working with curator Amber Creswell Bell, being featured in the Australian Abstract book, and how fatherhood has shaped his creative practice.

This is about the courage to evolve without abandoning yourself.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube


Link in the bio!

Available now on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

In this week’s episode of Bench Talk, sits down with Sydney-based artist Elliott Rutledge for an incredibly honest conversation about
artistic evolution, creative experimentation and navigating the transition from street art to the gallery world.

Elliott is one of those artists who refuses to be put in a box. Abstract paintings, text-based works, murals, sculptures - he does it all. But what’s really fascinating is how intentional he is about his evolution, quietly developing bodies of work for years before revealing them to the world. “I can’t help myself. I don’t like to sit
on one thing - I’ll try anything.”

If you’re an artist who:
⚡️Feels pressure to “pick a lane” but thrives on experimentation
⚡️Struggles with imposter syndrome when entering new spaces
⚡️Creates work you love but worries it won’t sell
⚡️Wants to transition into galleries but doesn’t know how
⚡️Feels like an outsider in the art world

Then this conversation will resonate deeply.

Elliott shares how he kept his now-signature text-based works on the back burner for years, thinking no one would buy them - until an interior designer walked into his studio and proved him wrong.

He talks about working with curator Amber Creswell Bell, being featured in the Australian Abstract book, and how fatherhood has shaped his creative practice.

This is about the courage to evolve without abandoning yourself.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube

Link in the bio!


textartsydneyartist artistevolution gallerist
BenchTalk ArtCareerAcademy emergingartistprofessionalartist
creativecourage

Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcast or watch on YouTube.
Episode #215. The unsolicited advice era is real. And it’s costing artists their voice.

You’re clear on where you’re headed. Then someone whether it’s a friend, your great auntie June or a gallerist — tells you everything that’s wrong with your work.

You didn’t ask.
But now you can’t stop thinking about it.

In this week’s episode of BenchTalk, Claire and get really honest about unsolicited art advice - where it comes from, why it hits so hard, and how to stop letting it derail you.

Because here’s the truth: the artists who make their mark are the ones who trust their own vision — even when it makes some people uncomfortable.

Picasso didn’t change his style because someone didn’t get the two eyes on one side of the face. Matisse didn’t stop doing his cutouts when people said he’d lost his mind.

And you don’t have to dim your light because of someone else’s opinion either.

🎧 New episode out now — link in bio.

ArtCareer CreativeConfidence ArtistLife FindYourVoice ArtAdvice AuthenticArtist ArtCommunity ArtistDevelopment GoingArtPro

Available now on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

In this insightful interview, Byron Bowman Kehoe, .gallery a seasoned gallerist, shares his journey through the art world, from early exposure to art in his family gallery to working in Japan and New York. Discover his perspectives on art collection, studio practices, street art, and how galleries like Backwoods shape Melbourne’s vibrant art scene.

——

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- The role of collectors in the art world
- Studio practices and artist assistants
- The evolution of street art into gallery spaces
- Strategies for artists to approach galleries
- The importance of storytelling in art

——
HOST: Tom Gerrard

✦ IG | and -gerrard
✦ Subscribe to Channel | www.youtube.com/
✦ Website | artcareeracademy.com

GUEST (Byron Bowman Kehoe) .gallery

Available now on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Art Career Academy GOING PRO now open for enrolment

A listener question inspired this episode — and it highlights something many artists and collectors experience:

This week and from discuss how to create a commissioned artwork that truly feels right for everyone involved?

In this episode of Bench Talk, we explore how commissions can become rewarding creative collaborations when expectations are clear and
communication is open.

Because when alignment is there, the process feels energising — and the artwork becomes something truly special.

In this episode:

• Why commissions are an opportunity for meaningful collaboration
• How collectors can communicate what they love with clarity
• How artists can guide the process with confidence and professionalism
• Why alignment matters more than perfection
• How great commissions strengthen artist–collector relationships

🎧 Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube

WANT MORE?

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program for visual artists.
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