A conversation with Nick Cave

This week on Maybe, Actually, Museums are for me, host, Alex traveled to Chicago to sit down with the world renowned contemporary artist Nick Cave for wide ranging conversation.Recorded at Nick's studio, Facility, in Old Irving Park, the conversation offered an intimate look into Cave’s expansive practice, from his iconic Soundsuits to his more recent explorations in bronze and performance.Cave’s work, featured in major institutions including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Montclair Art Museum, blends art, fashion, and social commentary, addressing urgent themes such as racism, gun violence, and climate change.Though unable to attend MAM’s Spring Art Gala as Honorary Artist Chair due to his participation in the Venice Biennale, Cave welcomed the conversation in his studio, offering reflections on his upbringing, storytelling, and the evolution of his work. Framed through an exploration of the studio as both a physical and psychological space, this episode traces the connections between environment, process, and artistic expression, beginning with a discussion of the studio itself.