Extraordinary Creatives

• Building a Creative Life: Andrew Sabin & Laura Ford on Art, Risk, and Matt Black Barn

  What happens when two sculptors build not just a life together, but a living artwork? In this week’s episode of Extraordinary Creatives, I’m joined by Laura Ford and Andrew Sabin—partners in art and in life—whose decades-long dialogue between material, imagination, and place has produced some of the most distinctive sculpture in Britain today. Their story is one of instinct, invention, and fearless making. Laura’s work teems with humour, vulnerability, and human emotion—anthropomorphic creatures who hold a mirror to our tenderness and absurdity—while Andrew’s practice has moved from experimental casting to vast public works and the immersive environments of Matt Black Barn, the art-education complex they built from scratch in rural England. Together, they’ve navigated family, teaching, commissions, resistance, renewal, and the long game of sustaining creative momentum. This conversation is a love letter to material thinking, to risk-taking, and to building a world big enough to hold it all. KEY TAKEAWAYS The art doesn’t stop at the sculpture. It continues in the structures Laura and Andrew build, the people they invite in, and the courage to keep creating a life on their own terms. When you make bold or controversial work, the reception is unpredictable, so you have to accept that staying true to your convictions may sometimes cost you opportunities. For Andrew and Laura, sharing their work, through open studios, educational initiatives, and public engagements is central to their philosophy. They believe feedback and interpretation from others are vital for growth, even when it surprises or challenges them BEST MOMENTS “I remember Jenny Lomax coming in and saying, ‘Laura, I love this work, but I’d lose all my funding if I ever showed it’ - which was fair.” “The monthly fee from the gallery was nice, but it sort of ate into me…I'd find myself making decisions that I just hated myself for.” “Art and life are never separate—they’re intertwined, negotiated, rebuilt, and reimagined daily.” EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.mattblackbarn.co.uk https://www.instagram.com/mattblackbarn https://www.instagram.com/laura_ford_sculpture https://www.instagram.com/andrewsabinsculpture PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected] **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

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• How to Make the Most of Participating in an Art Fair

  Today, Wendy answers a question from one of her members that is likely to benefit every artist that sends their work to or attends art fairs. The question is - how to make the most of participating in an art fair? Some of the tips Ceri shares may surprise you. KEY TAKEAWAYS Prepare your work – it needs to be robust, stable, easy to handle, pack and ship. Fragile works, sharp edges, or delicate surfaces are not your friend in an art fair environment. When you’re choosing what to show, think about what will hold attention. Large or bold works might attract people in, but quiet, subtle works can still hold them, if there’s something intriguing that rewards a second look. Collectors love stories, they don’t just buy what they see. They buy what they understand and feel. Give your gallerist what they need to do their job well. A short blurb about the work - the inspiration, the materials, why it matters.  Art fairs aren’t just about shifting work; they're about building community and champions for your practice. BEST MOMENTS “People at art fairs can be unpredictable. They touch things they shouldn’t. They bring buggies into booths. They lean in close and forget their elbows exist.. make sure it is fair-ready.”  “Follow up within 24 hours, send PDF images or thank yous while the spark is still warm, people make decisions emotionally and quickly.” “Don’t just post “Delighted to show at X Fair.” Share the journey. The packing. The travel. The install. The booth. The moment the work goes up. Invite people into the process.” “If you're celebrating, maybe stop at one glass of Prosecco instead of three. I've done plenty of hungover fares, and it's not my top recommendation.” PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected] **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

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• The Art of Relationship: The NıCOLETTı Formula for a Vibrant, Collaborative Gallery

  What happens when two people with very different beginnings—one raised in an artist family, the other hairdressing and DJing before turning to curating—come together to build a gallery that’s now shaping the future of contemporary art in London? Today, I speak with Oswaldo Nicoletti and Camille Houzé, the duo behind NıCOLETTı. Founded as a curatorial project in 2018, the gallery has grown into a permanent space in Shoreditch, recently redesigned by JAM, the architecture collective formed out of Turner Prize winning studio Assemble. Over the years, NıCOLETTı has become known for offering emerging artists their first UK solo shows, many of whom have gone on to biennials and major institutions. We trace their origin stories—from philosophy books and family studios to hair salons and record labels—and how those threads wove into a shared vision of a gallery that privileges singular practices, conceptual rigour, and a deep belief in collaboration. We talk about what it really means to support artists over the long term, how to think about selling without selling out, and the lessons learned from fairs and friendships along the way. If you’ve ever wondered how a gallery decides who to represent, what makes work “resonate,” or how you actually sustain trust between artists, collectors, and audiences, this conversation pulls back the curtain. KEY TAKEAWAYS The galleries that thrive are those who stand beside artists they truly believe in. Artwork resonates when it’s singular, honest, and sparks a visceral connection. Sometimes it’s the story, sometimes it’s the mystery, but it’s always about care, context, and the courage to champion new perspectives. Trust in the art world is built on open dialogue, collaboration and commitment. When gallerists, artists, and audiences show up for each other, the ecosystem flourishes. BEST MOMENTS “A gallery is not only a space with walls, it’s a relationship. Between gallerist and artist, between artwork and audience, between risk and resilience.” “We are still trying to be a gallery that operates as little as possible as a gallery. So, always artistic quality and exhibitions first, then, business unfolds from that.” EPISODE RESOURCES https://nicoletticontemporary.com https://www.instagram.com/nicoletticontemporary HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. ** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership ** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ ** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected] ** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

