Together, they reflect on what it means to feel safe, supported, and valued while working in arts and culture — especially within environments shaped by precarity, overwork, emotional labor, and constant urgency.

Through personal experiences, research findings, and critical reflection, they discuss topics such as psychological safety, leadership styles, burnout, unpaid labor, freelancing, internships, volunteer culture, and the hidden emotional costs of working in a field driven by passion.

As immigrant cultural workers based in Barcelona, Xav and Zeynep also reflect on inclusion, belonging, language, instability, and the realities of navigating creative ecosystems as outsiders.

This conversation invites listeners to rethink how we work together in the arts — and why care, transparency, structure, and collective responsibility are essential for building healthier cultural environments.

A collective Miro board connected to this episode is available in the description for listeners who wish to share experiences, reflections, and working conditions within the cultural sector.

Contribute here

In this revealing conversation, Artist Ally founder, curator and mentor XAV sits down with printmaker and gallerist Maria Gurikhina⁠, who has built a financially sustainable and deeply rooted art practice by her mid-twenties. Together, they explore how Maria’s grounded approach to structure, community, and long-term vision has allowed her to create a thriving career and even open Magber Gallery⁠, her own gallery in Barcelona.

Far from romanticising the “struggling artist” narrative, this episode gets practical about what it means to run your art like a business without losing your soul.

Topics include:

• Building an independent art career without generational wealth

• How structure and self-discipline fuel creativity

• Community as a business strategy — and survival strategy

• The reality of opening a gallery as an emerging artist

• Off-studio tactics: money, marketing, and meaningful growth

🎧 Hosted by XAV (Artist Mentor, Curator & Artist Ally Founder)

🎨 Featuring Maria Gurikhina (Printmaker Artist & Gallerist)

📍 Recorded in Barcelona at Magber Gallery

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OffStudio is a podcast by Artist Ally — where artists, curators, and cultural entrepreneurs share real stories about building creative lives with purpose, authenticity and strategy.

Follow us on Instagram or subscribe to our Circle for free to get monthly drops of wisdom, resources, and tools right in your inbox.

In this candid and insightful conversation, artist and interviewer Kris Lodu sits down with Blake Zigrossi, Associate Director of Abbozzo Gallery and co-founder of Artist Ally, to pull back the curtain on the realities of the gallery world.

Topics include:

• What curators look for when reviewing portfolios

• Best practices when approaching galleries

• The importance of research, clarity, and professionalism

• The everyday life of a gallery manager

Whether you're a fresh grad or a working artist looking to break into the gallery circuit, this episode offers grounded and empowering insights into how to step up your game and approach galleries with confidence.

🎧 Hosted by Kris Lodu

🖼 Featuring Blake Zigrossi (Associate Director of Abbozzo Gallery & Co-Founder of Artist Ally)

📍 Recorded in Toronto at Abbozzo Gallery

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OffStudio is a podcast by ⁠Artist Ally⁠ — where artists, curators, and cultural entrepreneurs share real stories about building creative lives with purpose, authenticity and strategy.

Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠subscribe⁠ to our Circle for free to get monthly drops of wisdom, resources, and tools right in your inbox.

In this intimate and eye-opening conversation, Artist Ally co-founder and artist mentor XAV sits down with contemporary artist Daniel McAuley following the closing of his solo exhibition, “Characteristics of an Unspoken Code of Behaviour.”

From tattoo studios to gallery walls, Dan shares his journey navigating the tension between authenticity and visibility, and the fine line between creative freedom and digital burnout. XAV breaks down how branding goes far beyond logos — it's about owning your story, embracing your artistic values, and connecting with your audience in meaningful ways.

Topics include:

• Balancing self-expression and financial sustainability

• The double-edged sword of social media for artists

• Finding your audience without losing your voice

• Artist branding through lived experience and authenticity

• Turning “formed opinions” into powerful creative narratives

🎧 Hosted by ⁠XAV⁠ (Artist Mentor, Curator & Artist Ally Founder)🎨 Featuring Daniel McAuley (Contemporary Artist)📍 Recorded in Barcelona at Homesession Residency

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OffStudio is a podcast by ⁠Artist Ally⁠ — where artists, curators, and cultural entrepreneurs share real stories about building creative lives with purpose, authenticity and strategy.

Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠subscribe⁠ to our Circle for free to get monthly drops of wisdom, resources, and tools right in your inbox.