Lydia Figes on Writing Survival Notes: Life Lessons from Contemporary Artists

In this week's episode of the ArtTactic Podcast, host Adam Green speaks with Lydia Figes, author of Survival Notes: Life Lessons from Contemporary Artists, about her wide-ranging conversations with artists and what they reveal about how artists truly live and work today. They discuss why she wrote the book, what surprised her most about how artists navigate the contemporary art world, the changing role of art school, the power of mentorship and peer networks, the tension between solitude and community, and the core questions every aspiring artist should be asking. The episode offers valuable insight not only for artists, but for collectors, curators, gallerists, and anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the lived experiences shaping today’s art world.