Sala Elise Patterson: What We Take Forward

Sala Elise Patterson: What We Take Forward

From The Art Equation: A Now Be Here Podcast by Now Be Here Art

April 24, 2025 · 53 min · Episode 9

About this episode

The episode features a conversation with arts writer Sala Elise Patterson about her diverse practice and various topics in art and culture.

Today, our hosts are sitting down with arts writer and cultural storyteller Sala Elise Patterson! The trio discusses the dynamic breadth of Sala’s practice, from experimental documentary projects and her work as a trustee of The Phillips Collection, to her path writing for outlets such as The Atlantic, Kinfolk, Harvard Design Magazine, Vogue, British Journal of Photography and The New York Times. Covering topics such as Black visibility in art, reimagining the “artist’s muse,” and the politics of architectural design, this is an urgent and beautifully honest conversation about writing - and so much more. Mentions: The Wadsworth Atheneum; William Kentridge; Phala O. Phala; Nhlanhla Mahlangu; André Breton; Claude Levi Strauss; Wifredo Lam; Amié Césaire; Frantz Fanon; The Nardal Sisters; Frida Kahlo; Sala Elise Patterson; Adrienne Fidelin; The Phillips Collection; Elizabeth Bishop; Protect: Coastlines, Guns and Women in the Low Country, https://www.twolanefilms.com/protect; Adrienne Fidelin; Man Ray; Saidiya Hartman; Lee Miller; Dora Maar; Paul Éluard.

People in this episode

Guest: Sala Elise Patterson

Topics covered

  • Black visibility in art
  • experimental documentary projects
  • cultural storytelling
  • politics of architectural design
  • writing in the arts

Keywords

  • arts writing
  • cultural storytelling
  • Black visibility
  • artist's muse
  • architectural design
  • documentary projects

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Phillips Collection

Books & works: Protect: Coastlines, Guns and Women in the Low Country

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