James Siena

In this episode, host David Humphrey welcomes painter James Siena. They discuss his show at Pace Gallery in 2005 and how his artwork carries a unique quality of self-erasure. At the same time, among his creations are captivating portraits of elderly individuals that seemed to have emerged organically from his work. Throughout the conversation, James shares his fascination with other cultures, reflects on reaching the milestone of turning 50, and discusses the influence of spoken word and music on his artistic process. James provides a curated selection of music ranging from Catalan to Spanish and Basque compositions, with the hope to show listeners something they haven't heard before. James Siena (b. 1957) is recognized for his paintings typically created through a series of self-imposed constraints also sometimes referred to as visual algorithms —rules Siena decides on before sitting down to work.  Image: Battery Variations II, 2005. Courtesy of Miles McEnery Gallery.