Rephonic
Artwork for Shade
Art
Black Contemporary Art
El Salvador
Studio Lenca
Immigration
Cultural Heritage
Sound Art
Music
Selena Quintanilla
Black British Artists
John Blanke
Margate, England
Rashod Taylor
Venice Biennale
Jazz
Tate Modern
Stillness
Identity
African Art
Mayan Archaeological Site

Shade Media was founded in 2019 by photographer Lou Mensah to create a space for Black artists and creative practitioners to talk about their work in their own way. This critically acclaimed podcast features interviews with artists, critics, writers and visionaries including John Akomfrah, Amy Sherald, Lauren Michele Jackson and Ekow Eshun. It's host Lou has been nominated as Best Arts and Culture... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes79Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Visual ArtsArts

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Artwork for Shade

Latest Episodes

In today's episode, I'm reading an essay by Eleanor Sanghara Güstard, published in Shade Art Review today.

Eleanor inherited an old Nikon F50 from her late father. When the lens cracked, she kept shooting through it. Those "poor images" became a met... more

Shade Podcast closes out 2025 by returning to the Shade Art Review archives. This episode adapts "Oh God It's Frieze Week Again," an article I wrote in October 2023, asking: Who gets to show up in the art world? As Art Basel Miami Beach wraps the yea... more

I'm reading "Deana Lawson's photography divides critics and I'm here for it" from the Shade Art Review archives, asking questions about critical freedom, backlash culture, and when we lost the ability to be honest about art.

This one asks: when did ... more

Shade Podcast is back. After months away, I'm returning to what we were at the beginning—intimate, unedited conversations, just me and you. This episode adapts an article I wrote in February 2024 for Shade Art Review, asking: Where is the Black Nan G... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Talk Art
Talk ArtRussell Tovey and Robert Diament
The Week in Art
The Week in ArtThe Art Newspaper
The Art Angle
The Art AngleArtnet News

Recent Guests

Eleanor Sanghara Güstard
Punjabi-British cultural producer, artist, writer, and curator.
Arnolfini
Episode: Unreadability in South Asian Photography
Carey Robinson
Deputy Director of Learning and Public Programs at the Fitzwilliam Museum
Fitzwilliam Museum
Episode: Visualise the future
Shepherd Manyika
An artist and educator focused on memory, space, and ideas of future and present through various mediums.
Episode: The Art of Teaching
Sadegh Aleahmad
London-based Iranian-born artist exploring diasporic identity through performance, sculpture, poetry, moving image, and photography.
Episode: Art Outside the Classroom
Exodus Crooks
Birmingham-based multidisciplinary artist and educator
Episode: Classroom Portraits
Matthew Krishanu
Artist known for his deeply moving paintings that explore themes of childhood and identity.
Episode: Matthew Krishanu: in conversation with Lou Mensah
Aindrea Emelife
Curator and art historian specializing in colonial and decolonial African histories
Episode: Venice Biennale Special: Aindrea Emelife interview
John Akomfrah
Renowned artist known for his multi-channel film installations.
British Council
Episode: Venice Biennale Special: Sir John Akomfrah interview
Dale Berning Sawa
Brilliant arts writer covering Akomfrah's commission for Shade.
Episode: Venice Biennale Special: Sir John Akomfrah interview

Host

Lou Mensah
Host of a critically acclaimed podcast focusing on the intersections of culture, art, and identity, Lou brings a thoughtful and engaging interviewing style to her conversations, allowing guests to share their insights and experiences.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 110 ratings
  • Great podcast

    Really enjoying the conversations that Lou has with her guests, her relaxed style and insightful questioning. Particularly enjoyed the conversation with Johnny Pitts. Keep it up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Podcast Lover 99
    United Kingdom4 years ago
  • Superb

    Informative and riveting podcast - highly recommend

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HanPad
    United Kingdom5 years ago
  • Rich

    These are the voices we need to hear from, informative, relevant insightful engaging.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    C_L_B_
    United Kingdom5 years ago
  • LOVE

    Such an important podcast, love the voices spotlighted and the conversations ~ Thank you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Scamp Patel
    United States5 years ago
  • Don’t stop!

    A brilliant perspective on our ongoing discussions of race and representation. On Episode 4 and have enjoyed the diverse voices presented.

    Will keep listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Issa-London
    United Kingdom5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The host's ability to connect with guests and facilitate meaningful dialogue is repeatedly praised, reinforcing the show's reputation for high-quality content.
The discussions are frequently described as necessary and timely, addressing relevant cultural and social issues with depth and authenticity.
Listeners appreciate the engaging and insightful conversations, often noting the relaxed atmosphere and thoughtful questioning from the host.
Many reviews express admiration for the diversity of voices highlighted in episodes, indicating a strong interest in underrepresented perspectives in the arts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#124
United Kingdom/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#5
New Zealand/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#27
Indonesia/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#35
Hong Kong/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#146
New Zealand/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#232
Netherlands/Arts/Visual Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Art of Teaching
Q: Do you find that institutions like museums and galleries... do you think there's a good relationship between the two?
Manyika believes there is a mutual understanding between schools and galleries, although the effectiveness varies by institution.
The Art of Teaching
Q: Can you just share a little bit about your practice and the work that you do as a teacher?
Shepherd Manyika describes his work as a multidisciplinary practice focusing on experimental art, collaborating with people, and teaching through workshops.
Visualise the future
Q: What aspects of your role at the Fitzwilliam do you find most meaningful?
Carey shares her commitment to leading diverse arts and creative programming for various audiences, emphasizing community impact.
Brian Jackson
Q: How has Gil's presence in your life informed your work today?
Gil's legacy connected me to my roots, and our shared history allows me to create music that speaks to both anger and understanding.
Helene Love-Allotey
Q: How do you see the current rise in interest for modern and contemporary African art?
The trend is promising, but it requires sustainability in terms of education and institutional support to truly flourish.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Shade

What is Shade about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The podcast focuses on amplifying the voices of Black artists and creative practitioners, providing a platform for them to share their work and experiences in their own words. Through in-depth interviews with notable figures in the art world, including artists, critics, and writers, it addresses important themes such as representation, cultural identity, and the challenges faced by marginalized communities in the arts. The discussions are characterized by thoughtful questioning and a critical examination of contemporary issues within the visual arts landscape, making it a vital resource for those interested in a deeper understanding of the intersection between art and societal concerns.

Where can I find podcast stats for Shade?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Shade. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Shade and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Shade get?

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What are the audience demographics for Shade?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Shade, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Shade have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Shade has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Shade?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Shade:

1. Talk Art
2. The Week in Art
3. This Cultural Life
4. Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
5. The Art Angle

How many episodes of Shade are there?

Shade launched 7 years ago and published 79 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Shade?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Shade?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Shade from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Shade?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Shade. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Shade?

Recent guests on Shade include:

1. Eleanor Sanghara Güstard
2. Carey Robinson
3. Shepherd Manyika
4. Sadegh Aleahmad
5. Exodus Crooks
6. Matthew Krishanu
7. Aindrea Emelife
8. John Akomfrah

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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