Art Lovers Forum Podcast

In just one podcast interview, Ombretta Agró Andruff, the founder and executive director of ARTSail Residency and Research, gave me a renewed interest in the ocean. Ombretta understood immediately why I wasn’t keeping up with all of the changes that are happening in the ocean that most definitely impact our climate. NYC does that to you. 
 
Now that I look at the ocean every day in Miami Beach, I hope to help Ombretta with marketing. 
 
Ombretta was born in Italy. She is a Miami Beach and Turin based freelance curator and ocean warrior. She brings more than 25 years of curatorial expertise with an international practice across non-profit institutions, commercial galleries, and art advisory pursuits with private clients.
 
Since her move to the US in 1998 she has curated solo and group shows in Europe, the US and Asia collaborating with museums, art festivals, commercial galleries and art fairs, as well as the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. 
 
Ombretta is an avid swimmer, diver and kiteboarder.

The minute I met Grace Hopkins at the Berta Walker Gallery in Provincetown, MA, I knew I wanted to interview her for Art Lovers Forum. She is deeply involved in the art world, and I felt she could teach me so much. I was so right.
For most of the year, Grace is the director of the Berta Walker Gallery, one of the most respected in PTown. She loves working for Berta who has a strong understanding of art, and the business of art, after working for the Whitney Museum, Marisa del Re, and Graham Modern Galleries.
Grace is an artist who creates very unique art by using photography to create square abstract images. Grace details how she manages to produce work that focuses on objects that often go unnoticed. She really has an amazing story.
Grace is the daughter of noted artist Budd Hopkins, who was also an author and ufologist.  He was a prominent figure in alien abduction phenomena and related UFO research. Her mother, April Kingsley, was a respected art historian. Grace’s parents were friends with art world luminaries like Franz Kline, Mark Rothko, Robert Motherwell, Willem de Kooning, et al.  
Grace lived most of her life in the art communities of Manhattan and Outer Cape Cod (Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet).
 

 
Welcome to Art Lovers Forum. There’s a nonprofit art organization that’s quietly becoming a global force — using creativity to stand up for Israel and to fight antisemitism.
It’s called Art World for Israel, and I have to thank artist Dahlia Dreszer for introducing me to its incredible founder, Ariel Penzer.
Ariel told me that since the attacks on Israel on October 7th, 2023, too many Jewish artists have faced online harassment — and a heartbreaking drop in art sales. She decided to do something about it.
That’s how Art World for Israel began — as a simple chat group among friends. They invited more friends, and then more, and it just kept growing.
Today, there are more than 1,200 members — artists, writers, collectors, dealers, and advisors — from all over the world: Zimbabwe, Colombia, Europe, and of course, right here in the U.S.
The mission is powerful: to connect Jewish artists in  with their peers in Israel, to build professional opportunities, and to promote positive visibility through exhibitions, talks, and events.
As Ariel puts it, “We believe in peer-led initiatives, local gatherings, studio visits, and professional development to grow our community.”
It’s a reminder that although the Jewish population makes up only about 0.2% of the world — roughly 15.7 million people — we continue to be, as Ariel says, small but mighty.
With everything from shows and openings to workshops and studio visits, Art World for Israel has become one of the most inspiring movements in the Jewish art world today.
@artworldforisrael@bloomsteadfarmresidency @arielpenzer 

Today I’m thrilled to introduce you to Michele Landel, an American textile artist who lives and works in Sèvres, France. We actually met two years ago during Christmas when she and her husband, Greg, were vacationing in his parents’ Miami apartment — which, by coincidence, happens to be in my condo building. When Greg’s mother learned that my husband, Eliot, and I are art collectors, she said, “You have to meet Michele!”
A few days later, Michele called. We were entertaining some artist friends, so she and Greg came over — and we instantly hit it off. We talked for hours, though funny enough, I never really asked much about her art. I was more fascinated by how an American woman ended up living and working in France. Then, a few weeks ago, I came across her work on Instagram — and I was blown away. It’s absolutely stunning.
Michele’s art has been exhibited all over Europe, the UK, and the U.S., and her work appears in The Collage Ideas Book from Ilex Press. She creates these hauntingly beautiful patchwork paintings using photography and thread. Whether her embroidered bedsheets are draped or flat, they explore the tension between looking and being looked at — that delicate power dynamic we all feel. Through her stitches, she reimagines figures, flowers, and domestic spaces, layering them with themes of loss, memory, and desire. Her use of mirroring and shadow gives her work a haunting self-awareness — like a glimpse into the soul behind the surface.
You can see Michele’s work in a group show at Gallery Amelie du Chalard in New York City from January 24th through February 14th, and at Donna Seager Fine Arts in San Rafael, California, from October 25th through December 31st.
Visit michelelandel.com and follow her on Instagram @michelelandel.

