Artists on Artists

In the Artists on Artists series we host artists of all kinds and invite them to reflect on themes across artistic genres in relation to our exhibitions and collection.  

We invited actors Nima Taleghani and Fisayo Akinade to discuss Van Gogh and his work, pondering how contemporary creatives can relate to Van Gogh. They discussed some of his most recognisable works including ‘Starry Night Over the Rhône’ and ‘Sunflowers’… or is it actually ‘Tulips’?

To mark the Last Caravaggio exhibition, we were joined by author and poet Amy Key and singer songwriter Naomi Kimpenu, who sat down with curator Dr Francesca Whitlum-Cooper to discuss what women today think of 'The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula’.

We were joined by actor Hayley Atwell and author Jesse Burton who revealed which Frans Hals portrait they’d avoid at a party, and how they, as artists, each relate to capturing character. Artists Volker Hermes and Peter Brathwaite also joined us to discuss Frans Hals, talking about capturing character and which of Hals’s subjects would have known the best drinking spots.

The Artists on Artists series from the National Gallery is available to watch free on YouTube, or watch via the playlist below.