When Loving Art Gets Dangerous

When Loving Art Gets Dangerous

Chris and Gabe talk with Kyla Bernberg, owner of 812 Royal Gallery on Royal Street, about Michael Finkel’s The Art Thief, running galleries in New Orleans, the psychology of art theft, and the dangerous line between loving art and needing to possess it. Buy art from Mortal Machine here. [https://mortalmachinenola.com/]

The Art of Basketball

It's NBA Finals time! Gabe tells the story of meeting Michael Jordan, the hosts explore why basketball is the most artistic sport, and then tackle a ridiculous but fascinating question: who is the Victor Wembanyama of the arts world—a once-in-a-generation talent changing what's possible in their medium?

Doing Less, Better

This week on the Mortal Machine Podcast, Chris and Gabe talk about the reality of running a creative business: managing a gallery, protecting your energy, and figuring out how to keep the work flowing without letting the work take over your life. They get into the business side of art, the pressure to constantly do more, and why getting older sometimes means learning how to do less — but better. It’s a conversation about creative flow, time management, burnout, and building a life where the work still feels alive.

Human Horse Races Are Real: a chat with Ingrid Victoria

What happens when performance art, absurdity, athleticism, and internet chaos collide in the streets of New Orleans? This week we talk with Ingrid Victoria about the wild world of human horse races — the underground-feeling spectacle where people become jockeys, horses, and maniacs all at once. We get into how these races started, why people are so obsessed with them, the line between art and competition, and what happens when a ridiculous idea suddenly becomes a real cultural event. We also talk New Orleans performance culture, creating experiences people can’t stop talking about, and why the best live events feel a little dangerous, a little stupid, and completely unforgettable.

Mortal Machine Podcast – Ravi Zupa / Jazz Fest Weekend Edition

During the chaos, beauty, and psychic overload of Jazz Fest weekend, artist Ravi Zupa sits down with Chris and Gabe at Mortal Machine Gallery to talk about art that feels handmade, dangerous, spiritual, and alive. They get into Ravi’s instantly recognizable style — equal parts punk flyer, religious iconography, tattoo flash, revolutionary propaganda, and folk art — and why polished “content” culture has made real human-made art feel more important than ever. The conversation spirals through culinary hot takes, New Orleans during Jazz Fest, and what it means to make work that actually survives algorithm culture. A loud, sweaty, funny, existential Jazz Fest weekend conversation from inside the madness of New Orleans. Buy Ravi's work here [https://mortalmachinenola.com/collections/ravi-zupa].