Donnalynn Patakos, editor-in-chief of Portray Magazine, opens this episode with profound insights on how to create the best life possible. She shares her perspective on navigating the art world, choosing the right life partner, and—perhaps most importantly—how you see yourself. And she speaks from experience: Donnalynn is living the kind of life that many art lovers dream about. Her most inspiring message? This life isn’t reserved for a select few—it’s available to every one of us.
A highly respected art advisor, public speaker, author, and as mentioned before, founder of Portray Magazine, Donnalynn serves on acquisition boards and foundation committees, using her expertise to guide strategic art acquisitions and philanthropic initiatives. She travels globally, representing significant art collections, and curates extraordinary works for a discerning private clientele.
Her latest project, Portray Presents, is a video series of artist interviews like no other. In each conversation, Donnalynn creates a signature cocktail—or mocktail—inspired by the artist being featured. Together, they dive into the artist’s background, creative process, passions, and personality. You’ll hear more about this inspiring new series during our conversation.
 

Tom Huth is the retired principal of Thomas R. Huth Architects in Newton, MA, a practice he founded in 1982. I always wanted to ask Tom if there really was a difference between artists and architects. It took Tom three seconds to answer me. “I consider myself an artist who does architecture for a living. Both professions require a devoted commitment because it’s very difficult to achieve a vision, I love it because it’s so rewarding. I wish I was still working. There is so many projects I want to work on.”
He specialized in custom residential and commercial architecture and is recognized for the design of many well-known restaurants. The company also has growing Historic Preservation and Interiors practices.
The firm’s work has been featured in numerous publications, including Boston Magazine, Design New England, New England Home, Robb Report, Metropolitan Home, The Boston Globe, and Boston Globe Magazine.
Tom received his Master of Architecture degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design.
Tom and I met on a trip to Cuba, October 2013.
https://www.hutharchitects.com 
 

We bought our first Francie Bishop Good sculpture from the Mindy Solomon gallery, Miami, in 2023. It was the  “Walking in Circles,” piece made from wood and ceramic with Synthetic polymer paints. 16" x 16" x 7”.  We wanted it because you couldn’t tell if it was a piece of art or a dining  accessory. It was whimsical and daring.    Now that I know Francie I feel so lucky to own a sculpture that makes you stop and stare. We loved it so much we bought two more.
Francie calls her paintings, drawings, photos, and sculptures “messy” creations.  She doesn’t want her work to look stiff and rigid. She is more of a free form artist who lets her spontaneity take over.  Francie creates art pieces all the time, even when we conducted this interview. Art is the oxygen that makes Francie thrive.
I wanted to list all of Francie’s awards, solo exhibits, selected group and  invitational exhibitions, featured articles, fellowships, selected collections, artist talks, selected honors and professional affiliations and her education institutions, but there is just not enough room here.
I have to add that Francie, and her husband David Horvitz, founded the Girls’ Club,  a 501(c)3 private foundation and alternative space established in 2006 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. The Girls’ Club produces exhibitions, educational programming, publications and events that change lives, nurture local artists, and inspire cultural growth in South Florida. Girls' Club is the only private collection open to the public that focuses on contemporary art by women in the world.

I wanted to interview David Mikesell of Gross Pointe Farms, MI, for quite some  time now. At 88 years old, he can teach us a few things about life, especially why art makes him happy.  After 36 years in labor law management at Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn in Detroit, David decided to devote his retirement years to creating all kinds of art. His art is daring, colorful, modern, and thought-provoking. It very much reflects David’s positive attitude about the world and how he enjoys all mankind. 
 
