Art is how a culture sees itself, and the way art is made, sold and owned is changing fast. London Real has spoken to painters, the photographer behind Benetton’s most provocative campaigns, a furniture designer, artist-scientists and the founders building digital art markets. These conversations cover creativity and self-belief, provocative advertising, where art meets science and how NFTs and Web3 platforms are changing who can own a piece of art. Every full interview is free to watch.
From the late photographer Oliviero Toscani and the late designer Timothy Oulton to three-Michelin-star chef Heston Blumenthal, Hublot’s Jean-Claude Biver, Sedition founder Harry Blain, artist and aquanaut Dr Sarah Jane Pell and LiveArt CEO Boris Pevzner: creativity, craft and the business of art.
Oliviero Toscani (1942 to 2025), the photographer behind Benetton’s most provocative campaigns, talked about creativity, insecurity, death row, AIDS and migration, and why he thought being unique mattered more than being number one. Artist and architect Heidi Locher discusses her exhibition Hotel Kalifornia, why she loves the immersive process of making art and why she believes Damien Hirst deserves credit for his decomposing cow’s head. Her advice is to follow your dream and believe in yourself. Monique Lester, who paints nudes alongside running a digital PR agency, talks about art, social media and feminism.
Dr Sarah Jane Pell, a TED fellow and artist researcher, explains her fascination with all things underwater and how she works as both an artist and a scientist. Artist, philosopher and scientist Dr Koert van Mensvoort describes Next Nature, his idea that technology is becoming so present that we start to see it as nature. The late designer Timothy Oulton (1967 to 2022) told how he turned his father’s antiques shop into a global brand and redesigned the London Real studio. Heston Blumenthal and Jean-Claude Biver bring the same creative eye to food and watchmaking.
Harry Blain, an art dealer and gallery owner, founded Sedition, an online platform where editioned digital artworks can be bought and traded, years before NFTs made headlines. Boris Pevzner, co-founder and CEO of LiveArt, explains how his platform connects the art world with Web3. Jaeson Ma, an entrepreneur and artist, describes OP3N, the app he co-founded for artists and creators. Rashid Ajami of Metropolis talks about merging commerce, art and culture, while Witek Radomski of Enjin and TRON founder Justin Sun give their views on NFTs.
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Who has London Real interviewed about art? Brian Rose has interviewed Oliviero Toscani, Timothy Oulton, Heidi Locher, Dr Sarah Jane Pell, Dr Koert van Mensvoort, Harry Blain, Boris Pevzner, Jaeson Ma, Heston Blumenthal and Jean-Claude Biver, among others.
What do the guests say about digital art and NFTs? Harry Blain was selling editioned digital artworks through Sedition in 2014. More recent guests such as Boris Pevzner, Jaeson Ma and Rashid Ajami argue that Web3 platforms can open up art ownership and give artists and creators new ways to reach people.
How is Art different from Arts & Culture? Art focuses on visual art, photography, design and the art market. The wider Arts & Culture page also covers film, music, comedy and books.
Are the full art episodes free to watch? Yes. Every full-length interview on this page can be watched free on londonreal.tv.
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