Talk Art's New Book Compiles Interviews with 24 Art Figures, Revealing Contemporary Art's Contradictions

Russell Tovey and Robert Diament have released 'Talk Art: The Interviews,' their second book collecting conversations from their podcast. Launched in 2018, the Talk Art podcast now exceeds 200 episodes and five million downloads. The volume features discussions with 24 individuals from the art world and related fields, including Tracey Emin, Grayson Perry, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Tyler Mitchell, Elton John, Stephen Fry, and Paul Smith. According to the authors, the project represents a 'fun, relatable' rebellion against art media gatekeepers and elitism, aiming to highlight voices behind significant contemporary artworks. An interview with New York-based critic Jerry Saltz, who contributed the introduction to their previous book, offers what some might view as establishment validation. Conversations with younger artists like Tyler Mitchell and Michaela Yearwood-Dan prove particularly insightful, examining photography's hierarchies and the art world's pressures on authenticity. The collection, published by Ilex Press and priced at £25 in softcover, ultimately portrays contemporary art as a complex, contested field. While Stephen Fry's interview elicited enthusiastic praise from the hosts, the book's strength lies in its candid exploration of artistic practice and institutional dynamics.