What is art without the muse? Many of western art’s most famous works are depictions of women; but who were these women? Do they have their own stories to share with the world?

ArtMuse is a podcast that aims to reshape the ways in which we interpret well-known works of art by paying dues to the women whose images have been immortalized but whose names and stories have been wrongfully overlooked. While these women’s faces are familiar to viewers around the world, their identities have been largely forgotten. 

Each episode will focus our attention on the female muse, sharing their lives and important legacy. Together we will appreciate these works of art from a new perspective; through the eyes of the women whose image stares back at us. In doing so, I hope to shift our notion of the muse from a passive participant to the driving force of inspiration behind these works of art. Is the muse in actuality just as, if not more, important than the artist themselves?

ArtMuse is produced by Kula Production Company.

Meet the host: Grace Anna

Grace Anna is an art historian and eternal learner with an insatiable curiosity. She received her BA from Sarah Lawrence College and her MA from NYU Gallatin, where she took most of her courses at the renowned Institute of Fine Arts. Her area of expertise is Italian Renaissance and Baroque art. 

Grace Anna started this podcast, not only as a learning platform, but also as a way to engage with art history outside of traditional means. Professional opportunities in the art history realm can feel limiting, both due to the rigidity of academia and the scarcity of quality jobs available. Part of this podcast’s mission is to transform the pathways that art historians and enthusiasts can take, so that more of us can contribute to the art historical dialogue. She hopes this podcast is a launching pad to explore other art history-focused dream projects, like curation (hey, a muse exhibition would be pretty cool, right?!), historical fiction, and documentaries.

Grace Anna currently works and lives in Brooklyn, NY with her partner and dog. She has been pouring her heart and soul into the making of this podcast and is immensely grateful and excited to be sharing this journey with her listeners!

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©Oliver Arnoldi