A Life Curated

To mark the opening of Schiaparelli's exhibition Fashion Meets Art at the V&A, I met Marisa Berenson at Claridge’s for a thoughtful and quietly fascinating conversation about her life, work, and remarkable family legacy.

As the granddaughter of Elsa Schiaparelli, Marisa grew up close to one of fashion’s true innovators—someone who blurred the lines between couture and art long before it became a conversation. We talk about Elsa not just as a cultural force, but as a grandmother: her wit, her discipline, and the world she created around her.

Marisa’s wider family story is equally rich, spanning figures such as art historian Bernard Berenson and astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli. Discovered by Diana Vreeland as a teenager, she went on to become one of the defining faces of the 1970s, collaborating with an extraordinary roster of photographers including Avedon, Newton, Bailey, Penn, Bert Stern, Slim Aarons, Guy Bourdin and Cecil Beaton.
She also reflects on her film career, from Death in Venice to Barry Lyndon, and offers clear-eyed insights into navigating both the fashion and film worlds.

We return to Elsa in the context of the V&A exhibition—what it captures, what it leaves unsaid, and how her legacy continues to shape the way fashion and art intersect today.

#marisaberenson #schiaparelli #icon #fashion #art

Download, it's a masterpiece

Special thanks to @marisaberensonofficial @claridges

Produced by @martinlumsden
Music by @robinkatz_
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With tickets currently on sale for the incredible Nevill Holt Festival, opening on May 29th, I sit down with the founder, David Ross. For a man who rarely gives interviews, I was over the moon to be given this opportunity.

In the early 90's David co-founded The Carphone Warehouse and has since built a formidable art collection of predominantly British artists and established the David Ross Foundation. In 2000, David bought the spectacular 13th Century Nevill Holt Estate which now hosts the festival. In this episode we discuss his first art memory, what he was like as a child, the rules he sticks to in business, his collection, what he loves and laments about the art world, what the festival means to him and the wider cultural community, and much much more.

Download, it's a masterpiece.

To view this year's festival line up and book tickets, please go to www.nevillholtfestival.com

A special thanks to Jigsaw for sponsoring the episode, please view their latest spring collection at www.jigsaw-online.com.

Thanks to
@nevillholtfestival
@insidejigsaw

Produced by - @martinlumsden
Music by @robinkatz_
Portrait of David by Zoe Law
Host portrait by David Bailey

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Cold nights closing in? Feeling cosy? Brighten up your evening or early morning runs with this brilliant episode with Beatriz Milhazes, Brazil's most famous artist. We discuss how she pioneered a new art movement in the 80s, what her ambitions were at university, her personal experiences representing Brazil at the Venice Biennale in 2003 and 2024, her solo at the Guggenheim earlier this year, and what she felt when she broke the record for a Brazilian artist at auction. Plus her studio. routines and much, much more. Download, it's a masterpiece.

Thanks to
@beatrizmilahzes
@whitecube
@martinlumsden

Beatriz Milhazes portrait © Beatriz Milhazes. Photo © Lucy Dawkins
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Are you ready to be entertained?

I recorded my first live episode at the House of Koko, with the painter and writer, HARLAND MILLER. A mesmerising raconteur with a Woody Allen-esque dellivery filled with subtle wit, Harland delivers his first art memory, what he was like as a child, how his art has evolved since he launched the Iconic Penguin Series to his latest exhibition of Letter Paintings, plus much, much more including his recurring dream about self help cinemas and his upcoming memoir, One Bar Electric .. also available on Youtube as a video so download and enjoy, it's a masterpiece.

Thank you to Harland, Clemence / House of Koko, Anjelica Mandy, White Cube and Katie Heller.


Produced by Martin Lumsden
Music by Robin Katz
Photo © White Cube

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It's widely known Jean Pigozzi created the selfie, always with a camera, full of engaging stories, a sharp collecting brain, and an elite circle of friends, I'm thrilled and honoured to have sat down with the great man. Listen as Jean discusses how he built the world's largest collection of African contemporary art, his innovative ideas for his new museum, what makes a great photograph and his relationships with his famous friends, plus much, much more. Download, it's an absolute masterpiece.

Photo by Anh Duong
Produced by Martin Lumsden
Music by Robin Katz
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.