Beyond The Studio

“You have to have a healthy dose of blind optimism. You need to have it in there. Because so much about our lives…is about a leap of faith. There has to be a leap in there.”

What we were most inspired by in our interview with independent curator Dexter Wimberly was his perspective and attitude on facing life’s unpredictability, and how he’s managed to turn hardships into real opportunities for personal growth and change.

🌅 If you’ve ever been at a crossroads in your life & career, or faced with the immense uncertainty change can bring, this episode is a must-listen:

“Dexter Wimberly talks Persevering, Dreaming Bigger, and Turning Setbacks into Opportunity” available on Beyond the Studio wherever you find podcasts 🎙️

Images 1-2: Installation view of Derrick Adams’ View Master at the ICA/Boston, Curated by Dexter Wimberly (photograph by Mel Taing)

Images 3-4: Installation view of A Superlative Palette: Contemporary Black Women Artists at the Harvey B. Gantt Center, Curated by Dexter Wimberly (photograph by Christina Hussey)

Image 5: Portrait of Dexter Wimberly, Beyond the Studio podcast

🎉 NEW EPISODE of Beyond the Studio feat. is now LIVE! 🎙️

Longtime listeners will remember Dexter as co-founder of (formerly Art World Conference) along with , who we interviewed previously both in 2019 and 2020.

In this episode we had the chance to dive into Dexter’s personal work as an independent curator and entrepreneur, including making an early career pivot into the art world from marketing & advertising, persevering through personal challenges while embracing change, supporting artists in their professional development through his work as an independent curator, founder of , co-founder of (formerly Art World Conference) and Senior Critic at , bringing an entrepreneurial mindset to every aspect of life, and giving ourselves permission to dream bigger. 💭

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at the link in our bio! 🎧

“I used to believe that artists never retire…well that’s not true. Your body retires.”

from “Sharon Louden talks Longevity, Resiliency, and Being a Catalyst for Change” 🎙️

In our latest episode with speaking with her about her book “Last Artist Standing: Living and Sustaining a Creative Life Over 50” led to a conversation about longevity, misperceptions about artists who continue creating work over 50, and the infrastructure needed to support artists throughout their lives.

This is a necessary listen for anyone looking to build a long-term career in the arts.

Artists in their 50s & 60s…what’s something you wish you would have known in your 20s & 30s, if you could impart any wisdom on your younger self?

What does it really take to continue making art over a lifetime? ✍️

That’s what explores in her latest book: “Last Artist Standing: Living and Sustaining a Creative Life Over 50”

We’ve often cited Sharon and her book series on “Living and Sustaining a Creative Life” as one of the inspirations behind starting podcast, and continue to be inspired by her passion and fire for improving the lives and working conditions of artists. 🔥

We were honored to first interview her back in 2019 after the release of her second book, and are so excited to welcome Sharon back on the podcast to speak about longevity, resiliency, and being a catalyst for change. 💫✨

Listen to the full conversation wherever you find podcasts 🎙️

From our latest episode with :

“I used to think that persistence was an annoying trait of mine…

But now I realize it’s how I’ve gotten most of the opportunities…It’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil.

You’ve gotta be kind of annoying to people, because everyone’s busy and forgetful, and has a thousand asks in their inbox.”

🎧 Listen to the full episode “Micah E. Wood talks Self-Starting, Unexpected Career Paths, and How Persistence Pays Off” on Beyond the Studio wherever you find podcasts

What does it really look like to build a career around self-starting, one that’s fueled by community?

In our latest episode, Baltimore-based photographer & musician shows us that you don’t have to wait for opportunities to fall into your lap in order to make things happen for yourself. 💥

Hear more from Micah E. Wood on the surprising connections that build creative careers, what self-publishing books and albums taught him about community, the importance of taking initiative, staying persistent, and what it really looks like to build a career based on relationships.

🎧 “Micah E. Wood talks Self-Starting, Unexpected Career Paths, and How Persistence Pays Off” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen!

🎧 NEW EPISODE 🎉 of Beyond the Studio feat. is LIVE!

It’s a new year, and we’re back with new episodes—however, we’re starting off with a returning guest: Baltimore-based photographer & musician Micah E. Wood.

If you’ve been following the podcast since our launch in 2017, you might remember Micah as one of our very first guests. 🤯

Needless to say, much has changed in the past eight years and this interview offered us a rare look back on ’s career trajectory with a new perspective.

Listen to “Micah E. Wood talks Self-Starting, Unexpected Career Paths, and How Persistence Pays Off” on Beyond the Studio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find podcasts! 🎙️

“This is one of the questions—How am I making a living? Is this sustainable? How long can I do this?

It’s all horrible, mundane but very important questions. And it’s also like—I want to keep things accessible, affordable for the vast majority of people who see something that I make and love it…and I need to be able to make a profit.

And as the cost of materials rises, the cost of rent rises, everything is going up…What is the balance between accessibility and sustainability?”

🎙️In our latest episode feat. we dig into leaving behind a full-time teaching job in pursuit of making a living through her art, pivoting from large sculptural installations to making wearable jewelry, and embracing change while growing a profitable practice.

🎧 Listen wherever you find podcasts. 💥 P.S. We have a new episode coming out tomorrow, so follow Beyond the Studio wherever you listen!

✨BTS GIFT GUIDE✨ is now LIVE! 🎊 We’re so excited to share the inaugural Beyond the Studio Gift Guide on our Substack! 🎁

We’ve put together a curated collection, all by independently owned small businesses, artists, & makers. ✍️ Our list ranges from the practical to the professional to the whimsical. 🌀 Making it easy to shop small!

We had a lot of fun putting this together, especially since most of the suggestions were crowdsourced by YOU! 🍌 Check out several posts back for more.

Find the full BTS Gift Guide on our Substack: beyondthestudio.substack.com (🔗 linked in bio)

📌 Work pictured by current podcast guest