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• Why You Should Make Peace With Being Consistently Inconsistent

  Artists spend so much time worrying about being consistent. But what if that’s not the point? What if your inconsistency is proof that you’re alive in your practice? I know you look at other artists — the ones who seem to stay in one lane — and you think, maybe I’m doing it wrong. Maybe people won’t get it. Maybe the market only rewards repetition. And yet, deep down, you know that sameness suffocates you. You didn’t become an artist to repeat yourself. You became an artist to explore. To experiment. To see what else is possible. We humans like certainty — patterns, predictability, knowing what’s what. But artists are wired for curiosity. You thrive on the unknown, the risk, the mess of it all. You love the feeling of falling forward. So when you see others who appear to be consistent, remember you might just be comparing your evolution to their edit. It´s time to make peace with being consistently inconsistent – listen in and let Ceri show you how. KEY TAKEAWAYS Consistency isn’t sameness. Consistency is commitment. It’s showing up for the work, again and again, in whatever form it needs. Most successful artists Ceri has met aren’t driven by style — they’re driven by a question. One that won’t leave them alone. Louise Bourgeois had it, Tracey Emin, Frida Kahlo - their forms changed, but the question stayed. They kept circling the same core. Stop trying to make your work look the same. Start making it feel true to the same enquiry. Ask yourself: what do I keep coming back to? What keeps tugging at my sleeve? What am I still trying to understand? That´s your North Star, follow it. BEST MOMENTS “The market might appear to love sameness, but the artists who last are those who stay faithful to their inquiry. They don't bend to the zeitgeist, they don't make to order, they don't chase trends.” “ Some people won't get it, some people won't like it, but you can't be a brilliant artist and a people pleaser.” “Authenticity is showing up for what matters, even when it's unfashionable.” “Avoiding your true voice by copying others or chasing what sells keeps you stuck.” PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected] **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

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• The Art of Going Deeper with Ekow Eshun

  What happens when you treat each artwork as a proposition of a world—when exhibitions become acts of empathy, and books become vessels for collective memory? This week, Ceri welcomes back the brilliant Ekow Eshun—writer, curator, and cultural polymath—who has just been appointed curator of the British Art Show 10, opening in September 2026. Ekow’s trajectory is extraordinary. The first Black editor of Arena magazine, the first Black director of London’s ICA, now Chair of the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group—and a curator whose exhibitions, from In the Black Fantastic to Black Earth Rising, have redefined how we think about identity, myth, and belonging. His recent books, The Strangers and Black Earth Rising, extend that work on the page, blending rigorous history with poetic imagination. In this conversation, they celebrate his new chapter and explore what Ekow hopes to achieve with BAS10: creating space for artists who can bring us closer—to ourselves, to one another, and to the mystery of the world we inhabit. They discuss the “strangeness” that fuels his research, the empathy at the heart of his practice, and what it means to keep going deeper as a writer and curator. KEY TAKEAWAYS Ekow shows us how strangeness and curiosity open up new spaces for discovery, empathy, and connection. Art is a powerful force for reshaping collective memory. Artists use memory not just to preserve the past, but to rewrite the maps of the present. Exhibitions aren’t about neat lessons they are about fostering real encounters, the courage to go deeper and see the world from multiple perspectives. BEST MOMENTS “The role of the curator isn’t to dictate meaning but to create space for discovery, and that the real power of art lies in shifting how we see, each other, ourselves, and the fragile world we share.” “I just try and set myself as a goal, with everything, with writing, putting together an exhibition - Let's go deeper, there's always another layer.” “If you start a project, you have to start from a radical unknown, where everything is up for discovery.” EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.ekoweshun.co.uk PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected] **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

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