Episode 91: Caia Diepenbrock - Paint, Pivot, Process

Episode 91: Caia Diepenbrock - Paint, Pivot, Process

From Artists of New York by Dan Riley

March 20, 2026 · 57 min

About this episode

Caia Diepenbrock discusses her journey as an artist and designer, exploring her experiences in New York and the art world.

Caia Diepenbrock is an artist, designer, and freelance art director based in Brooklyn, NY. Instagram and all episodes (00:00) Family roots and finding New York (03:08) Rhode Island, Bard, and early city overwhelm (06:11) Seven years in LA, then Brooklyn home (08:54) Why New York felt more alive (11:02) From psych to studio art at Bard (13:41) Growing up with two working artist parents (16:52) Drawing, painting, printmaking, and immersive worlds (19:18) Discovering art therapy in high school (22:41) Art therapy for adults and creative mindfulness (26:07) Bard’s experimental art culture and RISD contrast (29:14) Post-college paralysis and accidental film entry (33:02) Restoration Hardware to HBO art department (36:06) What installation art actually is (38:37) New York freelance life after leaving LA (42:12) Film industry highs, lows, and toxic thrill (46:03) Networking, reliability, and making luck easier (49:28) Art directing strengths and hidden-gem art spaces (53:06) Freelancing, side hustles, and defining success

People in this episode

Guest: Caia Diepenbrock

Topics covered

  • art
  • design
  • freelance
  • art therapy
  • installation art
  • New York
  • Brooklyn
  • creative mindfulness

Keywords

  • family roots
  • Bard
  • Rhode Island
  • LA
  • psychology
  • printmaking
  • networking
  • success

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Restoration Hardware, HBO

Places: Brooklyn, NY, New York, Rhode Island, LA

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