Behind the Scenes

Happy one

One year ago, ArtTox was just an idea—a quiet wish to give underrepresented voices a platform. Today, we're celebrating our first birthday with a very special episode. For the first time, I'm the one answering the questions. My friend and fellow creative, Sharmin , took over the mic, and she didn't hold back. 😅 We dove deep into what it really takes to create: * The exhaustion nobody sees behind exhibitions * The mentors we've lost and the aunties who raised us * And the hardest lesson of all: learning to love yourself first Sharmin also shares her incredible journey over the past year—launching a gallery, starting a business degree, and stepping up to run for local council. This woman is proof that when we support each other, we rise. To every listener who's been with us this past year: thank you. You're the reason this podcast exists. Here's to many more years of art, truth, and turning the mic around. 🥂

Happy One Soundbites

Flip the Mic: A Birthday Episode with a Twist Soundbites for Discussion. Description: It's our birthday! And to celebrate, we're doing something we've never done before. In this special International Women's Day episode, community advocate Sharmin—fresh off her own interview—takes over as guest host to interview us. We're talking silence, creativity, and the meditation of making art. We're honoring the women who proved you don't need to scream to be heard. And we're answering the hard questions: Is painting just adult coloring with anxiety? What does your art style say about you? And can silence actually be louder than words? This is a selection of soundbites we will be discussing on the show—raw, unfiltered, and too good to leave in the cutting room. Join us for an unfiltered, sideways, and surprisingly honest conversation about what happens when the interviewer stops talking and starts answering. Timestamps: 00:00 - The importance of listening and the role of silence in reconnecting with life 01:04 - Artists' experiences with painting in silence and the impact on their work 02:08 - Art as meditation: emotional expression and mental focus 02:52 - Personal perspectives on art as a form of freedom and personal expression 03:35 - The underlying sacrifice and commitment required to live as an artist 04:09 - Communicating intense emotions like fear and confusion through visual art 04:52 - The importance of time in creating and preserving meaningful art 05:57 - Using color and timeframes to represent different moments in art 06:39 - Artists' favorite cocktails as metaphors for their creative styles 07:03 - Opportunities in art and strategic thinking, exemplified by chess analogy 07:43 - The cultural significance of street art and its democratizing role 08:07 - Inspirations from iconic artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Picasso, Dali, and pioneering women in abstract art 08:52 - Collaboration, patience, and humility in community and collective art projects 09:09 - The "Flip the Mic" segment: connecting directly with art creators 09:28 - About "Art Talks": fostering unfiltered, raw conversations in the arts.

Show and Tell, Inside the London Art Fair

Inside the London Art Fair What happens when you take three artists, one press photographer, and a microphone into the London Art Fair? You get conversations that cut through the noise. In our latest episode, Show and Tell, host Shahina Jaffer is joined by Chris Harvey, Andrew Sales, and Cosmo Ford to reflect on standout works, interview inspiring artists, and debate everything from monochromatic restraint to the price of popularity. We spoke with Carol Ellis, who transformed her journey as a breast cancer survivor into breathtaking visual testimony, and stood before Peter Jackson’s black canvases where faith meets geometry in layers of restraint. Each piece came loaded with memory, tension, and risk—not trend-chasing, but truth-telling. In a world where some artists blow up overnight and vanish just as fast, we asked: Can true legacy survive the pull of commercial success? Society used to think success meant hype, visibility, endless bucks. But that’s not where real art lives. Artists like Bacon or Banksy don’t last because of dollars — they endure because of the stories they tell. Are we making art for now… or for eternity? Listen to the full episode and join the conversation.

Uncharted: Makers Redrawing Public Art

The conversation delves into the power of art as a form of expression and connection, exploring global art, artistic inspiration and creativity, the impact of art, artistic expression and collaboration, the process of art, art and transformation, art and sobriety, artistic dreams and aspirations, the origin of art, art and pandemic, art and memory, and letting go and artistic growth. Host; Shahina Jaffer Co-Host Nicolas Ferguson Guests Sabrina Lisson Musset & Marc Craig Takeaways * Connection through art * Art as a form of expression Chapters * 00:00 Letting Go and Artistic Growth

Behind the Scenes

The conversation delves into the behind-the-scenes world of art, uncovering the artistic process and exploring the inspiration behind the work. It provides insights into the creative journey of artists and the complexities of artistic expression. The conversation delves into the myth of the artist, the early beginnings in art, discovering art as a calling, symbolism in art, influence of Christian art, art as a lifelong friend, defining professional artistry, shaping success and experience, the behind-the-scenes artist, advice to younger artist self, and the artistic journey. The journey of an artist and the intertwining of art with life are central themes throughout the conversation. Takeaways * Artists' Process * Artistic Inspiration Art and the artist's life * The journey of an artist Chapters * 00:00 Uncovering Art: Behind the Scenes * 29:11 The Myth of the Artist * 35:00 Artistic Inspiration and Symbolism * 40:44 Discovering Art as a Calling * 47:25 Defining Professional Artistry 52:41 The Behind-the-Scenes Artist