He has a rather large studio at Detroit’s Pioneer Building which is currently home to over 35 talented metro-Detroit artists, including; painters, sculptors, photographers, and woodworkers.
 
I’m so proud to publish David’s name amongst some of the great Detroit talent at the Pioneer Building.
Linda Allen ~ Suzanne Andersen ~ Madeleine Barkey ~ Jeanne Bieri ~ Matthew Breneau ~Joyce Brienza ~ Loralei R. Byatt ~ Jenny Chope ~ Renee Dooley ~ Barbara Dorchen ~ Joan Farago ~ Joe Ferraro ~ Anne Fracassa ~ Marcia Freedman ~ Rosemarie Hughes ~ Birgit Huttemann-Holz ~ Carole Kabrin ~ Charlotte Weaver King ~ Denise Kozlo ~ Paul Kowa ~ Bobby Litwin ~ David Mikesell ~ Sherry Moore ~ Corinne Pemberton ~ Teresa Petersen ~Josephine Primeau ~ Claudia Shepard ~ Scott Taylor ~ Sioux Trujillo ~ Alan Watson ~ Christine Welch.
 
I urge you to listen to my interview with David because it’s really all about lifestyle choices and why he is as active today in his senior years as he was when he was building a career. He frequently plays golf when the weather permits, works out at a local gym, is an avid reader, travels to places that influence his art, and spends time with his young, beautiful wife Julie.
 
David also enjoys spending time with his son Dan Mikesell, co founder of Fountainhead Arts along with his wife Kathryn, and grandchildren Galt and Skye. 

Welcome to Art Lovers Forum.  Today we spotlight the bold, electrifying work of Cuban-American artist Alex Núñez, whose newest installation at the Faena Art Project Room in Miami Beach is a must-see this summer.
Titled “There’s a Gator in the Pool,” this site-specific immersive experience isn’t just art—it’s a full-body encounter. Núñez transforms the gallery into a surreal aquatic landscape, using glitter, gold leaf, neon paint, and mutant coral forms to reflect the fragile beauty and quiet chaos of our environment.
Known for her layered, high-energy works that pull from pop culture, memory, and ecological tension, Núñez invites viewers to step into a shimmering, disorienting world where danger and delight coexist. This is art you don’t just view—you feel it under your feet, around your body, and in your gut.
Whether you’re an art collector, a curious local, or a visitor looking for something unforgettable, this is one of the most talked-about installations of the season. Stick around—we’re diving deep with Alex on the inspirations behind her work, how Miami, Cuba, and New Orleans shaped her visual language, and why she believes beauty can be both seductive and unsettling.

  
Welcome to Art Lovers Forum, where today’s episode might just blow the doors off everything you thought you knew about motorsports and contemporary art.
I’m thrilled to introduce two visionary women who are rewriting the rules of both industries: Zoë Barry and Spring McManus. Together, they’re launching DART Car—a revolutionary platform that fuses high-performance racing with high-impact art, all while championing women in spaces where they’ve been dramatically underrepresented.
Consider this: only 4% of professional race car drivers are women. Only 4% of artworks sold at auction are by women. DART Car is here to change that.
Their inaugural collaboration features the internationally celebrated artist Mickalene Thomas, whose dazzling portraits of Black women have graced galleries, museums, and now—racecars. Yes, you heard that right. Mickalene has custom-designed a McLaren Artura GT4, along with the driver suits and helmets, ushering in a bold new era of motorsport—one that celebrates identity, innovation, and unapologetic creativity.
Zoë Barry is no stranger to breaking barriers. She’s a serial entrepreneur, investor, and Techstars mentor who’s built and sold multiple companies and raised over $60 million in venture capital. She made her semi-pro racing debut in 2022, quickly racking up top-3 finishes and earning the coveted “Hard Charger” award in the Porsche Sprint Challenge.
Spring McManus brings two decades of art world mastery to the table. As a curator, advisor, and former Christie’s expert, she guides major collectors and corporations through the high-stakes world of fine art with impeccable taste and a razor-sharp eye for cultural value.
And Mickalene Thomas? She’s not just a star—she’s a supernova. Recently named to the 2025 TIME 100 list, her work blurs the lines between art, fashion, and activism. Her partnership with DART Car marks a stunning new chapter in the evolution of both motorsports and visual art.