The Baer Faxt Podcast

In this episode, our host Josh Baer speaks with guest Barbara Castelli, President of the legendary Castelli Gallery for the past twenty five years. In part one of the conversation, Castelli discusses her origins with the gallery, the importance of her late husband Leo Castelli’s legacy, and how Barbara’s sharp vision—alongside the trust of her artists and buyers—has carried and shaped the gallery into the present day.
 
Then, tune in as Castelli shares lessons learned from twenty five years at Castelli Gallery, how she navigates the idiosyncratic nature of conceptual art, and what makes a work truly “important” when it hits the market.
 
In part three of the conversation, Baer and Castelli dive deep into how the gallery model has changed in the 2020s, the re-evaluation of the Western art canon, and the finicky nature of “taste” when it comes to collecting art.

In this episode, our host Josh Baer speaks with returning guest, the ex-Blum and Poe Founder Jeff Poe. In part one of the conversation, Jeff discusses on the present and future states of the market, how galleries and artists can adapt to survive, and if the grass really is greener on the other side, one year after his retirement from the art world.
Then, tune in as Poe shares his thoughts on the challenges facing galleries of all sizes, the pressures influencing today’s art prices, and the importance of separating the art from the ego.
In part three of the conversation the two discuss how major galleries have–or haven’t—created succession plans, opportunities for the slow-moving art world to pivot in increasingly fast-moving times, and other “elephants in the room”. 
Last but not least, stay tuned for the conclusion, in which Jeff shares his optimism for a radically reformed art world, what’s keeping people from splurging on art in the modern era, and what exactly he’s been up to in retirement.

In this episode, our host Josh Baer speaks with artist Takashi Murakami. In part one of the conversation, Murakami explains how he's built his global, multifaceted career, and reflects on his open letter in response to our episode with Jeff Poe.
 
Then, listen as Murakami discusses his relationship to pop culture & luxury, the difficulties for an Asian artist to prosper in the West, and how the lasting impacts of World War II have influenced Japan’s contemporary culture.
 
In part three of the conversation the two discuss Murakami's ideas on the future of art, how the political intersects with the whimsical in his work, and what’s next on the artist’s fast-paced global schedule. 
 
Finally, stay tuned for an epic conclusion, where the tables are turned and Josh is placed in the hot seat—answering burning questions from Murakami on the state of the New York City art scene, what constitutes “great art” and how to see it, and recent takes from The Baer Faxt Newsletter.

In this episode, we take a look back at some of our team's favorite moments from the past year and a half of The Baer Faxt Podcast.
 
Join us as our host, Josh Baer, founder of The Baer Faxt, talks through highlights and epic stories from our exclusive, in-depth art world conversations with art world movers, shakers, and groundbreakers—from gallerist Jeff Poe and critic Jerry Saltz all the way to our very first episode with artist Beeple.
 
Whether you’re a longtime listener or just tuning in for the first time, we’ve hand-picked key notes and insights for you. So, kick back and tune in!
 
 
 
 

In this episode, our President and Executive Producer Luyang Jiang visits artist Alicja Kwade in her Berlin studio. In the first part of the conversation, Alicja shares how she relates to the art market as an established artist, and her advice for young artists on putting themselves out into the world.
 
Then, listen as she reveals her childhood story of how she ended up moving from Poland to Germany, her path to becoming an artist, and the ways influences from science and philosophy in her work reveal our shared humanity.
 
Finally, Alicja discusses how her studio practice has grown and evolved to accommodate major public art projects and her ever-busier schedule. 

In this episode, Josh sits down with Alexander S. C. Rower, President of the Calder Foundation (and the artist’s grandson), at the Foundation’s offices in Chelsea, New York. 
 
Listen as Rower shares his personal journey fostering his grandfather’s legacy, and the secrets behind the greatest exhibitions he’s worked on with the foundation. 
 
He and Josh also discuss the Foundation’s approaches to scholarship and requests for examination of Calder’s works, and the ways that artists’ foundations can help people of all backgrounds develop personal connections to great art.

This episode marks the one-year anniversary of The Baer Faxt Podcast, and the second episode of Baer with Me, our mini-series of The Baer Faxt Podcast hosted by our President, Luyang Jiang, with market insights from Josh Baer.
 
On the last day of our busy Hong Kong Art Week, Josh and Luyang sat down with The Baer Faxt's team members based in Asia, Boliang Shen, our Content Strategist in Shanghai, and Claire Huang, our Business Development Consultant in Hong Kong, to compare their observations from Art Basel Hong Kong and the flurry of other market events.
 
Listen as Josh and the team share their on-the-ground scoop on the art market in Hong Kong and Asia, from gallery sales reports, to changes in the ways collectors transact and where they come from.

Jussi Pylkkänen joins Josh for his first sit-down interview since leaving his role as Global President of Christie's after nearly 40 years to start his own independent advisory, Art Pylkkänen.
 
Jussi reveals the secret art of the auctioneer, sharing his favorite stories from his time negotiating deals and taking bids at the auctioneer's rostrum for many of the biggest record-breaking sales in recent years. Listen as he describes how he coaxed out the final bids for the $400 million sale of Leonardo Da Vinci's Salvator Mundi, and how he handled the "Banksy-like moment" when an arm fell off a Buddha statue onstage just as he opened bidding for the sculpture.
 
Jussi also opens up about his plans for his new business, and his predictions for the future of the auction market.

Josh sits down with Melissa Chiu, Director of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden on the occasion of the museum's 50th anniversary, and the 10th anniversary of her tenure as Director.
 
Listen as Melissa reflects on the unique role of the national museum, their TV show, The Exhibit: Finding the Next Great Artist, and the ways artists have influenced the museum, from Hiroshi Sugimoto's vision for the revitalized sculpture garden, to the impact of Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirror Rooms. She also shares her personal observations on the evolution of the art world in Asia over the last several decades.

Baer with Me is our new mini-series of The Baer Faxt Podcast, building on our past episodes featuring Josh Baer's insights on the current state of the art market. Hosted by Luyang Jiang, our President and Executive Producer of our Podcast, Baer with Me will feature regular updates on the latest trends in the global art market.
 
For our debut episode, Josh shares his predictions for the art business in 2024—how to buy the dip, a comeback for NFTs, and the bull market to come as interest rates continue to soften. He and Luyang also talk about The Baer Faxt's exciting plans for the months ahead as we travel to art market events across the U.S., Asia, Europe, and beyond.